Every year in the United States, there are more than 500,000 truck accidents. This information comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation. In addition, the country sustains approximately 5,000 truck crash fatalities annually.
These statistics point to the serious dangers involved in truck travel throughout the country. Commercial trucks in the U.S. can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. This weight can be dangerous in any collision. As such, all Connecticut drivers must be sure to drive safely, especially when in proximity to a large truck.
Contrary to popular belief, a dump truck accident is not uncommon in the United States. Collisions with dump trucks are often the most dangerous truck accidents. They cause severe injuries and significant property damage.
A dump truck accident can cause serious or even life-threatening injuries to those involved. Because dump trucks are enormous and heavy, many factors lead to crashes with these vehicles.
Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers has spent years providing professional legal representation to accident victims throughout the state of Connecticut. Visit one of our offices in New Haven, Bridgeport, Hartford, New London or Springfield. This helps us give our clients the best legal advice and support.
We think that if another driver hurts you or your family, they should be responsible for the damage. If you or a loved one experiences a dump truck accident in Connecticut, our lawyers will help you.
Causes Of A Dump Truck Accident
Construction sites in Connecticut mainly use dump trucks to transport loose materials. The back of the truck is on a hinge. This uses a hydraulic open-box mechanism, which is common in most dump trucks.
The truck’s hinge lets the front of the box lift. This allows it to dump the contents onto the ground behind the vehicle. Construction sites often use this function to transport and dump heavy concrete and other building materials. Someone needs to move these materials from one site to another.
A collision with these large, heavy vehicles is extremely dangerous for everyone involved. This is especially true for people in the passenger car. With little protection, people in the smaller vehicle can suffer serious and often life-threatening injuries.
The dump truck driver sits much higher than the passenger vehicle driver. This height helps protect them in a crash. The following are the most common causes of a dump truck accident:
- Back-Up: A dump truck driver has a hard time seeing clearly, especially when they are backing up. These serious visual limitations make seeing an oncoming vehicle incredibly difficult for the driver. Even those vehicles that park may face risks if they sit behind a dump truck.
- Tipping: Dump trucks are large, heavy, and unbalanced. These features make them prone to tip-overs. This can happen because of the materials in the open-box container.
Dump trucks often weigh up to 65,000 pounds when fully loaded. A 5-axle dump truck is huge and can cause a great amount of damage if there is a collision.
These vehicles are enormous. They often carry hazardous materials, which makes a crash even more dangerous. All Connecticut drivers should be extremely careful when driving near these dump trucks.
The most common outcome of a crash between a dump truck and a passenger vehicle results in the passenger car sliding under the truck. When this occurs, the situation places the passenger occupants in danger of suffering catastrophic injuries. If you or a loved one has survived a dump truck accident, Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers is here for you.
For a free legal consultation with a dump truck accident lawyer serving Bridgeport, call 203-437-6190
Free Consultations About Dump Truck Accidents
Have you been injured as a result of a dump truck accident? Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers is here to help guide accident victims toward a path to compensation.
We know that money cannot fix permanent injuries. However, holding the at-fault driver responsible can help the accident victim. This will make their life easier.
We believe that when someone else is careless and causes a serious crash, the victims deserve fair compensation. If you or a loved one suffers an injury in a truck crash, you may deserve compensation for your losses. Fill out a Free Case Evaluation Form today or call our toll-free number, 800-PERKINS, to learn more.