What are Common Types of Truck Accidents
Types of Truck Accidents & Their Causes: Understanding the common types of truck accidents can provide insight into fault and causation.
- Rollover Accidents: Often caused by sudden cargo shifts, abrupt braking, or sharp turns due to the instability of large, heavy trucks.
- Jackknife Accidents: Unique to semi-trucks, occurring when the cab and trailer pivot and collide, typically due to loss of control.
- Lane-Change Accidents: Frequently result from large blind spots ("No Zones") making it difficult for truck drivers to see nearby vehicles.
- Underride/Override Accidents: Happen when smaller vehicles become trapped under a truck's trailer or a truck rides over a smaller vehicle during collisions.
- Lost Load Accidents: Occur when improperly secured cargo falls from a truck, creating hazards or directly impacting other vehicles.
- Wide Turn Accidents: Due to their size, trucks need extra space to turn, and misjudgments can lead to collisions in adjacent lanes or with objects.
- Brake Failure Accidents: Overweight loads or inadequate maintenance can cause a truck's brakes to fail, resulting in a loss of stopping ability.
- Driver Fatigue Accidents: Long hours and tight schedules can lead to drowsy driving, impairing a truck driver's reaction time and judgment.
- Impaired Driving Accidents: Operating a truck under the influence of alcohol or drugs severely compromises driving ability.
- Maintenance-Related Accidents: Neglecting essential truck maintenance (steering, suspension, lights) can lead to equipment failures and accidents.
- Tire Blowout Accidents: Defective tires, improper inflation, or poor maintenance can cause dangerous tire explosions and loss of control.
- Overloaded Truck Accidents: Exceeding weight limits strains truck components and increases the risk of accidents and stopping distances.
- Poor Visibility Accidents: Large blind spots and adverse weather conditions can limit a truck driver's ability to see other vehicles and hazards.
If you've been involved in a truck accident, investigating the specific type and its potential causes is crucial for determining liability. Legal professionals can conduct thorough investigations, working with experts to reconstruct the accident and gather evidence to support your claim.