When cruising along the road, it is inevitable that something will happen ahead. Your daily, quiet commute may tragically meet a horrible event. An accident may happen, and your day may just be interrupted by the sight of a massive truck trailer spinning out or crashing into other vehicles.
Truck accidents are not just a mere and sudden surprise. It can cause levels of stress unimaginable as the effects are life-altering and terrifying. The size and weight of vehicles make each type of accident overly hazardous. Every type of truck accident, regardless of where and when it happens, poses a very serious threat.
Common Truck Accident Scenarios and Their Causes
Recognizing the different types of truck accidents is one of the best ways to stay wary and, most of all, be prepared. We can never foresee when these will happen, but it is highly beneficial so you can familiarize yourself with these scenarios and potentially avoid a total disaster.
Additionally, truck accidents often involve multiple parties. With that said, complex legal issues will arise, and that can make it very challenging to navigate on your own, on top of the physical pain and other damages.
An experienced attorney from the Silkman Law Firm Injury and Accident Lawyer – Common Types of Truck Accidents can help you accomplish these tasks by managing the legal side of things and ensuring you’re properly compensated for any damages or injuries. In the meantime, let us take a closer look and dive into the most frequent truck accident scenarios and uncover how they happen:
- Rollovers – This is when a truck tips onto its side or roof. This imbalance is often due to sharp and sudden turns, speeding, or uneven cargo loads. This causes severe injuries and road blockages because it can potentially crash into other nearby vehicles.
- Rear-End Collisions – When a truck makes a sudden halt, it crashes into the vehicle in front, and its weight causes devastating damage.
- Head-On Collisions – This involves a truck crashing into another vehicle in a direct manner. The front impact is usually fatal, especially for smaller vehicles.
- Jackknife Accidents – This type of accident happens when a truck loses control of its trailer due to sudden maneuvering. Abrupt braking or slippery roads cause its trailer to swing out at a sharp angle, looking much like a folded jackknife. This position results in blockage, leading to multi-vehicle crashes.
- T-Bone Collisions – These collisions usually occur at intersections wherein a truck hits another vehicle perpendicularly. The truck’s huge size and the force of the impact damages the other vehicle significantly.
- Sideswipe Accidents – If a driver is not careful when changing lanes or merging, it can lead to a collision with another vehicle colliding along their sides. This even results in more subsequent collisions like rollovers, secondary crashes, or vehicles being pushed off the road.
- Wide-Turn Accidents – This happens when drivers make an abrupt stop and swing widely onto the left before making a right turn. Nearby vehicles can be hit from the sides or might get entrapped under the trailer.
Legal Challenges and the Role of Truck Accident Attorneys
Truck accidents can vary from rollovers to t-bone collisions, and they do come with its own set of challenges that can change the course of the legal action to take. The accident may be one or even a combination of collisions mentioned above.
Regardless, truck accident attorneys are very skillful in identifying which type of accident happened, investigating who was at fault, and identifying the important actions to take to secure compensation for you.
