Lucas County Truck Accident Attorney
While we’ve all seen the horrific consequences of truck accidents on the freeway or the news, few are aware how often these types of accidents actually occur. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that as many as 116,000 people were injured in crashes involving large trucks in a single year. Around 74 percent of the individuals who lost their lives in collisions with semi-truck were passengers of other vehicles, which is unsurprising when you consider the fact that many commercial vehicles weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. Collisions between semi-trucks and vehicles almost always have catastrophic consequences for those in the smaller vehicle, who may suffer from life-threatening injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, internal bleeding, and amputations. If you were involved in this type of accident and suffered a serious injury, it is critical to speak with an experienced Lucas County truck accident attorney who can help you seek compensation for your medical bills.
Like any other type of car crash, truck accidents can occur just about anywhere and at anytime and are always considered dangerous. There are, however, certain types of truck-related accidents that are unique to commercial vehicles, including jackknife accidents, which can occur when a truck driver suddenly brakes, causing the cab of the vehicle to slow, but leaving the trailer portion of the vehicle to continue at the same speed, swinging out to the side of the truck at a 90 degree angle. Jackknifing trucks are at an increased risk of overturning, which could lead to multiple collisions with other cars on the road.
Commercial trucks carry a variety of consumer products on a daily basis, ranging from livestock and lumber to hazardous chemicals and gasoline. While this ensures that we all have access to a wide range of consumer products on a regular basis, it also means that trucks involved in collisions are in danger of cargo spills. This can prove deadly for anyone else on the road, especially if the cargo is hazardous. Federal law requires trucking companies to abide by certain rules when loading cargo to ensure that it does not come loose, but an especially violent collision could result in a spill despite these protections.
One of the most deadly types of truck crashes in which a person can be involved is the underride crash, which can occur when a smaller vehicle rear ends a large truck and actually slides beneath it. The top of the passenger vehicle is often sheared off during the collision. Similarly, when a large truck’s momentum carries it into the rear end of a smaller vehicle, the larger truck’s bumper can ride over the back of the passenger car, crushing or trapping the occupants inside the car. This type of accident is known as an override crash and usually has deadly consequences for the occupants of the smaller vehicle.