Common Truck Accidents

Our New York Truck Accident Lawyers Protect Your Rights

If you were in an accident with a truck, contact our personal injury lawyers at Alonso Krangle, LLP, for help. We understand the complex nature of trucking accident claims and can help get you the compensation you deserve.

Accidents with large trucks have issues that differ from accidents with ordinary passenger cars. It is crucial that you have personal injury lawyers familiar with the nuances involved in trucking accidents. There are hundreds of federal regulations that govern the trucking industry and are often important in personal injury claims when trucks are involved.

Our lawyers who handle trucking accidents have what it takes to ensure your legal rights receive vigorous representation. We have the resources to investigate your accident, uncover the responsible party (or parties), and present evidence to help you obtain compensation for your injuries.

Common Types of Trucking Accidents

While every trucking accident has facts and circumstances that make it unique, there are certain patterns. The following types of trucking accidents are some of the most common:

Jackknife Accidents: A jackknife accident happens when the truck’s axle brakes lock. When you have an axle brakes lock, a massive trailer can skid out of control, stopping only when it forms a ninety-degree angle with the cab or tractor. The driver of a truck that is experiencing a Jackknife accident has no control over the truck. The result of a jackknife is often a rollover accident.

Rear-end Trucking Accidents: Trucks are heavy. Some weigh nearly 100,000 pounds. The heavier a vehicle, the more time or distance it needs to stop, and the more force when it hits an object. A large truck going 60 miles per hour on a highway needs several hundred feet of room to stop safely, before hitting the vehicle in front of it. The heavier the truck, the more damage you see to other vehicles and objects.

Rollover Trucking Accidents: Trucks run the risk of rolling over in many scenarios. Taking a curve too fast, hitting an object or curb, speeding, or trying to make a driving correction can all result in a rollover accident. Driving up or down a steep incline can also increase the risk of a rollover.

Trucking Accidents from Driving Under the Influence (DUI): DUI is illegal for all drivers, but truckers have an even greater responsibility to operate their vehicles safely and not to use drugs or alcohol behind the wheel. Sadly, truck drivers often resort to drugs and alcohol while on long trips, sometimes to help them meet delivery deadlines — drugs and alcohol cause impaired judgment, which can contribute to a variety of trucking accidents.

Note that driving under the influence (DUI) can also include the use of legal prescription drugs. Even if someone is lawfully prescribed a medication (such as a painkiller) that does not mean they are lawfully operating a vehicle.

Brake Failure Accidents: Trucking accidents often occur because of brake failure. Brake failure from old, poorly maintained, improperly installed, or faulty brakes prevent trucks from stopping safely and can lead to trucking accidents even if the driver is not speeding. Truckers also receive training to apply their brakes in a way that preserves their integrity. Failing to use the brakes properly can also cause brake failure and subsequent accidents.

Underride Accidents: Underride accidents are the product of rear-end collisions and are some of the most gruesome truck accidents. Underride accidents occur when a smaller vehicle, usually a passenger car, hits the back of a large truck and ends up under its back trailer. An accident like this can result in the decimation of a passenger vehicle and its contents.

Swinging Turn or Wide Turn Trucking Accidents: We have all been in this situation: a truck needs to make a right turn, and the driver swings to the left. Trucks making wide turns may squeeze cars that are in their blind spots or No Zones. Trucks have large blind spots along their sides and rear ends that cars should avoid. Many accidents result from this type of close proximity between cars and trucks.

What Causes These Trucking Accidents?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) suggests there are factors that contribute to most trucking accidents on the roadways of our nation. In most situations, the cause of a trucking accident will fall into one of three distinct categories – the negligence of the truck driver, negligent vehicle maintenance, or negligence of other drivers on the road.

Some of the more common factors that contribute to trucking accidents are,

• Speeding
• Use of prescription drugs
• Traffic flow interruptions
• Problems with the Brakes
• Over the counter drug use
• Roadway problems
• Fatigue
• Inattention

Trucking Accidents Cause Severe Injuries

Trucking accidents, regardless of the type or the cause, can result in catastrophic injuries to passengers and drivers. The weight alone of a truck makes passenger vehicles vulnerable to serious harm, even in small crashes.

Some of the most serious injuries that result from trucking accidents include:

• Paralysis
• Amputation of limbs
• Disfigurement
• Burns
• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Brain injuries

These injuries can lead to unmanageable medical expenses, lost wages, and a lifetime of pain and suffering. If someone’s negligence caused your injuries, you should be able to obtain compensation from the party responsible.

Contact Our Trucking Accident Lawyers to Get Help Collecting Damages

Hiring the right personal injury lawyer is critical to ensuring your legal rights are protected after a trucking accident. Our lawyers at Alonso Krangle, LLP understand the rules and regulations that apply to the trucking industry. We know where to search for negligence and liability. Perhaps most important, is that we have the resources to investigate and locate evidence that can help you succeed in securing a fair settlement or jury verdict in your favor.

Call our lawyers who represent victims of trucking accidents at 800-403-6191. Find out how we can help you get the compensation you deserve. Time may be of the essence so call now.