According to the FMCSR reports by the Federal Motors Carrier Safety Administration, truck accidents caused 21% of injury accidents and 1% of fatal traffic collisions in 2018. Even with more strict rules and regulations for truckers and trucking companies, truck accidents remain common. A commercial truck weighs thousands of pounds more than a small passenger vehicle, which is one main reason truck accidents are more dangerous than other types of traffic collisions. The type of truck accident is a key factor in the severity of injuries and property damage. Here are the most common types of truck accidents.
Rear-End Collisions
A rear-end collision occurs when the front bumper of one vehicle collides with the rear end of the vehicle ahead. Rear-end collisions by trucks can cause severe property damage and debilitating injuries and, in extreme cases, can even lead to fatalities. Different factors contribute to the severity of rear-end truck accidents, including the weight and speed of the truck.
Truck Rollovers
Truck rollovers are one of the most dangerous types of truck accidents. These accidents are typically caused when a trucker loses control of the vehicle or collides with an object causing it to roll over. This type of accident can occur due to different reasons, including improper cargo loading, over speeding, and unsafe lane changes.
Not only does the truck undergo excessive damage, but any pedestrians or motorists in the way can suffer life-altering injuries or death. In some cases, a rollover accident can lead to an explosion if a truck is carrying flammable cargo.
Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife accident is when the trailer of a semi-truck swings around alongside the truck. A truck can jackknife due to improper braking, poor road conditions, equipment failure, fatigued driving, over speeding, or other reasons. These accidents can be more dangerous if the trailer breaks away from the rest of the truck. It can cause multiple accidents on the road, such as a vehicle pile-up.
Sideswipe Accidents
Sideswipe accidents occur when a vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle. Commercial trucks are at a higher risk of causing a sideswipe accident because the blind spots of a commercial truck are much more significant than those of smaller passenger vehicles.
When a smaller vehicle gets sideswiped by a truck, it can be at risk of getting pushed off the road or being crushed by the massive weight of the truck. Sideswipe accidents are most common during lane change maneuvers.
Underride Accidents
An underride accident is one of the deadliest collisions involving large trucks. These occur when a truck driver suddenly brakes, causing a smaller vehicle behind the truck to get trapped and crushed under the trailer. Sometimes the smaller passenger vehicle gets cut into two pieces, causing the driver and passengers to get severely injured. In most severe cases, an underride accident can lead to fatalities. According to research, around 220 people die annually in underride truck accidents in the U.S. due to the absence of underride prevention bars on trucks.
Spilled Cargo Accidents
Although the truck driver may not load the cargo themselves, they have a duty to ensure the cargo is properly secured before they take the vehicle out on the road. Unfortunately, truck accidents due to spilled cargo are common. Large commercial trucks carry heavy loads, so when the freight or cargo is not properly secured, it poses a serious threat to the smaller vehicles traveling behind the truck.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions occur when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide with each other. Motorists in smaller vehicles experience the greater force of impact in a head-on collision with a truck. In addition, if the passengers are not wearing seat belts or the airbags malfunction, they can get thrown through the windshield, sustaining severe and possibly fatal injuries. Unfortunately, seat belts and airbags are not enough to protect passengers in some head-on collisions.
T-Bone Accidents
T-bone collisions involving large trucks occur when a truck driver collides with the side of another vehicle at a perpendicular angle. T-bone accidents are most common at intersections, but they can happen anywhere. T-bone accidents, also known as broadside accidents, are dangerous as there is little protection on the sides of a vehicle.
Insurance claims and lawsuits involving truck accidents can get complex, you should seek guidance from a Kansas City Trucking Injury Lawyer. They can help you gather evidence, establish liability for the accident, and complete all the paperwork.
