Seeing an SUV collide with an 18-wheeler is believing

Any Portland resident who has driven on Interstate 5 has probably wondered what would happen to them if their vehicle was hit by an 18-wheeler. It’s not a thought many would care to linger on, but when you’re driving next to one of the big rigs, it might be a thought that has nevertheless crossed your mind.

To get an idea of the David versus Goliath context of a collision between an SUV and a commercial truck, follow the link at the bottom of this blog post. There you’ll see a video of a GMC Envoy SUV being deliberately crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer.

The violent moment of impact is jarring, as is the sight of the damage done to the SUV (its entire front end is crushed) and the damage done to the big rig (none is evident in the video).

The controlled collision was conducted for the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Traffic Crash Investigation and Safety Symposium held last month. The meetings were held to help law enforcement officers and agencies from around the country continue to improve their crash-investigation skills and learn about emerging technologies.

Unfortunately, many investigations involving collisions of large commercial trucks and passenger vehicles include fatalities and serious injuries among those in the smaller vehicles. The laws of physics dictate that the much larger, much heavier vehicles are likely to do far greater damage to the cars, pick-ups and SUVs with which they collide.

Injuries suffered in a truck accident are often significant, resulting in large medical bills and extended periods of recuperation. To pursue compensation for these damages and others, contact an experienced personal injury attorney.