Due to the large size and weight of trucks, accidents involving these vehicles may have devastating consequences. To protect yourself better on the road, it pays to be aware of what could happen. Here are three of the most common truck accidents and who you should contact if you ever find yourself in one.
3 Common Types of Truck Accidents
Jackknifing
When a truck jackknifes, it folds into itself at an angle similar to that of a pocket knife. As a truck skids while pulling a trailer, the trailer might push the truck until it turns around and faces backward.
Possible causes include poor braking, equipment failure, or hazardous road conditions like ice. In the worst-case scenario, a truck driver who cannot stop the vehicle due to brake failure may try to jackknife it on purpose.
Blind Spots
Both the driver and passenger sides of a truck, as well as the front of the trailer, have massive blind areas that extend at an angle away from the vehicle. Without taking the proper driving precautions, you may risk being sideswiped by a truck driver that can’t see you if you drive your car through these blind spots.
Truck accidents involving blind spots occur when one or more drivers make a lane change without checking their blind spots first and hit another vehicle as a result.
Trucker Fatigue
Driver fatigue is a real issue that puts truckers and surrounding motorists at risk daily. According to the Large Truck Crash Causation Study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 13% of commercial motor vehicle drivers were assessed to have been tired at the time of their collision.
Causes of driver fatigue range from not getting enough sleep to putting in long hours at work or a combination of both.
Protect Your Rights With a Truck Accident Attorney in Atlanta, GA
If you want to protect yourself from being taken advantage of during a truck accident, you’ll need a strong legal team on your side.
Personal injury and truck accident attorney Laurie Robbins of Robbins Law, PC has the knowledge and expertise to effectively defend you after more than 30 years in practice. With Robbins Law, PC on your side, you can be sure that nothing ever falls through the cracks. Contact (404) 252-8117 today to schedule a free consultation.