Are you aware of the major risks involved in truck accidents and how they can affect your safety? Truck accidents are among the most serious incidents on the road, often leading to severe injuries, fatalities, and significant property damage.
With the increasing number of trucks on highways, it’s crucial to understand the causes, consequences, and preventive measures to reduce the occurrence of these accidents. Let’s break down truck accidents into key sections, providing an easy-to-understand overview.
Types of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are of different types depending on the kind of accident and the condition of the roads at the time of the accident. Some of the most common types include:
- Rear-End Collisions: These happen when a truck collides with the vehicle ahead of it, which could be a result of the driver dozing off, or failing to brake adequately.
- Jackknifing: An incident where the trailer of a truck swivels way beyond the angle of the cab is referred to as Jackknifing. This is usually the case when a truck has run out of control or on the road that is wet or covered with ice.
- Rollover Accidents: A rollover occurs when a truck tips onto its side or roof, often due to high speeds, sharp turns, or uneven weight distribution in the cargo.
- Underride Accidents: In these accidents, a smaller vehicle gets underneath the back part or the side of the big rig. This kind of accident can be especially fatal since the cars of a passenger car class are squashed.
- T-Bone Accidents: A T-bone or side-impact collision takes place when a truck collides with a side of another vehicle usually during an intersection or turn.
Legal and Liability Issues in Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are usually more complicated than typical car accidents because they often involve multiple parties. Determining liability can be challenging, and several entities may be held responsible. This is where truck accident attorneys play a crucial role, helping victims navigate the legal complexities and determine which parties are liable, including:
Truck Driver
If there were misconduct on the side of the driver like drunken driving, reckless driving, or defiance of the traffic laws they will be held responsible for the occurrence of the accident.
Trucking Company
The company that owns, or operates a particular truck is liable if it disregards the vehicle’s maintenance, and safety standards or pressures drivers to work beyond the legally allowed hours.
Truck Manufacturer
If the mechanical failure or a defect was a contributing factor to the accident, then the manufacturer of the truck or the mechanical part in pertinent could be legally charged.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents occur in many circumstances, and their causes are sometimes easy to avoid. Some of the most common causes include:
Distracted Driving
Truck drivers can also get distracted by their phones and GPS or any other device found within the cab. A brief absence of focus is often equal to a terrible accident that can take place at any given time.
Speeding
Owing to time constraints, the drivers of the trucks will often over speeding and as a result; they cannot brake or change lanes evenly because of the raw power that the trucks possess, especially in areas with poor Lightings, or during rainy or snowy period or during rush hours.
Improper Maintenance
Trucks have maintenance schedules to accomplish to allow them to be safe on the road. Such problems may range from brake failure, a blown tire or a malfunctioning engine and if not sorted out on time they can be calamitous.
Weather Conditions
This is because the handling of trucks become worse during incidents like rainfall, snow or ice. Winter brings with it bad visibility and slippery surface where by drivers are more likely to experience skidding, jackknifing or rolling over.
Improper Loading
If the cargo is loaded or tied incorrectly it may move over the course of the trip, making the truck uneven. This increases the chance of rollovers or loss of control.
Conclusion
Truck related accidents are a real problem and they take many lives each year. Minimising the number of truck accidents demands the effort from the truck drivers, the trucking companies, the vehicle makers, and the rest of the road users. Most of these are preventable accidents by paying attention, enacting laws, and using technology.