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Traffic accidents happen all the time for all sorts of reasons. However, there are certain types of accidents that are unique to trucks due to the nature of their massive size and weight.
Here are four types of accidents that are unique to commercial trucks:
#1 – Tire Blowouts
Tire blowouts are a relatively common problem for commercial vehicles. Some common causes of tire blowouts include:
- Worn tires due to excessive use
- Defective manufacturing
- Tire air leakage
- Low or high air pressure
- Lack of general maintenance
- Unbalanced cargo load
- Hazardous road conditions
When a blowout occurs, it may cause a trucker to:
- Serve into your lane
- Rollover
- Jackknife
#2 – Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents are relatively common and they are almost always tragic. These types of accidents can occur as a result of:
- Taking an exit ramp or turn too fast
- Poorly weighted cargo
- Speeding
- Sudden swerves or lane changes
- Improper cargo loading
- Dangerous roads or weather conditions
- Failure to perform proper maintenance
- Other driver errors, including:
- Fatigue
- Distraction
- Inadequate training
#3 – Underride Collisions
Underride collisions occur when a passenger car runs into a truck’s rear or side and ends up sliding beneath the truck. Since trucks have a much higher clearance than passenger cars, the front and top of the car may be crushed.
Most of the time, accidents of this nature result in serious injuries or fatalities. These types of crashes typically occur as a result of:
- Improperly maneuvered turns or lane changes
- A truck coming to a quick stop, leading to a rear-end collision
- A truck’s inconsistent speed outside of the flow of traffic
- A car is in the truck’s blind spot when the truck makes a lane change
- A trucker fails to signal when turning
#4 – Jackknife Accidents
Jackknife crashes occur when the truck folds at the joint of the cab and the trailer. As a result, the truck is facing two different directions.
When a truck jackknifes, the driver does not have control over the trailer’s movement. These types of crashes occur as a result of:
- Equipment malfunctions
- Locked wheels
- Brake failure
- Speeding
- Weather conditions
- Loose cargo
- Debris
- Inadequate maneuvering
If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, we want to help. Don’t delay—reach out to our office right away.
Contact Christie Farrell Lee & Bell today with the details of your case by calling 317-488-5500 or by filling out our online contact form to learn more about how we can help.
