There are a variety of truck wreck causes that happen each year and most of the time the passenger in the opposite vehicles are those that get hurt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2013, there were an estimated 95,000 people injured in crashes involving large trucks with 72% being occupants of other vehicles.
Read this list of common truck wreck causes
Rollover Accidents – a rollover can occur when a truck attempts to take a sharp turn at a high speed or when a truck driver tries to overcorrect a drifting trailer. These are the most common and dangerous types of accidents involving a truck, killing hundreds of drivers each year.
Jackknife Accidents – jackknife accidents occur when the cab of the truck ends up facing the opposite direction of the trailer forming a 90-degree “V”. Causes of jackknife accidents include equipment failure, inability to brake properly, and adverse road conditions.
Tire Blowouts – a tire can blow out on any type of vehicle, but on a truck it can be much more catastrophic. They
can be caused in a number of ways including improper maintenance, overloaded trailer, tire defects or even poor road conditions. A driver may have a difficult time controlling the truck after one or more of the tires have been blown out.
Rear-End Collisions – rear-end collisions happen when a truck crashes into the backside of another vehicle. This can be caused by malfunctioning or poorly maintained brakes, an overloaded trailer, or simple driver negligence such as being distracted by a cell phone, speeding, or tired driving.
Underride Collisions – when a smaller vehicle gets lodged underneath a truck it is called an underride collision. This can occur by a truck driver slamming on the brakes, causing a following car to collide underneath the trailer. Although there have been more safety measures put into place, out of all types of truck accidents, underride collisions have the highest fatality rate.
Override Collisions – in an override collision, a truck runs over a car or smaller vehicle. This type is more likely to occur when drivers can’t see because of rain or fog, or while following too closely to another vehicle. Besides low visibility situations, the most common causes are brake failure, speeding, and bursting tires.
T-Bone Collisions – one of the most widely-known truck wreck causes, it occurs when a truck runs a red light or stop sign and crashes into the side of a vehicle that had the right-of-way creating a “T”.
Lost Load or Overloaded Trucks – Cargo that is improperly loaded or secured to the trailer can become dislodged during route and be scattered on the road behind the truck causing an immediate hazard to any vehicles following behind.
This list is of the most common truck wreck causes. If you have been in an accident involving a truck, you may be eligible for compensation. We would like to discuss this opportunity with you. Contact our trucking accident lawyer today by calling 864-235-4999 or completing our online form.