Trucking accidents can turn your life upside down, leaving you with injuries, bills, and questions. At MSO Law, we’ve defended insurance companies in the past, so we know exactly how they work. Instead, we now use that insider knowledge to fight for people like you.
With over 1,000 cases handled and $50 million recovered in just five years, we take pride in giving every client a personalized experience. When you work with us, you’ll deal directly with a partner who’s ready to take your case to trial and fight for what’s fair.
Key Takeaways
- Common trucking accidents include rollovers, rear-end collisions, tire blowouts, and t-bone collisions.
- Truck accidents occur due to factors like driver fatigue, improper cargo loading, and mechanical failures.
- Preventing accidents involves proper training, regular maintenance, and using safety technology.
- Hiring a lawyer after an accident helps to secure fair compensation and proper handling of legal issues.
10 Common Trucking Accident Types
Trucking accidents can occur in many forms. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 5,700 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in 2021, marking a 4% increase from the previous year.
Here’s a closer look at the 10 most common types of trucking accidents, what causes them, and how they can be prevented.
1. Jackknife Accidents
Jackknife accidents occur when a truck’s trailer swings out, forming a sharp angle with the cab. They are caused by sudden braking, slippery roads, or poorly loaded cargo, and can lead to serious injuries like neck trauma. Preventing these accidents involves avoiding abrupt stops, and properly balancing loads.
2. Rollover Accidents
Rollovers happen when a truck flips onto its side or roof, usually due to sharp turns, speeding, or unbalanced cargo. These accidents may result in broken bones, spinal injuries, or fatalities. Preventive measures include securing cargo, reducing speed, and navigating turns carefully.
3. Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions involve a truck hitting another vehicle from behind or being hit itself. Common causes include distracted driving, tailgating, or mechanical failures. Injuries like whiplash and back damage are frequent outcomes. Keeping a safe following distance and maintaining brakes can help prevent these crashes.
4. Tire Blowouts
A tire blowout occurs when a truck tire bursts, often causing loss of control. Poor maintenance, road debris, or overloading are typical triggers. Blowouts can lead to secondary crashes and severe injuries. Regular tire inspections and proper inflation are critical to prevention.
5. Underride Accidents
Underride accidents happen when a smaller vehicle slides beneath a truck, often during sudden stops. Lack of underride guards or poor visibility increases the risk. These crashes frequently cause severe head or neck trauma. Installing underride guards and improving truck visibility are effective preventive measures.
6. Head-On Collisions
A head-on collision occurs when a truck crashes front-first into another vehicle, often due to driver fatigue, intoxication, or poor visibility. These accidents may result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. Making sure drivers rest and avoid distractions or impaired driving can reduce these risks.
7. Wide Turn Collisions
Wide turn collisions occur when a truck’s wide turning radius leads to a crash with nearby vehicles. Misjudged distances or failure to check blind spots are common causes. These incidents can result in broken bones and property damage. Proper driver training and turn signals help prevent them.
8. T-Bone (Side-Impact) Collisions
T-bone accidents occur when a truck strikes the side of another vehicle, typically at intersections. Causes include ignoring traffic signals or speeding. These crashes often lead to severe side injuries. Following traffic rules and driving cautiously at intersections can help avoid them.
9. Lost Load Accidents
Lost load accidents happen when improperly secured cargo spills onto the road. These incidents often lead to multi-vehicle crashes and severe injuries. Preventing them requires double-checking load security and adhering to weight limits.
10. Blind Spot Accidents
Blind spot accidents occur when a truck driver doesn’t see a nearby vehicle. Poorly adjusted mirrors or a lack of awareness contribute to these crashes, which can range from minor to severe. Using blind spot cameras and improving driver training minimizes this risk.
7 Causes of Trucking Accidents
Common causes include driver fatigue, distracted driving, speeding, mechanical failures, poor weather conditions, improperly loaded cargo, and intoxicated driving, each of which increases the likelihood of severe accidents and injuries.
Based on FMCSA data, 83% of fatal truck crashes in 2021 occurred on weekdays, when commercial vehicles are most active. This underscores the importance of addressing issues like driver fatigue, distracted driving, and speeding during busy workdays to reduce risks.
1. Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers often face long hours on the road, leading to exhaustion and slower reaction times. Fatigue reduces alertness, increasing the likelihood of errors like drifting lanes or delayed braking.
2. Distracted Driving
Using phones, eating, or other distractions take a driver’s focus off the road. Distractions can cause rear-end collisions, missed signals, and other dangerous errors.
3. Speeding
Driving over the speed limit reduces stopping distance and increases accident severity for large trucks. Speeding contributes to rollover accidents and makes crashes more severe.
4. Mechanical Failures
Faulty brakes, worn tires, and engine problems lead to accidents. Poor maintenance is a common cause of tire blowouts, brake failure, and loss of control.
5. Poor Weather Conditions
Rain, snow, and fog can make roads slippery and reduce visibility, making large trucks harder to control. Weather conditions increase the likelihood of jackknife and head-on collisions.
6. Improperly Loaded Cargo
Unbalanced or unsecured loads can shift during transit, causing trucks to tip or lose control. This is a frequent cause of rollover and lost load accidents.
7. Intoxicated Driving
Drugs or alcohol impair judgment, reaction time, and overall driving ability. Intoxicated driving leads to head-on collisions and other fatal accidents.
Common Injuries in Trucking Accidents
The injuries caused by trucking accidents can range from minor to life-threatening. According to FMCSA, there were 117,300 injury crashes involving large trucks in 2021. Injuries can include:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal damage
- Severe neck and back injuries
- Burns and lacerations
- Serious internal injuries
Legal Considerations in Trucking Accidents
Trucking accidents often involve multiple parties, including drivers, companies, or manufacturers. It is vital to incorporate Florida specific legal considerations when proving fault.
Legal challenges include dealing with insurers and complicated trucking regulations. Many truck accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay if they win your case. This allows victims to pursue justice without upfront financial stress.
Why Hiring a Lawyer After a Trucking Accident Matters
A lawyer can help protect your rights and handle the complicated process after a trucking accident. These cases often involve multiple parties, like drivers and trucking companies, and proving fault can be tricky.
An experienced lawyer knows how to gather evidence, deal with insurance companies, and fight to get you fair compensation for things like medical bills or lost wages. They also understand trucking laws, making it easier to handle any legal issues. Having a lawyer makes sure you have someone on your side to guide you through it all.
Let’s Take the Next Step Together
If you’ve been in a trucking accident, we’re here to help. At MSO Law, we don’t hand your case off to someone else—you’ll work directly with a partner who knows how to take on the insurance companies and win. Contact us today to get started.