There are several common types of truck accidents, of which all drivers should be aware (a truck is classified as large if its gross vehicle weight rating exceeds 10,000 pounds.) This is particularly important information in a country as expansive as the US, especially rural states like Ohio, where large trucks are a vital component for shipping goods. But with increased traffic comes increased risk of accidents, as well as a higher potential for serious damage due to the size and weight of large trucks.
One of the most lethal types of truck accidents is an underride accident.
These generally occur when a truck stops suddenly and the car approaching slides beneath the trailer, frequently shearing off the top of the smaller vehicle. The deadliness of this type of truck accident highlights the importance of leaving enough space between the two vehicles, and constant vigilance of any driver following a large truck.
Jackknifing is another of the most common types of truck accident
Resulting from the truck braking suddenly and causing the trailer to fold into a 9 degree angle. Not only could this also cause an underride accident, but it can also cause the truck to roll over or overturn and obstruct the roadway.
Rollover accidents - one of the most deadly types of truck accident.
This type of accident is caused by the driver losing control and the tractor-trailer rolling over, which can result in the contents being spilled across the road, making this an incredibly messy and one of the most expensive (and depending on the contents, potentially hazardous to the environment) types of truck accident.
It is important to remember that large trucks also have much larger blindspots, which is when a vehicle has poor or no visibility in key areas. To bring awareness of this common types of truck accident are the common messages on tractor-trailers that read “if you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you”. Drivers of both passenger vehicles and large trucks must pay heed to this notion to prevent large truck accidents when possible.
While the following accidents are not solely relegated to large trucks, as with the preceding types of truck accident, the dangers are far greater to all motorists who might potentially be involved.
The first of these types of truck accidents result from tire blowouts.
In highways across the country, evidence of tire blowouts are a common sight. While it is true that large trucks have more tires upon which to rely temporarily in case of a blowout, due to the size and possible load, resulting catastrophes can include not only the many types of truck accidents mentioned earlier but, depending on what the truck is hauling, can result in waste, costly cleanup and environmental damage.
Closing the list of types of truck accidents are the rear end and head-on collision.
As with all other types of trucks accidents, both can be especially dangerous for the smaller vehicle involved. In a rear end collision, a large truck drives over the back of the vehicle ahead of it, whereas the head-on collision involves the truck hitting another vehicle from the front.
1,276 U.S. workers driving or riding in a motor vehicle on a public road died in a work-related crash in 2018, and of these deaths, tractor trailers, semis and tanker trucks were involved in 38% of these fatalities, despite the fact that large trucks are vastly outnumbered by passenger vehicles. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that in crashes which involve large trucks and other vehicles, 98% of the fatalities occur to the people in passenger vehicles.
If you or your loved ones have been in an accident with a large truck such as a semi or tanker, please contact the accident experts at Cowan & Hilgeman Law.
