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Anyone who regularly drives will see commercial trucks out on the road, transporting cargo from one place to another. Most truck drivers move products all throughout the country, and carrying these goods is an essential part of our economy. However, if the driver or someone else is negligent on the road, it can result in one of the many different types of truck accidents.
Truck accidents are often very serious, leaving victims with serious (or even deadly) injuries and property damage. If you were hurt in one of the truck accidents mentioned below, it’s in your best interest to contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as you can. To schedule a FREE consultation with one of our experienced and compassionate lawyers at John Foy & Associates, call us today at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
12 Most Common Types of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can occur in many different ways. Since commercial trucks, such as semis and tractor-trailers, are so heavy and large, a collision can result in catastrophic injuries and other damages. Accidents can also happen in ways that aren’t as possible during collisions with two passenger vehicles.
Here are some of the most common types of truck accidents we see when working on truck accident victims’ cases.
1. Rollover Accidents
If a truck driver loses control of their vehicle, the truck can slide and begin to roll over. This can be extremely dangerous for any vehicles that are next to or passing the truck.
Truck rollover accidents can happen because of situations like:
- Driving too fast
- Turning too fast on a curve
- Tripping up on a curb
- Colliding with another object on the roadway
- Over-correcting after drifting off of the road
- Steep inclines or declines
Truck drivers must be very careful to know their vehicle’s limits, not exceed the speed limit for commercial trucks, and watch for potential hazards that could cause rollovers.
2. Jackknife Accidents
Jackknifing happens when a large truck begins to fold in half, forming a 90-degree angle with the cab and the trailer. Braking too quickly is typically the main cause of jackknifing, and it can turn deadly quickly.
When a truck jackknifes, it can drift into other lanes of traffic where other vehicles are traveling. It can also block off parts of the road, potentially leading to further accidents.
3. Wide Turn or “Squeeze Play” Accidents
When truck drivers go to make right turns, they usually need to swing slightly left to have enough space for the right turn. Before truck drivers do this, they must be aware of vehicles behind and to the right of them.
If a truck driver doesn’t watch carefully before turning right, a driver may think the truck is merging into the left lane and try to pass them on the right—causing the driver to get trapped or “squeezed” in between the front and back of the truck.
4. Underride Accidents
Underride accidents are especially scary for small vehicles or motorcycles. If a truck brakes too quickly and the vehicles behind are not prepared, they can actually collide with and get trapped underneath the back of the truck’s trailer. Needless to say, underride incidents are some of the deadliest types of truck accidents.
5. T-Bone Accidents
T-bone accidents happen when one driver runs a red light or doesn’t yield at an intersection, causing one vehicle to collide with the side of another and form a “T” shape.
Although t-bone accidents can happen with any type of vehicle, they are especially serious when they involve trucks. Truck drivers must be careful to not run red lights. Otherwise, their length and size puts them at higher risk of t-bone collisions.
6. Blind Spot Accidents
Every vehicle has blind spots that the driver must be aware of. Trucks are no exception, and they have bigger blind spots. This is why certain blind spots on the sides and rear of commercial trucks are typically known as “No Man’s Land.” Drivers at an increased risk of being hit, forced off the road, or even crashed in the truck’s blind spots.
7. Truck Tire Blowouts
If truck drivers are not diligent about checking their tires before they get back on the road, blowouts can happen. When a truck tire blowout happens, it can force the vehicle in certain directions that put other drivers at extreme risk of collision.
8. Rear-End Truck Accidents
Of course, rear-end collisions can happen at any time and while involving any two vehicles. However, rear-end accidents can be a lot more serious when they involve large trucks—even at low speeds.
9. Head-On Truck Accidents
Head-on collisions with commercial trucks can be incredibly severe and deadly for other vehicles, especially those that are much smaller than the truck.
10. Brake Failure Accidents
Although brake failure is rare in trucks because their maintenance is held to such high standards, it still happens. Truck brake failure can be caused by poor maintenance, improper installation, old brakes, or overheating from sudden high-speed stops or overuse. If a truck accident is caused by brake failure, multiple parties may be at fault.
Truck drivers should also be trained in how to appropriately apply their brakes to avoid accident risks and brake damage. If a driver is not taught proper brake adequate, the trucking company that employed them may be responsible as well as the driver.
11. Spilled Cargo Accidents
Trucks often carry a lot of cargo. If someone does not load and secure the cargo correctly, it can fall off of the vehicle and cause serious accidents with other drivers.
12. Truck Driver DUI Accidents
The DUI laws for commercial drivers are even stricter than for passenger vehicles.
In Georgia, a commercial truck driver cannot operate their vehicle with 0.04% or more blood alcohol content (BAC) in their system (Georgia Code § 40-6-391). That being said, some truck drivers still choose to drink and drive. If a trucker drives while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the consequences can be terrible.
Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer in Georgia for Free Today
If you were injured (or you lost a loved one) in any type of truck accident, you should not have to pay for someone else’s carelessness. At John Foy & Associates, we can investigate the accident, determine who was responsible, and help you fight for your legal rights to compensation. We’ve been doing just that for countless truck accident victims over the past 20 plus years.
Contact us today and we’ll give you a FREE consultation to discuss the details of the accident and how we can help. To get started with your FREE consultation, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online today.
