Common Types Of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents resulting from driver negligence and error can happen in several ways. One common type of truck crash is a head-on collision. These are arguably the most destructive type of truck accident because when two vehicles strike one another at 60 miles per hour or greater, it is almost like a single vehicle striking a stationary object at 120 miles per hour. Also, in most instances, head-on truck accidents cause fatal injuries.
In contrast, a rear-end truck accident happens when a truck’s front portion or tractor-trailer hits another vehicle’s rear. These accidents frequently occur when truck drivers negligently tailgate other drivers—or follow them too closely. If an abrupt traffic back-up occurs, the truck driver may not have sufficient time or space to stop their truck quickly, resulting in a rear-end crash.
Similarly, a truck underride accident happens when a vehicle with a low center of gravity strikes a larger vehicle and continues moving forward. When that happens, the vehicle in the back slips under the vehicle in front, causing serious property damage and physical injuries.
Next, a truck jackknife happens when the tractor and trailer portions of a large truck fold inward, resembling the shape of a jackknife. These accidents may happen when truck drivers speed—especially around sharp curves. Whenever a truck jackknife accident happens, a full-scale highway back-up may occur that involves numerous vehicles and injures many drivers and passengers.
Finally, truck rollover accidents happen when a large truck speeds down a hill or around a sharp curve, and the tractor or trailer portions of the vehicle completely overturn. As a result, several other vehicles in the vicinity might be crushed, and the occupants may suffer serious injuries, some of which are fatal.
In cases where a driver or passenger suffers fatal injuries in a truck accident, their surviving family members may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim or a lawsuit in the court system.
If the wrongful death claimant can satisfy the legal elements of their claim, they can recover compensation for burial and funeral expenses, future lost earnings that the decedent would have made had they survived, and loss of the deceased individual’s companionship, comfort, and care.
If you or a person you care about sustained injuries in a recent truck crash, you should have a Monterey truck accident attorney on your side from the beginning of your case until the very end. The skilled legal team at Silva Injury Law can assist you during every step of the claims-filing and negotiation processes and work to recover the favorable damages that you deserve.
What Are Some Common Truck Accident Causes In Monterey?
Truck accidents typically happen when truck drivers and trucking companies are negligent in some way. First, many crashes happen when drivers engage in substance abuse. Alcohol, in particular, can affect truck drivers’ mindsets, limit their concentration, and delay their reaction time, preventing them from operating their trucks carefully and safely.
Some truck drivers also resort to substance abuse, including amphetamines, to stay awake for long hours. Unfortunately, these substances sometimes have the opposite effect and make truck drivers sleepy while on the road, causing their trucks to hit another vehicle.
Truck crashes may also happen when people drive while fatigued. Trucking companies often incentivize their drivers financially to operate their trucks for long hours—and without taking frequent breaks. However, this often causes fatigue, severely limiting a driver’s concentration and ability to focus on the road. A tired truck driver might also fall completely asleep at the wheel, causing them to lose control of their truck and strike one or more other vehicles.
In addition, some truck accidents happen because truck drivers and trucking companies do not load cargo onto a truck properly. When that occurs, the truck’s center of gravity may become offset, causing a severe rollover accident. When truck drivers and trucking companies violate other state and federal motor carrier regulations, serious accidents can happen for which they and their insurance companies may be responsible.
Next, some truck accidents happen because of tire blowouts. Truck drivers are responsible for performing a pre-trip inspection to ensure that their tires have the proper pressure. The tire may strike another vehicle when a blowout occurs, causing serious accidents and injuries.
Finally, some truck accidents occur when people drive over the speed limit. When a driver operates their vehicle too fast for traffic and weather conditions, they may lose control of their truck and cause it to strike one or more other vehicles, leading to severe injuries.
You have legal options if you or someone you love suffered injuries in a Monterey truck accident resulting from driver carelessness or recklessness. The truck accident attorneys at Silva Injury Law can discuss the circumstances of your truck accident with you and your legal options for moving forward. Your lawyer can also help you during settlement negotiations and pursue the fair damages you deserve to recover in your case.
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