Truck accident fatalities in America rose by 17% between 2020 and 2021, taking the already alarmingly high death toll to a staggering 4,714. Additionally, in the same year, around 155,000 victims were left with injuries ranging from mild aches to lifelong disabilities. The sad reality is that many of these accidents can be avoided if those involved in the trucking industry—and average vehicle drivers—took a little more care on the roads. With this in mind, we take a look at the six most dangerous types of truck accidents.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions often occur when drivers fail to give right of way to oncoming traffic, whether it’s regular motorists or truck drivers at fault. Even though the right of way is a simple enough concept, the specific rules can feel a little complex, which is why many drivers get confused and end up causing serious accidents. Other reasons why head-on collisions happen include fatigued driving and tire blowouts, which are both common in the trucking industry.
Depending on the speed and size of both vehicles, a head-on collision with a truck often leaves regular passenger vehicles crushed beyond recognition. Unfortunately, many head-on collisions result in fatalities. If a loved one dies following a truck accident, our truck accident lawyer will help you file a wrongful death lawsuit to claim compensation and make those at fault take accountability.
Rear-End Accidents and Rollovers
Rear-end accidents are some of the most common types involving trucks, but they’re easily avoidable by maintaining a safe stopping distance. However, considering the size and weight of a truck, when regular vehicles collide with the back of a truck, the result is often a devastating underride accident. Conversely, when a truck driver rear-ends a passenger vehicle, there’s a high risk of a rollover accident.
Regardless of which driver is responsible, the types of injuries sustained in these types of accidents are often catastrophic including spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The aftermath of the accident can impact a victim’s life in countless ways and may last a lifetime, which is why they deserve to team up with a truck accident injury lawyer from Karns & Karns Truck Accident Attorneys to claim compensation.
Sideswipe Accidents
Overtaking is a part of highway driving that motorists have to get used to, but there’s a lot more at stake when driving alongside a truck. Because of the size and the way they traverse, a truck and another vehicle can make contact, which results in a sideswipe accident. A sideswipe often happens because a trucker is distracted or fails to see a car in their blind spot. In other cases, the following can lead to sideswipes:
- Adverse weather including strong winds
- Slippery conditions
- Distracted driving
- Intoxicated driving
Given the size difference between trucks and regular vehicles, the latter is often flung into other lanes of traffic, which can cause devastating accidents and injuries. If your life has been changed by a truck accident, speak to a vehicle accident lawyer and claim compensation. This relationship starts with a free consultation, which is your opportunity to explain your circumstances, ask us questions, and receive legal advice.
Jackknife Accidents
Driving a truck takes a lot more skill than a regular vehicle because they’re a lot larger and move in a unique way. When inexperienced drivers operate commercial trucks, they are more prone to making errors when taking corners or braking, which can result in a jackknife injury.
A jackknife is when a truck’s trailer forces the cab to one side, which creates a shape that resembles a flip knife. When the trailer extends beyond its own lanes, it can take out large amounts of traffic until everything comes to a standstill. In jackknife accidents, there can be more than 100 cars involved, especially if it causes a pile-up.
The majority of jackknife incidents happen during adverse weather conditions, when a driver brakes suddenly, or when a sharp turn causes the trailer to swing out to the side. If you witness or are involved in a jackknife accident, it’s imperative that you call 911 and allow the police to manage traffic flow to reduce excess damage.
Wide-Turn Accidents
Truck drivers have a duty of care to make sure they maneuver their vehicles safely, which involves making wide turns, especially in tight spots. To avoid navigating a narrow turn, some drivers will pull out in the opposite direction to widen the gap. However, this puts other motorists at risk including motorcycles approaching the blind spot.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), truck drivers should carefully move into the lane furthest away from the turn, and then safely make tight turns through the closer lane. However, even taking this approach, truck drivers must fully assess the road to make sure they don’t turn into the path of another vehicle.
If you’ve been struck by a truck while it’s making a wide turn, take a stand by claiming the compensation you deserve. If you’re in Texas, California, or Nevada, simply search for a “reputable truck accident lawyer near me”, and you’ll find Karns & Karns Truck Accident Attorneys waiting to discuss your case and then win.
T-Bone Accidents
When truck drivers fly through red lights, disregard the right of way, or drive through stop signs, there’s a high chance of a T-bone accident happening, which is when the front of the truck hits the side of another vehicle (creating a “T” shape). When the truck driver is fatigued or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, their judgment will be impaired, which means they’re more likely to drive recklessly and cause T-bone accidents.
Given the position of impact, it’s typically the passenger or driver of the other vehicle that comes off worse. The types of injuries caused by T-bone accidents can be truly devastating and often result in fatalities.
If you’ve been injured or a loved one has died following a truck accident, don’t hesitate to contact Karns & Karns Truck Accident Attorneys; we have offices in California, Texas & Nevada.
