Why do Pennsylvania tractor-trailer accidents cause more damage than car accidents?

A: Physics helps to explain why commercial truck accidents frequently cause so much more harm than a typical car accident. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. A fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh about 80,000 pounds. This is more than 25 times the weight of an average car, which weighs about 3,000 pounds. The difference in weight and size, coupled with the laws of physics, means that an 18-wheeler accident with a common passenger car will result in tremendous impact and serious (and often fatal) injuries.