4 Most Common Types of Truck & 18-Wheeler Accidents - Lawsuit Legal

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An Attorney's Guide to Trucking Accidents

What Types of Truck Accident Are Most Common?

Semi-trailer collisions generally occur on a highway due to either mechanical failure, vehicle failure, or operator failure.

The accident can involve other vehicles their size, smaller cars or trucks, or perhaps even unknowing pedestrians.

They may occur for a number of assorted reasons: the semi-truck driver may experience inclement weather, poor vehicle maneuverability, defective or poor truck maintenance, fatigue, as well as plain negligence.

Any time a vehicle is involved in an accident, there are several things that can result from the incident.

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These mostly include injury to people and damage to property. Some effects can be minimal, while there are also those that may be more damaging than others.

A crash involving a semi-truck can have serious consequences, including the destruction of a vehicle and other property damage, permanent disability, or even death.

Given the nature of a semi-truck collision, it’s important to know what kinds there are, and what to do in case you’re ever involved in such an accident.

 

The following will explain what collision types you are most likely to encounter and the steps to take if you do.

 

The common accidents include:

These are the most commonly encountered accidents involving big rigs and semi-trucks.

  • Jacknife
  • Head-On Collisions
  • Truck Rollovers
  • Tire Blowouts

 

The Most Important Steps to Remember If Involved In a Truck Crash:

The most significant action you can take to impact your case is to have professional representation advocating on your behalf.

  • Contact A Lawyer
  • Stay At The Scene Of The Collision
  • Go Through A Medical Evaluation
  • Deal With The Appropriate Insurance Company

The Different Types Of Commercial Vehicle Accidents

There are many different types of semi-truck collisions. Four of the most common are briefly discussed below.

  • Jackknife: Jackknife is a term used by commercial truck accident lawyers and law enforcement to describe a type of semi-truck accident where a truck cab slides off in one direction and its trailer slides off the opposite way. It’s quite possible that a truck can overturn when this happens because it’s totally out of control. This usually is caused by a problem with the brakes. When this type of commercial vehicle accident occurs, there may be other motorists involved. It’s a very precarious situation and can be quite dangerous for the truck driver and the other people on the road.

    Jackknife collisions are also common when a large truck is backing into another vehicle or car. This will cause the rear of the larger vehicle to hit the bumper or side of the smaller vehicle. With so much weight and pressure of the large semi-truck crashing into a lesser vehicle, the damage can be immeasurable.
  • Head-On Collisions: A head-on collision is another horrible way for a semi-truck to crash into another car. In this scenario, one truck is driving straight forward at full speed into another vehicle and causing extreme damage. Head-on collisions are extremely dangerous to both drivers, sometimes even fatal.
    Head-on collisions are more common on smaller, more narrow roads. They can happen because the truck was speeding or not focusing on the road. The general cause happens when trying to pass another vehicle and an oncoming car or truck isn’t observed. The result is devastating.
  • Truck Rollovers: When a semi-truck driver loses control over the vehicle they’re driving, it can roll over. This situation happens more frequently particularly with large trucks than small cars. Various circumstances can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle. Inclement weather, poor maintenance, and fatigue are just three reasons. When a semi-truck rolls over, it’s important to keep clear of it to the best of your ability. Many smaller vehicles have been crushed due to such an accident.
  • Tire Blowout: Tire blowouts can happen to any vehicle on the highway. Unfortunately, when this happens to a fast-moving semi-truck, it can sometimes send the vehicle on a spiral. This means swerving from one lane of the road to another with very little control. The result may be possible collisions with other vehicles on the highway, or with a pedestrian in more populated settings.
Take Away: Accidents involving large commercial vehicles are very serious events, more often than not, resulting in significant property damage, physical harm, and death.

What To Do Immediately After a Semi-Truck Accident

hit from behind accident stats

Semi-truck accidents are often unpleasant situations. There are ways, however, for you to deal with this problem in a positive and productive manner.

You can’t always control the moments leading to the accident, but you can control what happens after. First off, it’s very important to stay calm.

That way, you can properly follow the appropriate procedures of what you should do after the accident. These 4 steps are important to remember:


1. Contact a Lawyer

  • When one or more people are injured in an accident, it’s important that they retain an auto accident lawyer to help them receive fair compensation and justice. Many people may not realize that they have legal rights, and that they can seek legal counsel to help them with the investigation and defense of their case. An attorney may also be needed for the person or driver who was at fault in the situation.

    A person who is hurt in an accident should first seek out medical help for their healing, however, it may be necessary to also find a successful personal injury lawyer in this case. When the medical bills start to incur, a proper settlement can help alleviate the stress stemming from trying to pay such expenses. Semi-trailer accidents have the potential to cost many people thousands of dollars in hospital bills, as well as repairs to their vehicles. If you have suffered some type of injury in a car, bus, or other type of vehicle in a semi-trailer accident, you should talk to a legal representative immediately.

2. Stay At The Scene Of The Collision

  • While you may want to get things over with right away, leaving the scene of the accident isn’t the best way to achieve this. It can also be illegal. When the authorities arrive, it’s important to be as cooperative as possible. Settle everything with the police and with the other party involved.

    Exchange insurance information, and copy down the name of the company the truck driver is working for. Take proper photos of the vehicles and the environment surrounding you. Should your claim have to go to court, there will be evidence on your side. Talk with potential witnesses, too. Write down anything they may have seen or heard.

    Most importantly, although not conclusive, leaving the scene of the collision such as in a hit-and-run scenario can often be indicative of guilt. It’s better to stop and wait for the authorities to give you permission to leave than to just take off. This way, there’s no question as to whether or not you were at fault.

3. Go Through A Medical Evaluation

  • When you’re involved in a semi-truck accident, you may face several different types of injuries. It’s important to note, however, head injuries in an accident can result in several delayed onset symptoms. The medical evaluation will help document your sustained injuries from pre-existing conditions.

    Remember that beyond your property, your health and safety is of paramount importance. Seek medical care first before going through the legalities. Another very important reason why going through this step is necessary is the very fact that in accidents, the medical evaluation of the doctor also serves as evidence for your claim. Otherwise, you may have no other documented basis for an injury claim.

4. Deal With The Appropriate Insurance Company

  • If you’ve been involved in a semi-truck accident due to the negligence of another driver, then dealing with the appropriate insurance company is an absolute must. However, it’s imperative that you don’t go through this process unprepared. Remember that you’re not that well-versed with accident insurance laws when compared to the insurance company themselves. Hence, you’ll want to ensure that you’re not simply giving in immediately to a settlement offered by the opposing insurance company. You've got to ensure that you receive that which you absolutely deserve.

    If you’ve suffered any kind of permanent injury, it’s imperative that you discuss this matter with your insurance company immediately. If the other driver fails to take responsibility for the accident and does not admit liability, you may end up paying for expenses from your own savings account.

    These types of accidents are common all across the roadways, especially on roads that are not monitored. In fact, there are many types of accidents on major roads that result in fatalities. The best way to find out whether or not your semi-truck driver is liable is to visit the claims adjustor's office of the trucking company. Once there, the claims adjuster will be able to investigate the incident and determine if any negligence occurred. The claims adjustor will also examine the scene of the accident and determine its location. Remember that when filing a claim, the claim adjuster's office is thinking of the driver's best interests. They’re there to help ensure an accident is investigated as thoroughly as possible for you and your insurance.

Following these steps ensures your case or settlement will be properly handled. How much your settlement is worth involves several factors. The causes and types are linked. When it comes to the primary concern over your health and wellbeing the type of crash has a great impact.

When seeking recovery, the cause of the crash has serious implications for the handling of your case and legal strategy.

Contact a Commercial Truck Injury Lawyer

Semi-trucks are a common sight on any state or nation’s highways. Because of their intimidating size and the stressful nature of the drivers' jobs, it's common for these vehicles to become the root cause of accidents. Typially they lead to bigger insurance, bigger injuries, and bigger payouts.

However, the trucking carriers and their insurers typically jump right into action to protet their interests.

Most victims and their law firms start the fight on the back foot, already seven steps behind. You deserve better.

If you find yourself involved in a crash, Lawsuit Legal should be your first call.

Our truck accident attorneys will handle everything if we take your case and jump into action immediately to see you are compensated fairly.

Semi collision cases are complex, challenging, legal matters. If you've been hit by a commercial vehicle, you deserve the best legal representation in your corner.

Put our expertise and reputation to your strategic advantage after an accident.

Call Lawsuit Legal now and get the legal help you need to obtain the best possible outcome.

 

 

 

 

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Please select what happened?
Were you injured / hurt?
What is the primary type of injury?
Were you hospitalized or receive medical treatment?
Were you at fault for the accident?
When did the accident happen?
Where did the accident happen?
Was the other driver driving a commercial vehicle?
Please share how best to contact you
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