Road traffic accidents are one thing drivers would like to avoid, especially for those who travel quite often. Traffic collisions can cause considerable financial losses to individuals and in other cases serious injuries that could even end in a fatality.
Out of the many traffic collisions that can happen, truck accidents are one of the most common. Statistics have shown that about 500,000 truck crashes happen annually.
Even though traffic accidents are frightening in and of themselves, truck accidents could be devastating and result in victims suffering from severe bodily injuries and even death in extreme cases. Since there are many factors involved in truck collisions, it is crucial for drivers to understand the causes of these accidents and learn how to better prepare for the dangers they may encounter on the road.
Here is a brief list of the most common types of truck accidents.
Truck Rollovers
Rollover accidents are one of the most common, destructive, and often unpredictable truck crashes. They involve the turning of a truck onto the side or the top of the vehicle and rolling several times before stopping. The force of the rollover is usually severe and results in drivers being catastrophically injured.
Some causes for truck rollovers include speeding over the limit, sudden swerves or lane changes, improper cargo loading, dangerous road or weather conditions. The good thing about these accidents is that they can be prevented if drivers and truck companies follow the federal and state regulations.
Jackknife Accidents
Trucks consist of two parts, the cab where the driver is and the trailer where the cargo is loaded. When the trailer folds in on itself, it takes the shape of a closing jackknife resulting in what is commonly referred to as a jackknife accident.
These types of accidents typically occur when a truck driver loses control of the vehicle and the trailer swings out at a 90-degree angle. Common causes for such accidents are high speeding, slick surface, or severe weather conditions such as heavy winds. An effective way of avoiding them is to evenly apply pressure to the breaks.
Tire Blowout
Another common type of truck accident is a tire blowout which is the sudden bursting or rupturing of the truck’s tire. Although it can happen at any time, large commercial trucks that carry heavy cargo are the most vulnerable ones to such an accident. The crash can cause both the driver and any nearby vehicles to react in unpredictable ways leading to serious injuries.
One way of avoiding this type of truck incident is to perform routine maintenance and check for signs that indicate a potential tire blowout. Drivers should look for cracking or cuts in the sidewalls, bulges, or excessive vibration in tires.
Underride Accidents
Underride collisions are among the deadliest types of truck crashes which involve the lodging of a smaller vehicle, usually a car, under the tractor-trailer. In such a collision, the roof of the smaller vehicle is often ripped off and victims that survive suffer life-changing injuries.
Some main causes of underride truck accidents include improperly maneuvered turns or lane changes, trucks making a fast stop, inconsistent spending outside the flow of traffic, blind spots, and truckers failing to signal when turning. Besides these causes, underride collisions can also occur when the driver is distracted, impaired, or fatigued.
Blind Spots
Blind spots are one of the most difficult aspects for truck drivers to deal with. These refer to the areas around a vehicle that aren’t visible to truckers. Although large trucks have rear-view and side-view mirrors to help with visibility, the size, and build of such heavy vehicles are some of the factors that can lead to accidents due to blind spots.
Fortunately, there are many ways to avoid truck blind spot incidents. One of the most effective ones includes installing extra mirrors on each side of the hood and positioning them correctly.
Final Thoughts
Truck accidents can be devastating and fatal so it is very important that drivers are fully aware of the hazards they may encounter while being on the road. The severity of the crashes can lead to serious injuries that often have life-changing consequences for both truckers and nearby drivers. A great and effective way of preventing the occurrence of such incidents is to follow and adhere to the federal and state regulations as well as be a responsible truck driver.