Semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and other large vehicles are more likely to become involved in an accident than other vehicles on the road. The injury and fatality rates in accidents involving trucks are high, as well.
While different scenarios may give rise to truck accidents, it can be difficult to determine which party is responsible for causing the crash and the injuries that follow. If you are injured in a truck accident, you should consider consulting with a San Antonio truck accident lawyer to understand the legal options available to you.
A competent lawyer can help you prepare an injury claim and pursue the compensation you deserve in a settlement. In this blog post, we have included five of the most common types of truck accident cases that occur on America’s roads.
- Rear-End Collision:
Most rear-end collisions result from negligence, often an individual’s inattentive or careless driving. These types of accidents occur when the front of one party’s vehicle hits the rear of the vehicle immediately in front of it on the road. In many cases, the vehicle that gets hit was stationary at the time of the crash.
These accidents can happen as a result of driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances, as well. Rear-end collisions frequently result in serious injuries when the vehicle that hits from behind was traveling at a high rate of speed.
Rear-end collisions can also occur as a result of the other driver’s inattentive driving. For example, the driver in the front vehicle may stop short and without reason in front of a truck, causing the truck driver to lose control of their vehicle.
When operating a motor vehicle, especially a large truck, it is the driver’s responsibility to follow all traffic rules for everyone’s safety. Accidents can happen, but it is important to take any precautions possible to avoid them.
- Jackknifes:
Jackknife accidents are especially common for giant trucks that have big trailers carrying heavy loads that attach to the cab in which the driver sits. Any weight imbalance in the cargo or sudden movements can cause the cab of the truck to bend away from the trailer, creating a jackknife accident.
Jackknife accidents can cause extensive damages to other vehicles on the road or nearby pedestrians, in addition to property damage to the scene of the crash.
- Runaway trailer crashes:
Runaway trailer crashes can be the result of irresponsible or inattentive driving. These are most likely to occur when a heavily loaded tractor-trailer drives through a crowded area or traffic-heavy road at high speed. It can put many individuals’ lives in danger. Heavy-loaded or overloaded trucks are more likely to crash than trucks with lighter loads.
In a runaway trailer crash, the trucking company or the truck driver may both be held responsible for any injuries or damage that result.
- Head-On Collisions:
This type of crash is also known as frontal crash. In a head-on collision, as the name suggests, two vehicles coming from opposite directions collide, with their fronts facing each other. Such crashes can cause life-changing injuries and even death. The most common causes for such collisions include distracted driving, extremely poor weather conditions, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The extent of the loss can exceed anyone’s expectations. Victims can face traumatic brain injury, skull fractures, spinal cord injuries, limb amputations, damage to multiple organs, and severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) as a result of a head-on collision. In the aftermath of such a serious accident, it is advisable to act wisely and very cautiously.
- Wide Turn Collisions:
Trucks are generally much taller and heavier than any other vehicles on the road. Their size can make them difficult to maneuver, so they have to take any turns or changes in course quite carefully for safety’s sake. Large trucks need almost 55 feet to make a safe turn. In the absence of sufficient space, a turning truck can cause road accidents that result in substantial damage.
A wide turn collision’s damage may include trucks’ crushing other vehicles that come in between them and curb or other vehicles’ getting stuck underneath the truck during the turn. Some of the common causes include inadequate training for the drivers of large trucks, distracted driving, and poor visibility due to bad weather.
Top Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents to Keep in Mind
If all truck drivers and drivers of other vehicles on the road keep these common causes in mind, many crashes can be avoided. In addition to avoiding the crashes themselves, people would also be able to avoid bearing a considerable amount of loss and damage. People think that most truck drivers are at fault when a road accident happens, but this is merely a myth. There can be many other reasons, too. These are some of the most common causes:
- Extremely poor weather conditions
- Inadequate maintenance of the vehicle
- Blind spots
- Overloading
- Poorly maintained roads
The truck driver can be at fault in the following cases:
- They did not follow traffic rules
- They were operating the vehicle while distracted
- They were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Sudden use of brakes
Truck accident cases can be severe, and some victims miss out on getting the justice and compensation that they deserve. If you were injured as a result of a truck accident, it can be valuable to speak with an experienced San Antonio personal injury lawyer to learn about the legal options available to you.
An experienced attorney can guide you through the steps that you should take after a truck accident. Every state has different laws, and every situation is different, too. This is why it is essential to choose a lawyer in your state who knows the relevant laws and can advise you accordingly. Your lawyer’s advice can get you one step closer to reaching a monetary settlement.