Common Types of 18-Wheeler Accidents

The weight and size of commercial trucks pose safety hazards for other vehicles sharing the road with them.

A truck can weigh anywhere close to 80,000 pounds and are not easily maneuverable as compared to passenger vehicles. A collision between a truck and a small car can have a disastrous outcome. Statistics reveal that a driver of a passenger car is 70% more likely to be killed in an accident with a large truck than in an accident with a car.

The type of truck accident is dependent on the circumstances surrounding the accident site. The seriousness of the accident and the severity of injuries sustained also depend on the type of accident.

Some accidents result in minor injuries, whereas there are others which can cause debilitating and life altering injuries and even death.

Types of Truck Accidents include the following:

Jack-Knife Accidents

This type of accident happens when the brake of the drive axle of the tractor-trailer locks up causing the trailer to start skidding. The skidding of the trailer stops only when the tractor and the trailer are at a 90-degree angle. During this skid, the driver does not have any control over the truck and any vehicle which gets stuck in the 90-degree angle can get dragged along. The truck, generally, tends to roll over after it comes to a stop.

Roll-Over Accidents

A truck rolling over its side or roof can have disastrous consequences for the truck driver as well as the occupants of any other vehicle getting stuck under the truck. A truck may roll over due to various factors such as high speed, sudden braking, steep incline or decline, taking a turn too fast, tripping over a curb, an obstruction on the road, or attempting to correct a drifting truck.

Rear-End Collisions

Large trucks, due to their large size and heavy weight, require a much larger distance to come to a complete stop after the application of the brakes. If the driver has miscalculated the distance, the truck can end up hitting the rear end of the vehicle in front.

Under-Ride Collision

This happens when a smaller vehicle crashes into a truck from behind or the side. Due to the size difference, the smaller vehicle can get stuck under the truck causing severe head injuries to the driver and passengers of the car, which may be fatal.

Road Construction Accidents

A truck driver may face difficulty in maneuvering a truck through a construction zone. An accident like a collision or a roll-over is extremely hazardous for the construction crew and small vehicle getting stuck in the way of the truck.

Contact the Texas Truck Accident Lawyers at Miller Weisbrod
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with 18-Wheeler semi-truck, seek help from the experienced Texas truck accident lawyers of Miller Weisbrod. We can help you receive compensation for your medical expenses, damages incurred, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact us today at (214)987-0005, or if you are outside the DFW area, call (888) 987-0005.

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Traffic deaths jump by most since 1966

Traffic fatalities increased in 2015 by an amount not seen in 50 years. Texas, which has the deadliest highways in the country, remained largely unchanged.

The National Safety Council on Wednesday announced preliminary analysis showed 38,300 roadway deaths in the U.S. last year. That was an increase of 8% from 2014, the highest year-to-year since 1966.

Texas led the nation with 3,490 deaths on roads and highways. Despite California having roughly 12 million more residents, it had 240 fewer traffic deaths.

Texas’ fatality trend was stable. The number of deaths increased 1% from 2014 to 2015 and 4% from 2013 to 2015.

The report notes a recent push in Houston to improve traffic safety. Houston had more roadway deaths than New York, which is roughly four times Houston’s size.

Houston’s economic growth has meant more vehicles on the road, the local analysis concluded, and a corresponding jump in traffic fatalities.

The same conclusion was painted by the National Safety Council report. As vehicle miles traveled have increased in the U.S. and gasoline prices dropped, roadway deaths increased.

The National Safety Council data is different from fatality reports analyzed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration because NHTSA considers fatalities within 30 days of the roadway crash, while the safety council logs all deaths within one year of the incident.

Though drivers log more total miles on urban roads and freeways, nearly half the increase in traffic deaths occurred on rural roads.

Contact Us
If you were seriously injured, or a loved one died in a car accident caused, call the offices of Miller Weisbrod, located in Dallas, today at 214.987.0005 or toll free at 888.987.0005 for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury trial attorney. You may also contact us by e-mail today for answers to your important questions or to schedule an appointment.

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