Commercial trucking is an essential business that keeps our country running. Since it is essential, though, truck drivers sometimes feel immense pressure to get their shipments to their destination in as little time as possible.
Even though there are laws to ensure drivers are taking time off in between long hours of hauling, sometimes they still end up driving while exhausted, distracted, or worse. When large trucks collide with other trucks and regular-sized motor vehicles, the injuries and damages caused can be serious, or worse.
Commercial truck accidents can easily turn fatal—of those who die in crashes between a large truck and a passenger vehicle, 96% of those people were in the passenger vehicles, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). When the collision isn’t fatal, the injuries that you endure can be debilitating and change your life.
You shouldn’t have to deal with your injuries and the financial complexities following an accident that wasn’t your fault.
Having a Murphysboro truck accident lawyer from Prince Law Firm on your side will help you fight for your rights and recover the compensation that you deserve.
Common Types of Truck Accidents
The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that nearly 6,000 large trucks are involved in a fatal crash each year. Another 117,300 trucks are involved in crashes resulting in injuries.
Whether you’re driving on more rural roads, streets in the city, or on highways, you’ll likely see a commercial truck driving alongside you at some point.
Truckers are specially trained and follow driving time limits, known as hours of service, set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These rules limit how long truckers can drive in one day to 11 hours of driving with ten consecutive hours off. Even though they have these regulations in place, they can still make mistakes that lead to negligent and reckless driving.
Here are some of the common types of truck accidents that can happen when a trucker is drowsy, distracted, or drives aggressively, or if a part of their truck malfunctions:
- Jackknife. This kind of accident is classified by the shape that the rig makes. A jackknife is when the cab and trailer form a 90-degree angle, or an L-shape, which can happen when a truck brakes too hard or the trailer is overloaded. Although fatalities from these types of accidents are less than one percent per data published by the FMCSA in 2015, they are still dangerous for truckers and other drivers alike.
- Rollover. When regular-sized vehicles roll over, we know it can be a dangerous scenario. When a tractor-trailer rolls over, which is much larger and heavier than a regular vehicle, it can be deadly for everyone involved. Just under 7 percent of fatal truck crashes are rollovers, which is when the rig overturns.
- Override or underride. When a commercial truck rear-ends or merges into a smaller vehicle, or when a smaller vehicle rear-ends a large truck, that’s when an override or underride accident can occur. These accidents can be dangerous because the drivers and passengers of the smaller vehicles can easily become trapped or crushed by the truck.
- Blind spot. Large trucks have blind spots surrounding their rigs where they are unable to see smaller vehicles. If a car is in its blind spot, it can collide with it when they try to switch lanes or when they brake too quickly.
- Lost load. When the goods in a trailer are not loaded correctly, they can shift while a trucker is driving. This can cause the trailer to open and spill its contents onto the road or onto the other vehicles on the road.
If you’ve been involved in any of the above truck accidents or one that wasn’t listed, you could benefit from legal representation. We offer free consultations at Prince Law Firm. So, whether a collision with an 18-wheeler, delivery vehicle, or some other large automobile caused your injuries, consider reaching out to our Murphysboro truck accident lawyer to discuss what legal options are available to you.
What Causes Truck Accidents?
The same NSC article cited above reports that nearly 6,000 large trucks are involved in a fatal crash each year. Another 117,300 trucks are involved in crashes resulting in injuries.
When you’re driving around large trucks in a regular-sized vehicle, it’s important to know what causes the different truck accidents that you saw above. An FMCSA Large Truck Crash Causation Study lists some of the most common reasons that commercial truck accidents happen with regular-sized vehicles so that you can be more aware:
- Block in traffic flow
- Unfamiliar with route
- Distraction from an object inside the vehicle
- Speeding
- Inattention to surroundings
- Drowsiness
- Sickness
- Part malfunction
It’s important to note that truck drivers are not always the person at fault for a large truck accident. Sometimes, the trucking company is at fault for not checking the rig properly, or for knowingly installing a defective part.
Other times, the truck manufacturer is at fault because they distributed a product that is not up to par. And even still, sometimes the driver of the passenger vehicle is at fault for driving recklessly around the tractor-trailer, drunk driving, or for plenty of other reasons.
Speak With a Murphysboro Truck Accident Lawyer for Free
At Prince Law Firm, we know that by understanding exactly what happened in your crash, we can more effectively build your case and help you get justice. We also know how hard a truck accident can be on you and your family. Your injuries could completely change your life, but the financial aspect of your accident shouldn’t have to.
With our help, you’ll be able to recover the proper monetary compensation for your injuries, damages, and any other aspect of your case that caused a financial burden, like lost wages from missed work.
Reach out to our office today so we can begin discussing your potential claim with a Murphysboro, IL truck accident lawyer.
