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There are a variety of truck accidents that can occur between a truck driver and other vehicles on the road. As commercial truck accident lawyers, we have seen all types of trucking accidents; however, there are some that are more common than others.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a large truck accident, here is what you need to know about the most common truck accidents, how they differ from each other, and what to do after you are involved in one.
Regardless of the collision you are involved in, your top priority is to recover — and ours, as truck accident lawyers, is to help you seek the compensation you deserve.
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While there are state and federal regulations in place to keep the trucking industry as safe as it can be, accidents still happen. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were approximately 510,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks in 2019. Of these accidents, 4,479 people lost their lives and 114,000 reported an injury.
Because of the size of a semi truck, trucking accidents can often result in serious injuries. An accident can be caused by driver negligence, mechanical failure, poor road conditions, improper cargo loading, other driver negligence, and even an oversight by the trucking company. Learn more about the most common tractor-trailer accidents below.
Given that commercial trucks can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds, it’s no surprise that they can be difficult to maneuver, resulting in rear-end collisions.
There are two types of rear-end accidents:
Most commonly, rear-end truck accidents occur when a semi truck rear end a passenger vehicle. These are particularly dangerous as the trucker may have been moving at high speeds, meaning the passenger vehicle never sees the accident coming. Some common causes of rear-end collisions include:
Bad road conditions could also play a factor, such as slippery roads from a sudden downpour. Objects on the road may also cause a rear end collision. For example, you see a piece of tire on the road and you begin to slow down. The truck behind you fails to see you slow down and runs right into your vehicle.
Also known as T-bone accidents or broadside accidents, a side-impact accident is the result of the front of one vehicle colliding with the side of another. Unlike a rear-end collision or being head on where the hood or bumpers provide a buffer for the impact, a T-bone accident only has the door and window to protect the driver or passenger from injury.
Getting hit by a 80,000-pound truck can result in serious injuries such as head injuries, neck and back injuries, and injuries to the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.
This can occur if truck brake failure occurs, resulting in the truck rolling through a traffic light or stop sign. Further, it can result from distracted driving and a truck driver driving into oncoming traffic.
There is nothing more terrifying for a driver than to be face to face with a large tractor trailer. And in a head-on truck accidents, that is the reality. As the leading cause of fatal injuries in accidents, these collisions can occur because of curves in the road, speeding, or fatigued driving.
Truck rollovers typically occur when large trucks are driven negligently around curves in the road and the driver loses control. These overturns can cause serious accidents and even more severe injuries to other motorists.
An underride accident occurs when a passenger car crashes into the side or back of a tractor-trailer and slides underneath the truck. It can happen from the front, back or side of the trailer, and the results are often deadly.
Underride collisions usually occur because of weather conditions, damaged tail lights, inadequate signals, sudden braking, or a lack of underride guards.
When a truck skids, the truck driver brakes, and the trailer swings out to one side at a 90-degree angle, tractor trailers can cause fatalities and injury to other drivers.
A jackknife accident is one of the most dangerous and fatal accidents involving commercial trucks.
Whether truck drivers are fatigued, the trucking company hasn’t done its due diligence to secure the vehicle, there is a tire blowout, etc., in some cases, truck drivers lose control resulting in collisions.
A driver may get into situations they cannot predict, such as blind spot accidents or tire blowouts from poor road conditions, etc.
A truck accident attorney will help determine why the accident occurred, who was negligent and help you seek the compensation you need.
If you were involved in a truck accident, no matter what type it is, there are a few things to keep in mind after a truck accident.
First, you want to stay calm. Check to see how your passengers are feeling and get a sense of everyone’s injuries. Then call 911 as soon as possible. Make sure you let the dispatcher know how many people are in the vehicle and how many are injured.
Next, if you can move to a safe area, try to do so. This will prevent another accident from occurring. If your car is disabled, try to leave the vehicle and get to safety.
If you are able to, start gathering evidence to help your case. Get photos of the scene and of both vehicles. Make sure you get the truck’s license plate, the name of the person or company who owns the truck, and the driver’s CDL number. You will also want to get any contact information from the other drivers, passengers, or witnesses. Remember, do this if you only feel well enough. You may not realize how injured you are until after the accident.
When emergency personnel arrives, give a brief statement and then seek medical attention straight away. It’s very important to get checked out by a medical professional, even if you don’t feel hurt. Many times your injuries will not present themselves until hours or even days after the accident when your emotions begin to calm down.
And finally but most importantly, contact a trucking accident lawyer at Regan Zambri Long PLLC. The sooner you’re able to call us, the faster it will be to respond to the accident and collect the evidence to prove who is at fault for the accident.
Accidents happen. When you need legal advice, turn to the truck accident lawyers of Regan Zambri Long. We will build an attorney-client relationship, that works for you.
Whether you live in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia, a skilled personal injury lawyer at Regan Zambri Long will get the best results possible for your case. Utilize a free, no-obligation consultation with our law firm and begin the process protecting your rights against the trucking company.
We work on a contingency fee basis meaning you don’t pay until we win.
Schedule your free consultation by calling (202) 960-4596 or by filling out our online contact form today.
