While rollover truck wrecks are not the most common type of truck accident, they can be some of the deadliest for victims. A rollover can result in a major multi-vehicle crash if the truck tips or rolls over across several lanes of traffic—especially dangerous on the highway. If you or a loved one is injured in a rollover truck accident, the truck driver and his trucking company may be responsible for compensating you for your injuries. Our experienced truck accident attorneys are here to help you hold these negligent parties accountable.
Major Causes of Rollover Crashes
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the majority of truck rollover accidents—78 percent or more—are caused by truck driver negligence. Common reasons that rollovers happen include:
- Driving too fast. Speeding, especially around curves and on highway exit and entrance ramps, is one of the leading causes of rollovers. When a trucker is speeding and the truck trailer leans, he can be unable to prevent the truck from tipping or rolling over.
- Distracted driving. If a truck driver is texting, talking on a cell phone, or looking at his GPS, he can easily veer into another lane of traffic. If the trucker tries to make a sudden direction change to compensate, it can lead to a rollover wreck.
- Fatigue. Just as when a truck driver is engaged in distracted driving, being fatigued can result in the driver making a sudden steering movement to avoid a crash. This can cause you and your family to suffer catastrophic injuries when a truck rolls onto your vehicle. In some cases, the trucker may have violated the federal Hours of Service regulations regarding how long he could drive without a break.
- Improper loads. In some cases, the load that the trucker was carrying was improperly loaded or unsecured. This can make the trailer even more unstable and result in a rollover, especially if the trucker is engaging in another negligent driving practice such as speeding.
- Lack of maintenance. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and other truck maintenance problems can cause any trucker to lose control of his truck and tip over.
If you or a loved one were injured in a rollover accident, you need the help of an experienced truck accident attorney who understands the laws and regulations governing trucking companies and truckers and the unique challenges in these cases. Find out about our extensive experience helping clients injured in truck accidents and how we can assist you. Call our office today to schedule your free case evaluation.
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