Any auto accident can severely injure someone, but a tractor-trailer accident has the potential to cause some of the most catastrophic or fatal injuries.
If a trucker causes the accident, the driver, trucking company, or both can be liable for your damages. These accidents are often complex and may involve many state and federal laws. They also feature large insurance companies for carriers that want to protect company profits.
Learn below about the most common types of truck accidents. Then, you can speak to a truck accident lawyer in your area for a free consultation. A truck accident attorney has the skills and knowledge to maximize your settlement.
What Kinds Of Commercial Vehicles Are In Crashes?
The most common commercial vehicle accident involves an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer. Statistics show that tractor-trailers are the most common accidents involving commercial vehicles. However, commercial vehicle accidents also may involve the following:
- Passenger buses
- Cargo trucks
- Dump trucks
- Fire trucks
- Fuel trucks
- Flatbed trucks
- Cement trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Moving vans
- Tanker trucks
- Logging trucks
Speak to a truck accident lawyer if you suffered an injury in a crash involving one of these vehicles. A commercial vehicle crash is more complex than most other accidents, so you want an experienced personal injury attorney to help.
What Are Common Types Of Truck Crashes?
When a commercial truck hits a passenger vehicle, driver error or company negligence is often to blame. Below are common kinds of truck accidents that may lead to severe injuries. Talk to a truck accident attorney today if another party has injured you in one of these accidents:
Blind Spot Accident
Commercial trucks have large blind spots on their vehicles’ sides, front, and rear. The driver can be at fault in a blind spot accident if they hit you while you were in their blind spot. Truck drivers must drive carefully and check their blind spots before changing lanes, backing up, etc.
Jackknife Accident
A jackknife crash happens when a truck skids or slides on the road and the trailer swings to the left or right. The trailer can slam into anything on the road, and many vehicles can be involved. Poor road conditions, improper driver training, and curve speeding may cause jackknife accidents.
Rear-End Crash
A rear-end collision can happen for many reasons. A trucker may be liable for a rear-end crash where their rig slams into the rear of another vehicle. Common causes of trucker-caused rear-end crashes include distracted driving, speeding, reckless driving, and driver fatigue. Poor driver training and inexperienced drivers also may cause rear-end accidents, and the trucking company can be partially responsible.
Rollover Crash
A big rig that turns on its side in a crash can cause devastating or fatal injuries. A tripped rollover happens when the rig’s tires hit a median or curb, causing the vehicle to overturn. An untripped rollover happens when a curve or oversteer causes the center of gravity to shift, causing the accident.
Head-On Crash
Two-lane highways have too many head-on crashes, and one involving a truck may be deadly. Common causes of head-on accidents are distracted driving, intoxication, and driver fatigue. Many head-on collisions involving tractor-trailers are fatal for those in the smaller vehicle. Truck crash statistics show that the most common truck crashes happen in rural areas on two-lane roads. Many of these crashes are head-on collisions.
Runaway Trailer Crash
A truck trailer can detach and become impossible to control. An out-of-control trailer hurtling down the highway can cause a devastating accident. Liable parties may be the trucker, employer, or third-party company that owns the trailer.
Underride Crash
An underride crash happens when a car slides under the back or side of the truck trailer. Some underride crashes are the other vehicle’s fault, but the trucker causes some. For example, a side underride crash may happen because the truck driver runs a red light and blocks the intersection with their trailer, causing other drivers to slide under the side.
Tire Blowout Crash
Truck tires are under high pressure, and a blowout can cause a truck to lose control and crash. The blowout can also spray rubber shards on the road, causing other drivers to be startled or lose control.
Wide Turn Crash
A wide-turn crash usually happens when a commercial truck turns right and hits another vehicle or pedestrian. A truck turning right needs a lot of space to complete the turn safely, but the driver may need more training. Also, a following vehicle may think the right-turning truck is turning left, so they may attempt to pass on the right.
Sideswipe Crash
A sideswipe accident happens when a tractor-trailer grazes the side of another vehicle. This accident usually occurs with two vehicles going opposite directions but also with those going in the same direction. A sideswipe crash may have a relatively minor initial impact, but the affected vehicle can lose control and hit other vehicles, slam into the median, or flip on the shoulder.
T-Bone Crash
A T-bone crash happens when a commercial vehicle slams into the side of another vehicle, usually at an intersection with a red light or stop sign. The trucker may be distracted or sleepy and run a red light, causing the crash. A T-bone crash with a truck can be devastating for the smaller vehicle occupants because the side of the vehicle offers scant protection in an accident.
What Is The Most Common Reason For Truck Accidents?
Some sources state that driver fatigue is the most common reason for truck accidents. Federal regulations state that commercial truckers can drive up to 11 hours after not driving for 10 hours. However, truck drivers and employers may feel pressured to drive more than they should to get loads delivered on time. Drivers may be on the road too tired to drive safely.
A truck accident attorney can review the evidence to decide if truck driver fatigue was a factor in your accident. They can review the truck’s electronic data recorder and the driver’s cell phone records. This important evidence can show if a trucker was driving longer than they should.
How Do You File A Truck Accident Claim?
Like any personal injury claim, a truck accident usually involves negligence. A person is negligent if they do not use a level of care that a ‘reasonable person’ would in the same situation. Negligence in a personal injury claim includes these elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages.
As the truck accident victim, you must show that the trucker owed you a duty of care. This is usually straightforward for any motor vehicle accident, especially if the liable driver holds a commercial driver’s license or CDL. The trucker owed you a duty of care to drive safely and not injure others while on the road.
Next, you must show that the trucker violated their duty of care and caused the accident. For example, suppose the trucker was speeding and didn’t slow down in stopped traffic, causing them to rear-end you. Simply violating the speed limit may prove that the trucker breached the duty of care.
Then, you must show that the breach of duty of care caused your injuries, such as a broken arm and leg. Finally, you must prove you have damages, such as medical bills and lost income.
A truck accident attorney is skilled and experienced in proving negligence in these severe crashes. They will work tirelessly to prove that the driver or liable party violated their duty of care and caused the accident and your injuries. Proving negligence to a stingy trucking insurance company may be more complicated. Trying to do it yourself can be challenging, but your attorney can assemble a convincing truck accident case.
Who Can You Sue In A Truck Accident Lawsuit?
One different aspect of a truck accident claim from a regular car accident is there can be more than one party to blame. A skilled tractor-trailer accident attorney will review your case to ensure that every liable party is held accountable.
The trucker is usually the first defendant in a truck accident. They can be at least partially liable for your damages if they drove negligently. However, their employer also can be responsible for compensating you. The trucker works for the trucking company, which is usually vicariously liable for its employee’s negligent actions. The trucking carrier also can be responsible for other reasons, such as not maintaining its rigs to be safe for the road.
Other parties also can be sued for causing the accident. For instance, if the company that loaded the cargo did not secure it correctly, it can be responsible for your losses.
Another liable party can be the company or people in charge of maintaining the truck. For example, if a truck tire or brake fails, the maintenance company or even the manufacturer can be responsible.
Large carriers and insurance companies are usually involved in big rig accident cases. They will often have aggressive adjusters and attorneys working for them to reduce the amount of claims. Hiring a seasoned truck crash attorney will level the playing field and increase the chances of a favorable settlement.
What Are Potential Truck Accident Damages?
A semi-truck accident can cause severe injuries and damages. If another party caused the accident, you can be entitled to compensation in these areas:
- Current and future medical expenses. You can receive compensation for future medical costs for a severe injury, including hospitalization, surgery, home care, and rehabilitation.
- Loss of earnings, including lost future income for a severe injury. Some severely injured truck crash victims may be unable to work so they can receive money for lost earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering: Truck accident injuries can be severe and painful, so pain and suffering compensation can be necessary.
- Property damage. Your vehicle may be totaled, so the insurance company may have to pay for a replacement.
You also may be entitled to other damages in a severe accident, such as money for permanent disability, scarring, or disfigurement.
What Is A Truck Accident Claim Worth?
Trucks are large and heavy, so compensation from a severe crash can be higher than a regular auto accident claim. However, truck accident settlements can be in varying amounts, depending on these factors:
- Liability: If the trucker or employer is at fault, the claim will be worth more than if you were partially to blame for the accident.
- Injuries: A truck accident claim is worth more for more severe injuries. A broken back with nerve damage will be worth more than a broken arm claim.
- Medical bills: Injuries with high medical expenses are worth more than those with lower medical bills. For example, an injury requiring surgery is worth more than one without surgical intervention.
- Insurance coverage: A severe injury may be worth a lot, but you may not receive full compensation if only $50,000 of coverage is available. However, most trucking companies have large insurance policies by law, so full compensation is more likely.
A tractor-trailer attorney’s skill and experience also affect the claim amount. Insurance companies know which attorneys in a city are ones to be wary of or even fear. They also know the attorneys that aren’t as skilled or tenacious. Hiring a proven personal injury attorney with an impressive record of settlements and verdicts can lead to a higher settlement check. The insurance company knows it can pay more in a lawsuit, so it may be more likely to offer a fair settlement.
Contact A Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney Today
Did a truck driver injure you in a commercial vehicle accident? You may be overwhelmed with severe injuries, but a truck accident attorney can hold the liable party accountable. Speak to a tractor-trailer accident lawyer now to determine if you have a case that can lead to compensation. You do not need to pay out-of-pocket for your truck accident attorney’s services; they are paid by contingency agreement at the end of the case. So don't wait. Pick up the phone and schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney today.