The trucking industry plays a huge role in the U.S. economy. Trucks are responsible for moving billions of tons of freight across the country each year.
Even though you are likely accustomed to seeing trucks on the roadways in and around Corpus Christi, they still present a risk to others. This is especially true when drivers act negligently.
If you are involved in an accident with a large truck, the injuries and damages you sustain will likely be significant. Unfortunately, even if the accident was not your fault, it may be challenging to recover the compensation you are entitled to. Hiring a Corpus Christi truck lawyer is recommended in these situations.
When it comes to accidents, some can’t be avoided (which is the nature of a true accident). However, others are caused by negligence and recklessness. One way to avoid being involved in a serious truck accident is to know what the most common are. Keep reading to learn about the most common truck accidents seen in and around Corpus Christi.
Common Truck Collisions to Know
1. Head-On Collisions
Cases of head-on collisions are self-explanatory. Since this collision occurs at the front of a vehicle, it often leads to fatalities.
Head-on collisions are common when drivers become extremely fatigued. A driver may swerve into oncoming traffic, which leaves vehicles in the other lane little time to respond. Unfortunately, some of these accidents are unavoidable.
2. Underride Collisions
Underride collisions are some of the deadliest truck accidents that can occur.
This type of accident occurs when a commercial truck stops suddenly, and the vehicle behind becomes wedged underneath the tractor-trailer.
3. Rear-End Collisions
If a driver behind you does not stop in time, they can hit the one in front of them. There are a few reasons rear-end accidents occur.
In passenger vehicles, drivers often go too fast or exceed the allowed speed limit. They may also be distracted.
Truck drivers can also make mistakes. However, they are especially at risk because of the weight of the vehicles. When a large truck speeds, it is even harder to stop – even with the full pressure of the air brakes applied.
4. T-Bone Accidents
This type of accident occurs if a large truck runs a red light or stop sign and collides with another vehicle on the side. This may also happen if a passenger vehicle runs a red light or stop sign and collides with the side of a truck.
5. Rollover Accidents
This type of accident occurs if a truck driver happens to lose control and the vehicle or trailer rolls to the side. Unfortunately, this is a dangerous situation for the truck driver and other people on the road around them.
One reason for this is that the cab or trailer of the truck may collide with a passenger vehicle after a wide turn is made. This can cause the people that are hit to be crushed.
6. Lost Loads
Sometimes, commercial trucks that are improperly loaded with heavy items are susceptible to having the loads fall off. This can result in serious accidents.
Not only will this cause the truck to stop without warning, but anyone behind the truck will have to swerve or make a wide turn to miss hitting the load.
Unexpected stops on the road, especially if they occur at high speeds, can cause truck accidents.
7. Blind Spot Accidents
You have likely heard that large commercial trucks have a lot of blind spots. This makes it challenging for drivers to see vehicles that stay in these areas.
Compared to passenger vehicles, a truck’s blind spot is much bigger. Therefore, you should make sure to know where a truck’s blind spots are so that you can avoid them.
If a truck driver cannot see other vehicles when changing lanes, the other vehicles are at risk of being hit.
8. Tire Blowouts
Any vehicle, passenger cars, and large trucks can experience tire blowouts. While this is true, commercial truck tires are more likely to break down and blow than other vehicles.
If this happens, the truck driver may be able to continue driving down the road and find somewhere to stop safely; however, in other situations, they can lose control of the large vehicles, resulting in an accident.
Types of Trucks Commonly Involved in Accidents
Now that you know the type of truck accidents that occur in and around Corpus Christi, it can be helpful to know the most common types of trucks that cause or are involved in these incidents.
While 18-wheelers and big rigs are common culprits, other commercial trucks can cause devastating and even fatal accidents. Some of the trucks commonly involved in these accidents include the following:
- Delivery trucks
- Cement trucks
- Tankers
- Dump trucks
- Tow trucks
- Flatbed trucks
- Garbage trucks
Truck drivers cause most accidents by violating one or several federal and state regulations. Regardless of the type of truck that caused your accident and injured you, The Burkett Law Firm knows how to ensure you receive a fair amount of compensation. Even if you don’t know how much your claim is worth, we can help you determine a fair valuation and fight to ensure you receive it.
Potentially Liable Parties in Truck Accident Cases
If you are involved in a truck accident, you may automatically believe that the driver is at fault. Unfortunately, this is not the only person or entity that may be liable for these accidents.
The circumstances of each case will determine if other parties may be partly responsible for your accident. Some of the parties that could be partly at fault for a truck accident include the following:
- The trucking company that hired the truck driver
- The company responsible for loading the cargo in the trailer
- A government agency
- The company or person responsible for truck maintenance and repairs
- The truck manufacturer
- The driver of a different vehicle
Liability for truck accidents can be distributed among several parties. It all depends on the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Common Causes of Driver-Related Truck Accidents
In many situations, the cause of a truck accident is something that the driver does or fails to do. However, it can also be the fault of another vehicle.
Some of the driver-related causes of these accidents are described here.
Fatigue
Many truck drivers are pressured to stay on the road beyond the federally allowed time limits. While the law requires truck drivers to rest for certain amounts of time, many drivers (and even the companies they work for) ignore these.
It is hard to imagine a situation on the road that would be more dangerous than having to share the highway with a truck driver who is drowsy or who has fallen asleep while behind the wheel.
Driving While Intoxicated
Commercial and large truck drivers must have a commercial driver’s license. With this license, the intoxication standards are much stricter than for other drivers. While drivers of passenger vehicles can have a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of .08% before they are considered over the legal limit, commercial drivers can only have a limit of .04%.
If you are involved in an accident with a truck driver who is found to have a BAC of .04% or higher, then you have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. In some cases, you may even be awarded punitive damages in your case, due to the egregious nature of drunk driving accidents caused by commercial truck drivers.
Reckless Driving
Cases of reckless driving include all types of careless behavior. Some of the most common include ignoring traffic signals, tailgating, speeding, reckless driving on a two-lane road, and more.
Distracted Driving
Truck drivers are also vulnerable to the temptations of distracted driving, just like everyone else. This includes things like talking or texting on their phones.
While truck drivers don’t use CB radios as they did in the past, there are still plenty of distractions.
Even listening to music and adjusting the climate control system is enough to result in a serious distraction and potentially devastating accident.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
Improper vehicle maintenance can cause many truck accidents. For example, worn-out tires can result in blowouts and have deadly consequences. If this is the driver’s fault depends on who is responsible for truck maintenance.
Sometimes, this is the truck driver, but this is not always the case.
Improper Cargo Loading
If the cargo is not loaded properly in a truck or trailer, it can fall into the road or shift in the trailer and cause it to roll over or tip. In some situations, cargo loading is the driver’s job. However, in other cases, it is the job of the trucking company or a third party. While this is true, most drivers are tasked with at least checking the cargo to ensure it is loaded properly and securely.
Other Causes of Large Truck Accidents Not Related to the Driver
While there are many cases where the driver is at-fault for the accident; however, this is not always the case. There are other causes of truck accidents that may come into play. These include the following:
- Road conditions
- Bad weather
- Unrealistic tie constraints
- Poor driver training
When these conditions or situations play a role in your accident, it may be possible to hold a third party liable for your injuries and damages. These are other situations when it is time to hire an attorney for help with your situation.
Don’t Wait to Contact Our Legal Team for Help with Your Corpus Christi Truck Accident Case
You have legal rights if you are involved in a Corpus Christi truck accident. One of these rights is to recover compensation from the at-fault party.
While this is true, it is worth mentioning that multiple parties may be to blame for the accident. Because of this, you need the services of a knowledgeable attorney to help with your case.
At The Burkett Law Firm, we take pride in helping personal injury accident victims recover the deserved amount of compensation. The first step is to reach out to our office to schedule a free initial consultation. We can discuss your claim and create a plan to move forward.
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