The 5 Most Destructive Types of Truck Accidents
There are many types of truck accidents, but in this piece, we’ll discuss 5 types that tend to be the most destructive.
Texas consistently ranks at or near the top for the number of fatal truck accidents, according to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of course, the Lone Star state’s sheer size accounts for a large part of this ranking—all the more reason to stay alert when traveling along our thousands of miles of asphalt ribbon.
Whether you drive a truck or share the highway with them, awareness of all the ways a truck can run afoul of the laws of physics can go a long way to keeping you safe.
5 TYPES OF TRUCK ACCIDENTS
Consider the five most destructive types of truck wrecks you never wish to encounter:
1. REAR-END COLLISIONS.
The bigger and heavier the vehicle, the longer it takes to stop. Truck wrecks like this happen when truck drivers are distracted by cell phones, too tired to pay attention, or driving a truck with poorly maintained brakes. Even when truck drivers are doing everything right, drivers of smaller vehicles can contribute to rear-end collisions by cutting into that large, inviting space the trucker needs to safely stop.
2. ROLLOVERS.
A truck can easily roll over in a number of situations:
- Entering a curve at a too-high speed
- Drifting out of a lane and correcting too sharply
- Swerving to avoid another vehicle
- Loss of control due to a tire blow-out
3. UNDERRIDE.
Cars that follow a truck too closely can become lodged under the trailer if the trucker is forced to slam on the brakes.
4. BLIND SPOTS AND WIDE TURNS.
A simple rule of thumb is, if you as a car driver can’t see a truck’s mirrors, the truck driver can’t see you. It goes both ways—truckers should always assume there’s a car or motorcycle lurking in blind spots when changing lanes or making a wide, right-angle turn.
5. UNSECURED LOAD.
Loads that aren’t properly secured, particularly on a flatbed truck, can be a deadly hazard to both truckers and other drivers when tons of weight shift to one side or spill all over the highway.
Involved in one of the many truck accidents that occur in Texas each year? Let us shoulder the load while you recover. Contact us today.
Pat Maloney, Jr. is a skilled San Antonio personal injury lawyer who has acted as lead counsel and co-counsel in many multi-million dollar verdicts throughout Texas. Pat Maloney represents people injured in car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and more. He is well known for his expertise in representing victims of serious personal injuries and has participated as a lecturer in the field of personal injury litigation. He has been named as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” Reference Book every year for the last five years.