18 Wheeler Accidents
Extremely destructive and often fatal trucking accidents occur when large trucks (ten thousand pounds and over) collide with other vehicles or pedestrians. Over 500,000 trucking accidents occur every year in this country, and the injuries sustained by those lucky enough to survive are usually horrific. Of these, approximately 5,000 trucking accidents result in fatalities. In fact, 18-wheeler trucking accidents account for one of every eight traffic deaths.
There are many reasons why 18 wheeler accidents are so catastrophic. The pressure for speed and efficiency by the trucking companies and the deregulation of the industry are both major factors – 18-wheeler drivers are typically required to work long hours with little or no sleep. Large trucks consistently break the speed limit in order to deliver goods quickly – adding fuel to an already dangerous fire. The sheer size of an 18-wheeler makes for a massive impact and hinders the ability of the truck to make sudden stops. The results are too often fatal.
If you have survived an 18 wheeler accident only to be left with expensive and painful injuries, you deserve help. An experienced accident attorney can help you maximize the reparations that you receive for your suffering.
Wheel Blowout
As large menacing trucks continue their hostile takeover of America’s roads and highways, more and more innocent lives are taken each year. More than 10% of all traffic deaths are caused by 18-wheeler accidents, adding up to more than 5,000 annual fatalities! Faulty or worn down tire tread is an especially damning factor in many of these accidents.
When tire tread becomes defective or old, there can be a sudden tire failure or rupture, causing a lightening quick, extremely dangerous loss of control. This then causes the back end of the truck to swing out or “fishtail”, resulting in the vehicle skidding out and sliding sideways in the direction of travel. When this occurs, the truck can often trip and go airborne, starting a rollover. A blowout can also cause the truck to violently stop moving – leaving a deadly pile-up behind it.
Jack Knife
As commercial trucking increases on our nation’s highways, violent and often fatal truck accidents are claiming more innocent lives each year. The statistics are alarming – around 500,000 trucking accidents occur each year in the United States and approximately 5,000 trucking accidents result in fatalities. In fact, more than a tenth of all traffic deaths are caused by 18-wheeler accidents. And that number is growing each year!
Jack-knifed trucking accidents are especially perilous, both for the driver and nearby passengers or pedestrians. A jack-knife refers to the dangerous situation that occurs when a large 18 wheel truck goes into a skid and the trailer swings out and stops to form an angle of 90 degrees with each other. The chances of this dire quandary increase in inclement weather – jackknifing generally occurs when the drive wheels are locked when they reach a slick spot while the front wheels and the trailer keep rolling forward. These horribly destructive accidents can even cause multiple car pile-ups on the freeway, often with many casualties.
Truck Under-Ride
Large trucks have become a deadly menace on our nation’s highways, with nearly 500,000 trucking accidents occurring every year in the United States. Of these, approximately 5,000 trucking accidents result in fatalities. In fact, one out of every eight traffic fatalities involves a trucking accident. One of the deadliest of these accidents is a truck under ride – a devastating calamity with grave consequences.
Tractor-trailer under ride accidents occur when a passenger vehicle, hits the back of a truck whose base is higher than the car, putting small family passenger cars in particular danger. These accidents happen because the height of the front of the car is too small to hit the bed of the truck, often falling 10 to 20 inches below. This height discrepancy puts the bed of the truck right at the head-chest level of the passengers within the car, and injuries in these accidents tend to be catastrophic, if not fatal.
Unsecured Equipment
Large trucks can cause havoc on the roads in a variety of ways. From small pick-ups to monstrous big rigs, the failure to secure equipment can prove to be a dangerous, and even deadly, mistake.
Unsecured equipment accidents can be particularly dangerous because loose items tend to fly behind the truck, threatening the safety of all vehicle passengers and pedestrians in their path. Dangerous items like heavy equipment or hazardous materials can cause even greater damage – and sometimes even death. The driver, truck owner, and the manufacturer can all be held responsible for putting innocent people in harm’s way.
Impaired Driver
Large trucks can cause havoc on the roads in a variety of ways. From small pick-ups to monstrous big rigs, the failure to secure equipment can prove to be a dangerous, and even deadly, mistake.
Unsecured equipment accidents can be particularly dangerous because loose items tend to fly behind the truck, threatening the safety of all vehicle passengers and pedestrians in their path. Dangerous items like heavy equipment or hazardous materials can cause even greater damage – and sometimes even death. The driver, truck owner, and the manufacturer can all be held responsible for putting innocent people in harm’s way.
