After a long day at work, all you wanted to do was quickly get home and snuggle into bed. Therefore, instead of taking the back roads, you decided to take U.S. 13. “Even though there’s a lot of truck traffic this time of night,” you thought, “it should still be faster than Metompkin.”
As soon as you merged on the road, you could see an accident up ahead. Two trucks were on their sides, blocking the entire highway. So much for getting home any time soon. As you got closer to the accident, you could see blown tires spread across the road, and one of the trucks was basically folded in half.
What could possibly have caused such destruction?
Common Truck Accident Types
The Division of Motor Vehicles Traffic Records Branch of the North Carolina Department of Transportation estimates that 9,000 truck accidents a year occur statewide. Although some of these accidents aren’t serious, the ones that are account for approximately 2,500 injuries and deaths annually.
These injuries are usually sustained in one of these five different accident types:
- Rollovers. A rollover occurs when the truck’s tires fail to grip the road and slide sideways. This causes the truck’s trailer to lose balance and topple over, possibly crushing or skidding into nearby vehicles.
- Rear-end, T-bone, and head-on collisions. These truck crashes usually occur at intersections and can cause minor to severe injuries. Depending on the speed of the vehicles, the impact force generated could cause whiplash, brain injuries, spine damage, broken bones, and lacerations.
- Tire blowouts. When a tire suffers damage and fails, it can blow out, causing the vehicle to lose control and jerk. When a truck’s tire blows out, the weight of a truck is thrown off so much that entire truck becomes dangerously and uncontrollably unstable. A blowout can even cause a trick to roll over.
- Jackknife accidents. A jackknife occurs when the driver brakes suddenly and the trailer either swings sideways or continues going forward while the cab of the truck stops. The force of the moving trailer causes it to continue moving forward, ultimately pushing the back of the cab upward, making a teepee or triangle shape.
- Malfunctioning air brakes. Improper truck brake handling or faulty truck brakes can cause a severe accident when traveling downhill. If the brakes aren’t working, the force of the trailer propels the cab downward, making it uncontrollable and unstable.
Getting Help When You Need It
Being involved in a truck accident can be an extremely scary experience, especially if you’re not sure about your rights, how you’re going to pay for treatment, or what your options are for a claim. Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with these problems on your own. Get the help, guidance, and support you need from an experienced and thoughtful lawyer. Contact us today for a free consultation. We’re here to fight to get you the settlement you need and the justice you deserve.
Don’t allow someone else’s mistake to affect the rest of your life. Call now!
Need more information before committing to a claim? See how our experience and diligence has helped others by clicking on our testimonials page. You can also like us on Facebook to receive periodic updates or share your comments with others.