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Any motor vehicle accident has the potential to be serious, but when 80,000-pound tractor-trailers are involved, the outcomes are almost always severe.
In an instant, you could be left with life-changing injuries that could take months or years to fully recover from. You might be out of work, and you might not be able to handle the massive amount of medical bills. One thing is for sure, though. You will absolutely need help.
If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury in a truck accident, you could receive damages in a civil lawsuit. Nix Patterson’s truck accident attorneys could help you obtain financial justice for your injuries and other damages.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) states large commercial trucks comprise only 5% of all vehicles, but 13% of all fatal wrecks in the United States involve at least one commercial truck or bus.
Of people who die in commercial truck accidents, more than 70% were occupants of smaller vehicles. While we need tractor-trailers to move commerce across the country, there’s little doubt that many accident incidents are hazardous to other drivers.
Many types of truck accidents can leave you with severe injuries. The most common ones are:
Truck rollover accidents are among the most dangerous on American roads. Semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles possess a higher center of gravity than passenger vehicles. Truck drivers must proceed cautiously when entering a tight turn or taking evasive action during an emergency.
If the truck driver turns too quickly, the trailer can flip the entire rig. When this happens, a passenger vehicle next to the truck could be crushed, severely injuring or killing the occupants. Common causes of truck rollover accidents are:
Jackknife truck accidents happen when a commercial truck with a trailer makes an unsafe turn or braking maneuver. The resulting force makes the trailer swing around the cab and jackknife across the road. This type of crash is hazardous to surrounding vehicles; a huge, skidding trailer can slam into nearby vehicles and objects.
Jackknife accidents are most often due to improper braking techniques. When the trucker applies the brakes too hard or fast in poor weather, the trailer may slow too quickly. This can cause the trailer to fishtail and slide out to one side, creating a jackknife accident.
When a trucker makes a right turn, they must swing slightly to the left to have enough space to complete the turn safely. Before the driver does this, they have to watch for vehicles behind and to their right.
If the truck driver is careless, other vehicles may think the vehicle is merging to the left and attempt to pass on the right. This is a ‘squeeze play’ accident where the smaller vehicle can get trapped between the front and back of the truck.
An underride accident happens when a passenger vehicle drives underneath the side of a tractor-trailer. Because of the truck’s size, this type of accident can lead to fatal injuries. These accidents are often due to the trucker making an improper or sudden turn, blocking the smaller vehicle’s path.
T-bone truck crashes, broadside or side-impact crashes, often happen at intersections. Semi-trucks and other large vehicles driving through intersections may run the red light or stop sign and slam into another vehicle perpendicularly.
These crashes can be deadly for car drivers who have minimal side-impact protection. Head trauma, spine injuries, and shattered bones are common T-bone accident injuries.
Trucks have large blind spots on both sides of the trailer. If the trucker doesn’t see your vehicle when changing lanes, they can cause a severe crash. While the trucker changing lanes is often at fault, you can often avoid these accidents by passing trucks quickly and safely.
Every tractor-trailer tire has thousands of pounds of weight pressing down. When a worn or under-inflated tire blows out, it can cause the truck driver to lose control. The tire blowout debris can also hit surrounding vehicles, causing a severe accident.
Rear-end accidents involving trucks can be one of the worst on the road. Trucks are much heavier than passenger cars. So if a truck doesn’t slow down in traffic and hits a car in front of it, the horrific collision can obliterate the vehicle and its occupants.
Common causes of rear-end accidents are:
The FMCSA has established the following distance rules for commercial trucks. Severe accidents can occur when inexperienced or careless truck drivers break the rules and follow too closely. If one happens to you, our truck accident attorneys will inspect the accident to determine the case.
A careless or sleepy truck driver drifts out of their lane and into the flow of oncoming traffic, creating a deadly collision. Head-on accidents occur at red lights, stop signs, and other intersections when the truck driver does not yield the right of way.
Truck tire blowouts, where truckers lose control of their vehicle and careen into oncoming traffic, cause many head-on crashes. If improper maintenance, such as worn tires or failed brakes, causes a truck accident, your Nix Patterson truck accident attorney will search for evidence to prove your case.
Drivers and their employers are required by federal law to keep their vehicles in proper working condition. Unfortunately, some shipping companies cut corners and don’t maintain their vehicles correctly. Improperly maintained brakes are a severe problem with severe, deadly consequences.
Our truck accident attorneys will conduct a thorough accident review. We will hold the company responsible for their negligence if they find a truck brake failure that led to your accident.
Spilled cargo from a commercial truck is another serious type of truck accident. Many semi-trucks transport tons of goods at high speeds over many miles. Trucking and loading companies must adhere to state and federal regulations for securing loads, but these accidents happen often.
When shifting cargo comes loose, it can smash nearby vehicles and cause multiple accidents. If you were hurt in a recent spilled cargo accident, our Nix Patterson trucking accident attorneys may assist you.
If your truck injury attorney can prove that the truck driver was at fault, you could receive compensation for your injuries. These include:
If the person in the accident died because of their injuries, you could file a wrongful death lawsuit. If successful, you may receive money for medical bills, funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of inheritance, mental anguish, and more.
If you or a loved one sustained serious truck accident injuries recently, you could receive compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. A truck accident attorney with experience in catastrophic injuries can review your case and construct the best case for maximum compensation.
This is where Nix Patterson can help you. Our truck accident injury team is ready to help with your case, so please contact us today. The initial injury case consultation is complimentary, and we only are paid if we win.
Nix Patterson only works on a contingency fee basis. Our clients pay us nothing unless we win. Schedule a free consultation today. Call 512.328.5333 or complete the form below.
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The information on this site is for informational purposes only. Though it deals with legal issues, it should not be taken as legal advice for any specific case or situation. The law changes rapidly, and we make no warranty or guarantee about the accuracy or reliability of the content or links on this site. Every case and legal issue is different. Speak with a lawyer for specific advice.
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La información contenida en este sitio tiene únicamente fines informativos. Aunque trata de cuestiones jurídicas, no debe tomarse como asesoramiento jurídico para ningún caso o situación específicos. La legislación cambia rápidamente y no garantizamos la exactitud o fiabilidad de los contenidos o enlaces de este sitio. Cada caso y asunto jurídico es diferente. Hable con un abogado para obtener asesoramiento específico.
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