If you ever find yourself in a situation where you’ve been involved in a truck accident, or you have been already, it’s important to remember that a truck accident isn’t just a ‘truck accident,’ but there are many variations of it.
The classifications of the different types of accident are vital to analyzing and proceeding in a court case and understanding them yourself can help to provide you with an insight into what’s going, and how you can describe the situation officially at the scene.
Today, we’re going to explore six of the most common types of truck accident you might find yourself in or witness, helping you to understand what’s going on.
#1 – A Jack-Knife Accident
One of the only types of accident that can happen to a truck, a jack-knife is a situation where a truck can break too quickly, or the road conditions are unfavorable, and the trailer of the truck swings out at a near-90° angle.
The name of the accident refers to the angle and shape of the truck after the accident. These can, in fact, be caused by a number of reasons, but if you ever need to describe this event, this is what you can call it.
#2 – Rear-End Accidents
In a situation where a truck goes into the back of another vehicle, this can be incredibly dangerous and mostly fatal considering the size of a standard truck. In these situations, the driver of the truck is most liable since they need to be aware and driving a suitable distance away from vehicles in front of them.
#3 – Rollover Trucks
A self-explanatory event where a truck rolls over onto its side. This is usually the driver’s fault since obeying speeding and road regulations, and laws should prevent this happening to weighted vehicles. However, in rare circumstances, the condition of the road may be considered.
#4 – T-Bone Incidents
This kind of accident refers to a situation where a truck collides with another vehicle directly into the side, not the rear or front of another vehicle. This is incredibly dangerous due to the size of a truck and the fact there is minimal protection on most vehicles; typically, just a door.
#5 – Brake Failure
This, of course, is a mechanical issue with the truck and can occur when a truck is not properly maintained by the business it’s operating under. Both the business and the truck driver can be liable in this situation, especially if the driver is supposed to be carrying out daily checks on the vehicle.
In the US, all brakes on a truck must comply with the rules and regulations set out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act. Otherwise, the truck is operating illegally, and an accident is more likely to occur.
#6 – Underride Accidents
This is where a smaller vehicle, such as a car, goes underneath the trailer of a lorry. This can be for a number of reasons from the driver braking sharply or the road conditions. However, truck drivers will usually not be liable in these situations since the car driver shouldn’t be dangerously close for this to happen.
Summary
This is a brief introduction to the type of truck accidents that can happen and identifying them is so important when it comes to liability in a legal case involving a semi-truck accident lawyer. Learn them well so if you ever find yourself witnessing or involved in an accident, you know how to treat and proceed with the case.