5 Common Types of Truck Accidents

Trucks are a critical component of our nation’s logistics infrastructure. However, due to their large size and heavy weight, there are unique dangers to the drivers of passenger vehicles with whom they share the road. Truck accidents are among the most dangerous types of motor vehicle accidents. Whether those accidents are due to driver error, poor roadway conditions, or improper truck maintenance, they can often result in severe and catastrophic injuries. If you have suffered an injury in a collision with a truck, a Tifton truck accident attorney can help you pursue legal recovery.  

Rollover Accidents 

Rollover accidents are dangerous in any vehicle, but truck rollover accidents are particularly dangerous. A trucking rollover accident occurs when a truck rolls over onto its side or top. Some common causes of truck rollovers include: 

• High winds 
• Taking curves too fast 
• Tire blowouts 
• Improperly loaded cargo

Truck rollovers are dangerous not only for truck drivers but also for the drivers of any vehicles that happen to be in their vicinity.   

Blindspot Accidents 

Passenger vehicles have fairly small blind spots, and they typically present an issue only when changing lanes. That is not the case for trucks. In addition to blind spots on the sides of the vehicle, trucks also have blind spots immediately in front of their cabs and directly behind their trailers, and those blind spots are big enough to accommodate multiple passenger vehicles. It is impossible for truck drivers to see anything in those blind spots, which can result in collisions with passenger vehicles. 

Jackknife Accidents 

Trucks have two components — a cab, where the driver sits, and a trailer, where the cargo is stored. Under normal circumstances, those two parts move in harmony with each other. Jackknifing occurs when those two parts move independently of each other, which often results in the trailer swinging out behind the cab. A jackknifing trailer can strike any vehicles that are in its vicinity, potentially causing severe accidents.  

Wide Turn Accidents 

A midsized sedan has an average length of 14-16 feet. A standard semi-truck has an average length of 70 feet. With an average length of four times a midsized sedan, trucks require much more room to make turns — especially right turns. However, turning a vehicle the size of a truck takes skill and finesse, and it is not uncommon for truck drivers to strike vehicles while attempting to make turns.  

Tire Blowout Accidents 

Tire blowouts can result in serious accidents in any type of vehicle, but as with many other types of car accidents, truck tire blowouts are particularly dangerous. A blown tire can cause a truck driver to lose control of the vehicle, which can cause it to jackknife. And even if the driver maintains control, truck tire blowouts often scatter large debris on the roadway that can strike other vehicles. Unfortunately, blown truck tires are often due to poor truck maintenance. 

Discuss Your Accident With a Tifton Truck Accident Attorney 

If you have been injured in a truck accident, you may be able to pursue compensation. For more information, please contact a Tifton truck accident attorney at the Hudson Injury Firm by calling 229-396-5848 or using our online form.