What are the Most Common Truck Accidents?

Truck accidents are some of the most heartbreaking motor vehicle accidents that occur. Due to the size of trucks, they tend to cause far more serious injuries than other accidents. Truck accidents can involve multiple vehicles. Like any other motor vehicle accident, truck accidents are often preventable events that significantly impact the victims’ lives.

A few types of truck accidents occur more frequently and can cause severe injuries for the victims that a truck accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO, can help with.

Head-On Collisions

Any head-on collision is usually extremely dangerous, but especially those involving a truck. These accidents happen when one vehicle hits another head-on, which usually occurs when one vehicle is driving on the wrong side of the road. Head-on collisions often cause severe injuries and have a higher chance of being fatal.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions occur when a truck drives into the back of another vehicle, and these accidents can have many causes. Trucks carry a large amount of weight, so they require more time to stop. If a truck driver doesn’t give themself enough time to stop, they risk hitting the vehicle in front of them. Rear-end collisions can also happen if a driver isn’t paying attention to the vehicles in front of them and fails to notice if traffic has slowed down or come to a stop.

Blind Spot Accidents

All motor vehicles have blind spots, but this is much larger for trucks. Blindspot accidents occur when a truck is changing lanes and can’t see if other vehicles are in the way. Truck drivers are professionally trained to use their mirrors and avoid changing lanes when they cannot see. Fellow motorists must be aware that cutting in front or behind large trucks is never a good idea.

Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents can occur when a driver loses control of the truck. A truck rolling over is hazardous for the truck driver and any other vehicles around it. Cargo from the truck may also fall out when this happens, which is an additional danger for other vehicles.

Jackknife Accidents

Jackknifing is when the trailer of a truck swings forward so that the truck folds at a 90-degree angle, which can have several causes, but is commonly caused when a driver hits the brakes too quickly. When this happens, the driver has no control over the trailer. Jackknife accidents can turn into multiple vehicle accidents and rollover accidents easily.

Underride Accidents

Underride accidents are a type of rear-end collision where a vehicle hits the back of a truck and slides underneath. Due to the size of trucks, other vehicles can get stuck underneath them during a collision, which can crush the top of the vehicle. Underride accidents can also happen if another vehicle collides with a truck from the side. These accidents are often fatal or cause serious injuries.

Get Legal Help for Your Truck Accident

If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a truck accident, you might be wondering, “what are the most common truck accidents that a lawyer can help with?” At The Cagle Law Firm, we assist victims who have been in various types of truck accidents to help them receive a fair amount of compensation.

To learn more about how we can help you, call The Cagle Law Firm toll-free at (1-800) 685-3302 or locally at (314) 276-1681 to speak with a St. Louis truck accident lawyer.