Accidents involving trucks can be a complete disaster. When they do occur, it's critical to take the appropriate actions. You must contact an attorney to initiate a case against wrongdoers after getting prompt medical attention.
In this article, we'll go through the most prevalent forms of truck accidents and how to avoid them.
Let's have a look at some examples.
Truck Accidents: What They Are and How They Happen
Head-on and Rear-end Collisions
When a huge truck collides with another vehicle in a head-on collision, this type of accident occurs. When the front of a truck collides with the back end of another vehicle, this is known as a rear-end collision. Both sorts of collisions have a considerable risk of damage, especially for the tiny car, which has to take the brunt of the impact.
Jackknife Accidents
When a truck driver suddenly brakes, it's known as a jackknife accident. The back end of the vehicle, aka the trailer, swings out at a 90-degree angle as a result of this. This is a very dangerous condition because the truck has the potential to totally rollover, posing a serious driving hazard.
Blind Spot Accidents
When compared to a typical small vehicle, the blind spots on a truck are often substantially larger. That is why all trucks have blind spot signs that read, "I can't see you if you can't see my mirror." The driver is more likely to lose sight of other vehicles driving in the blind spot, which, as previously said, is quite large.
Roll-over Accidents
When a driver loses control of their vehicle, causing the trailer to roll over, a roll-over accident occurs. If it's carrying merchandise, it could tumble out, posing a serious threat to other vehicles and motorists.
Underride Accidents
These are some of the most deadly types of truck accidents. They occur when a truck comes to a complete stop, causing vehicles approaching from behind to become caught underneath the trailer. It's not uncommon for the vehicle's top to totally rip off as a result of the hit.
To reduce incidents that could result in a semi-truck accident lawsuit, the National Transportation Safety Board recommends adding side guards.
Blowouts on Tires
Because commercial trucks are among the largest vehicles on the road, their tires must bear a significant amount of weight and pressure. As a result, they have a larger risk of blowing out in the middle of a journey than conventional vehicles. When this occurs, the odds of an accident are extremely high.
Side-impact Collisions
Broadside collisions, T-bone collisions, and angle collisions are all terms used to describe these types of accidents. They usually happen at a crossroads. These are the rarest sorts of truck collisions.
When they do happen, however, the consequences are often disastrous, resulting in serious injuries and even death. In a side-impact collision, the truck collides head-on with a side vehicle. Passengers, drivers, and any other passengers will bear the brunt of the damage.
The majority of these accidents happen when a truck driver tries to speed through red lights or jump a stop sign.
Truck Accident Injuries: The Most Common Injuries
Inappropriate driver training, inattentive driving, improper loading, equipment breakdowns, failure to install safety measures, and other factors are all significant causes of truck accidents. Truck accidents are the most serious types of accidents that a person can be involved in. They have the potential to cause serious injuries, property damage, and even death.
The following are the most common injuries caused by transportation accidents:
Broken bones
Neck and back injuries
Severe burns
Spine and brain injuries
Paralysis
Loss of limbs
Death
How Can Truck Accidents Be Avoided?
The majority of vehicle accidents are caused by pure chance and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The majority of them, though, are easily avoidable. Here are a few steps you can take as a cautious driver to prevent being involved in a truck accident and having to deal with a truck accident lawsuit.
#1: Stay focused and don't drive while distracted.
Distracted driving is by far the most common cause of truck accidents. Listening to podcasts, discovering music, texting, phoning, or even relying on the GPS for directions are all activities you should avoid doing on your phone. Nothing is more distracting than cell phones.
If you must use GPS, it is preferable to have an audio app that will read out the directions to you. You won't have to look at the screen every now and then.
Here's why you shouldn't use a cell phone even if it's hands-free:
The majority of individuals believe that talking on the phone is no different than conversing with a passenger. That, however, is not the case.
The point is, when two people are in the same car, they share the same exterior world. You're both hearing and seeing the same things at the same time. If the passenger hears a siren or senses danger approaching, he or she will abruptly stop speaking and put the conversation on hold.
When you're on the phone, though, the other person has no idea what you're talking about. It's more likely that you'll make an effort to stay focused. This frequently diverts the driver's attention away from potential hazards.
Distracted driving can also be caused by things like eating and having noisy passengers. When driving a truck, stay focused at all times.
Tip #2: Make sure there's enough room between two vehicles.
This is the most straightforward strategy to prevent the bulk of truck collisions. Allow plenty of space between the truck and other oncoming traffic. If you're driving a little vehicle, try to pass through the side as swiftly as possible. Do not loiter for an extended period of time. When driving behind a truck, leave plenty of room.
With extra space, you have more time to react and stop swiftly.
Getting in Touch with a Truck Accident Lawyer
If you've been in a truck accident, you should contact a truck accident lawyer right once.
The problem is that liability is influenced by a variety of circumstances. It's natural to assume that the motorist is to blame. However, a variety of factors could have contributed to it, including equipment failure, improper loading, and so on. The transportation business is to blame in this scenario.
It's best to consult with an attorney because things are always twisted. They know whether to sue the driver, the employment agency, or even the component manufacturer.
At Burnes Libman, we've handled thousands of truck accident cases, all of which resulted in significant settlements and claims for our clients. Even if no amount of money will compensate for the harm caused by the accident, the compensation you get could help you recover in the long run. It may even compensate for the loss of a job.