Truck accidents, like any other type of collision involving a passenger car, vary in type and seriousness. There are, however, certain types of crashes that are unique to commercial vehicles. These include underride and override crashes, jackknife accidents, and wide turn accidents. If you were involved in one of these types of collisions with a commercial truck driver and have questions about your recovery options, call our Tulsa truck accident legal team today for answers.
Underride Accidents
One of the most devastating types of truck accidents in which the driver of a passenger vehicle can be involved is the underride crash. This occurs when a much smaller passenger car rear-ends a commercial vehicle, and because it is so much lower to the ground than the truck, slides beneath it, often shearing off the top of the vehicle entirely. Underride accidents are notoriously devastating and often result in the deaths of the occupants of the smaller vehicle. In an effort to help prevent these accidents, regulators started requiring that new trucks be equipped with underride guards, which are made of pieces of steel and hang from the backs of large trucks.
Override Accidents
Override accidents are similar to underride crashes, in that a smaller vehicle becomes lodged underneath larger trucks. In these scenarios, however, it is the commercial truck that rear-ends the smaller vehicle, and due to its higher profile, actually slides over the rear of the car, crushing it from the back. Like underride accidents, these types of collisions tend to result in catastrophic injuries.
Jackknife Accidents
Jackknife accidents occur when a truck pivots at the point where the cab is attached to the trailer, so that the trailer ends up at a 90 degree angle to the cab. They typically occur when a truck tries to brake suddenly and the trailer portion, either due to equipment failure or improperly loaded cargo, is unable to come to a stop as quickly as the cab. Jackknife accidents often result in multi-vehicle pile-ups, as the trailer swings out and blocks multiple lanes of traffic.
Wide Turn Accidents
Wide turn accidents occur when a commercial vehicle takes a right turn, which also necessitates the swinging of the cab to the left. When other drivers don’t leave enough space for this maneuver, they could end up struck when attempting to use a neighboring lane or could even get caught beneath the truck in an underride situation.
Spilled Cargo Accidents
Another type of accident that occurs much more often with commercial vehicles is the spilled cargo crash, which occurs when improperly loaded cargo either falls off a flatbed truck, causing a multi-vehicle pile-up, or a trailer that hasn’t been weighted properly tips over, often while turning, causing it to spill cargo onto the roadway and into the path of other vehicles.
Blind Spot Accidents
Large trucks have large blind spots, sometimes called “no-zones,” directly in front of the cab, directly behind the trailer, and along both sides, especially the right side. A car that lingers in one of these areas may be invisible to the truck driver. Truck drivers are still responsible for checking mirrors and making sure a lane is clear before merging or turning, and many crashes happen when they do not.
Rollover Accidents
Trucks have a high center of gravity, which makes them prone to rolling over. Common causes include taking a curve or ramp too fast, sudden swerves, overcorrecting, poorly loaded or shifting cargo, and tank trailers carrying liquids that slosh. A rolling truck can crush other vehicles and spill its cargo across several lanes. Taller passenger vehicles such as SUVs also roll over more easily than cars, and rollovers are among the most deadly types of crashes.
Tire Blowouts
A blown tire on a loaded truck can cause the driver to lose control, and tire debris can strike other vehicles. Blowouts are often linked to underinflation, overloading, worn or damaged tires and poor maintenance. Trucking companies are required to inspect and maintain their vehicles, and a blowout can point to a failure to do so.
Runaway Trailers and Brake Failures
A trailer that comes loose from the truck, or a truck whose brakes fail on a grade, can cause catastrophic crashes. These accidents are often traced to improper coupling, worn hitches and safety chains, poorly adjusted brakes or skipped inspections.
Bridge and Overpass Strikes
When a tall truck hits a low bridge or overpass, the trailer can be torn open and debris can fall onto the road and other vehicles. These crashes usually come down to poor route planning, ignoring height warning signs or not knowing the height of the load.
More on Underride and Jackknife Crashes
Underride crashes are especially deadly because the car’s passenger compartment can strike the trailer at windshield level, so the car’s crumple zones and airbags may not protect the occupants. Federal rules require most trailers to have rear impact guards, but guards that are damaged or poorly maintained may fail, and side guards are not required. Jackknife crashes, in which the trailer swings out at an angle to the cab, often follow hard braking, speeding, slippery roads, empty or lightly loaded trailers and brake problems.
Accidents Involving Other Commercial Trucks
Semi-trucks are not the only commercial vehicles that cause serious crashes:
- Dump trucks often carry heavy, loose loads that can spill, and they frequently move in and out of construction zones;
- Flatbed trucks carry pipe, lumber, steel and machinery that must be properly secured, and loads that shift or fall can strike other vehicles;
- Hazmat trucks carry fuel, chemicals and other hazardous materials that can burn, explode or release toxic fumes in a crash; and
- Box trucks are often driven by workers with little experience handling a large vehicle, and their size and blind spots make them more dangerous than a passenger vehicle.
In all of these crashes, the driver, the trucking company, the company that loaded the cargo and the maintenance provider may share responsibility. Our Oklahoma truck accident guide explains what to do after a truck crash and the evidence that matters.
Set Up a Free Consultation Today
Call us at 918-492-4433 to speak with one of the dedicated Tulsa truck accident attorneys at Levinson Law, P.C. about seeking compensation for your accident-related medical bills and property damage.
Sources:
iihs.org/topics/large-trucks/truck-underride
fox23.com/news/downtown-tulsa-ramp-closed-after-semi-spills-steal-beams-all-over-road/6K3P5ZDRH5DYBL5CHQ6L5SFARA/