What Are Common Types of Truck Accidents?

The following are common types of truck accidents. Most involve some combination of trucker negligence, insufficient truck maintenance or maneuverability issues on roads shared with cars and other vehicles.

• Jackknife truck accident: In a jackknife accident, the tractor and trailer form a 90-degree angle, causing the truck to stop suddenly. Other vehicles may collide with them because of the sudden stop.
• Rollover crashes: A variety of factors can cause a truck or car to flip. Some common factors that contribute to a rollover include speeding, steep inclines or declines, tripping on a curb, driving too fast on a curve and oversteering the vehicle.
• Rear-end accidents: Compared with a passenger vehicle, commercial trucks require more distance to come to a complete stop. The more the truck weighs, the more distance it needs to stop. It takes an 80,000-pound truck that is traveling at 30 mph on a dry and level road 100 feet to stop. Many drivers do not realize the limitations that large trucks have when it comes to braking. Following a commercial truck too closely can result in a rear-end collision.
• Underride crashes: An underride accident is a type of rear-end collision. These accidents occur when a smaller vehicle hits the back of the truck that is near the same height as the top of the vehicle, causing the vehicle to go underneath the rear trailer. Underride accidents can result in fatal injuries to the vehicle occupants.
• Mechanical brake failure and/or improper braking technique: Braking problems are sometimes mechanical in nature and sometimes involve human error. Brakes may fail because they are worn out or were not correctly installed or maintained. They may have overheated because of speed. The driver may have been to blame if she or he did not reduce the truck’s speed according to best practices.
• No zone accidents: Typically, commercial trucks have four blind spots, commonly referred to as the “no zone” areas. The larger the truck is, the larger the blind spot is. As a rule of thumb, if you can’t see the truck’s mirrors, then the truck driver can’t see you. Many truck accidents in Connecticut occur when motorists drive in a truck’s no zone.
• Wide-turn and squeeze accidents: Truckers often begin a wide turn by first swinging in the opposite direction of the intended turn. Cars that are trying to pass the truck or are traveling in a blind spot are at risk of being squeezed in such scenarios.

Work With Our Accident Team Today

If you or a family member has sustained an injury in a truck accident due to another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and property damage. Contact an experienced truck accident attorney today to learn about the legal rights available to injury victims.

Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers has the knowledge and resources to handle all types of truck accidents. The law firm is available to assist accident victims in Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford and the surrounding communities. Call us toll-free at 800-PERKINS. To schedule a no-obligation case evaluation, fill out the Free Case Evaluation form.