Types of Truck Accidents in Ohio
The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks make the chances of serious injuries and death in a collision high. Beyond bodily injuries, a truck accident can also take a crushing financial toll on victims, leaving them with expenses that can easily reach six figures. That’s not counting the devastating personal consequences accompanying a wreck, which are every bit as real but harder to put a dollar figure on. Fortunately, you don’t need to determine what your case is worth alone. The skilled legal team at Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, can help.
Our firm is passionate about recovering compensation for truck accident victims hurt in all kinds of commercial vehicle crashes. Contact us today for a free consultation with a trusted truck accident lawyer in Ohio.
Underride Accidents
One of the most hazardous types of truck accidents is an underride collision. This type of crash occurs when a smaller vehicle slides underneath a commercial truck’s trailer. The catastrophic impact can cause severe injuries and often results in fatalities. Underrides are often the result of a faulty or missing underride guard on trucks or a trucker making an unsafe lane change.
Rear-End Collisions
A tractor-trailer vehicle that rear-ends a smaller passenger car can have severe consequences. Even at lower speeds, a rear-end truck accident can injure occupants of the other car upon impact or by propelling the car into vehicles ahead of it. Rear-end crashes can happen when a truck driver is distracted, under the influence, or speeding. They can also occur due to brake failure.
Head-On Crashes
Head-on collisions are among the most dangerous types of truck accidents. They typically occur when a truck veers into a traffic lane coming in the opposite direction and strikes an oncoming car. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh 20 times as much as the average passenger vehicle. For this reason, the occupants of the smaller car almost always suffer the gravest harm. Head-on collisions can happen due to trucker fatigue, sometimes due to violating the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Hours-of-Service Regulations.
Wide-Turn Accidents
Truck drivers making wide turns can inadvertently hit other vehicles or pedestrians, leading to a type of commercial vehicle accident called a swing-wide or wide-turn accident. Wide-right turn truck crash happens when a driver fails to signal before maneuvering or does not notice another vehicle within their turning radius.
Blind Spot Accidents
Commercial trucks have larger blind spots than passenger vehicles. Severe trailer truck accidents can occur when other cars linger or get caught in these blind spots, also called No Zones. A trucker who fails to check their blind spot or has improperly adjusted mirrors can collide with other motorists, especially when merging, changing lanes, or exiting.
Rollover Accidents
Semi-trucks are much taller than passenger vehicles yet must still fit into the same amount of horizontal lane space. This makes trucks top-heavy and prone to overturning. The risk of a rollover increases when trucks are overloaded or have unbalanced cargo. They can also happen if a driver turns abruptly or tries to navigate curves at high speeds.
Jackknife Accidents
Jackknife accidents occur when the trailer of a truck loses traction and subsequently swings toward the cab at the hitch, an action resembling a closing pocketknife. These accidents cause the truck driver to lose control of their vehicle and careen into other lanes, potentially leading to pile-ups. Jackknife collisions are commonly the result of overweight cargo loads, locked wheels, or failure to take the proper precautions in inclement weather.
T-Bone Accidents
When a truck driver fails to yield at an intersection or runs a red light, they risk causing a T-bone collision, where the front end of the truck strikes the side of another car. These collisions often happen due to driver distraction, fatigue, or intoxication.
Sideswipe Accidents
Sideswipe accidents happen when a truck traveling adjacent to another vehicle moves into the lane it already occupies and strikes it. Sideswipes can result from aggressive driving or failure to check blind spots.
Tire Blowouts
A tire blowout on a semi-truck can cause the driver to lose control of the rig, with potentially deadly consequences. Tire maintenance is crucial in the trucking industry to prevent such incidents, but blowouts may happen if a trucking company neglects to inspect and repair its fleet properly. These accidents can also result from flaws in tire manufacturing or design.
Unsecured Cargo
Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can shift during transit, leading to a loss of control or causing the cargo to spill onto the roadway, creating hazardous conditions for other road users. FMCSA has strict regulations governing cargo loading. Failure to adhere to these rules can cause disastrous cargo spill accidents.
Get in Touch with a Skilled Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Ohio Today
Truck accidents can be traumatic and life-altering events. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a tractor-trailer crash, you deserve compensation for your losses. Experienced legal help is an essential part of attaining justice.
The seasoned Ohio truck accident lawyers at Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, understand how challenging life can become after a commercial vehicle accident. Holding the responsible parties liable for your injuries can provide the compensation you need to account for past, present, and future losses. But insurance companies don’t pay out claims without a fight, and their initial settlement offers are usually far less than you deserve. Let our Ohio personal injury lawyer do the fighting for you.
Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, is a full-service law firm providing comprehensive representation to our clients so they can focus on rebuilding their lives. Our truck accident lawyers can handle all the legal legwork and demand maximum compensation for you. Call or contact us online for a free consultation with a semi-truck accident lawyer in Ohio.
