Personal Injury Blog

Types of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are easily the most terrifying and dangerous traffic accidents on our nation’s highways. Trucks fuel our consumer-based economy, which means that the number of trucks that roam our highways continues to grow. While a truck can be involved in nearly any kind of accident, there are several types of accidents that are most common. No matter what happened in your truck crash, discuss your injuries with an experienced New Jersey truck accident lawyer at Leonard Legal Group right away and to protect your legal rights.

Blowouts

Semi-trucks have massive tires that, when they are not adequately maintained, can blow out. These blowouts not only reduce the truck driver’s ability to maintain control of his or her truck but also send debris ricocheting and leave fallen debris in unsuspecting motorists’ paths. An 18-wheeler blowout can lead to serious accidents.

Jackknife Accidents

Tractor-trailers are comprised of the cab, which houses the engine, and the trailer, which holds the cargo. A hinge called a coupling device connects these two components and also allows the two parts more maneuverability when taking curves, turns, exits, and more. When a semi-truck’s parts don’t work in tandem – most often because of truck driver error – they can fold in upon each other, much like the action of a jackknife closing. Jackknife accidents can cause crashes across several lanes of traffic.

Rollovers

When a semi-truck rolls over, it endangers everyone in the vicinity of the crash. Rollovers are generally caused by driver error, including:

  • Taking curves and exits at excessive speeds
  • Failing to adjust one’s speed to accommodate for roads made slippery by inclement weather
  • Hauling cargo that is not properly loaded and distributed

Commercial trucks are huge vehicles that weigh many, many times what our own cars do. In addition, they have higher centers of gravity and they haul massive loads. Truck drivers and those who load their trucks must calculate these factors into every action they take, or deadly rollovers can be the result.

Runaway Trailers

A semi’s trailer is connected via a coupling mechanism that must be in excellent working condition, must be properly maintained, must be properly locked into place, and must be carefully checked on every leg of every trip. This coupling mechanism is what keeps the trailer safely connected to the cab, and when something goes wrong, the consequences can be terrifying. A runaway trailer barreling down the road can cause serious damage and injuries. As such, trailers are designed to stop when they uncouple, but when a motorist unexpectedly comes upon an inert trailer in his or her path, serious collisions can result.

If You Have Been Injured in a Truck Accident, You Need an Experienced New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer

Truck accidents are terrifying and are often deadly. If you or someone you care about has been injured in a truck accident, attorney Scott G. Leonard at the Leonard Legal Group – proudly serving the entire state of New Jersey with offices in Morristown and Franklin Lakes, New Jersey – is on your side. Mr. Leonard has the experience, dedication, and determination to skillfully advocate for the compensation to which you are entitled. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact or call us today.