Columbia Trucking Accidents Lawyer
There are over half a million crashes involving large trucks every year, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Many of these crashes involve serious injuries, and usually only to the occupants of the passenger vehicle due to the large size difference between heavy trucks and the relatively light weight build of cars, vans, SUVs, and pickups. If the victim was a motorcyclist, pedestrian, or bicyclist, the truck driver, of course, is never injured. If you or a loved one were injured in a large truck crash, you have the ability to hold the trucking company accountable for your damages, including your medical bills, property damage, pain and suffering, and more. Here at Simmons Law Firm, our Columbia trucking accident lawyers can secure the compensation you need to get back on your feet and move on with your life as best as you can.
Most Common Types of Truck Crashes
- Rear-End—Because of their large mass, trucks are usually very slow to stop. This means that if the driver was not paying attention, or was following too closely, and the driver in front of them applies the brakes quickly for a red light or a slow-down on the highway, the truck ends up plowing into the back of the passenger vehicle. These types of rear end collisions can leave the car driver with whiplash, facial lacerations, fractured kneecaps, and other serious injuries.
- T-Bone—T-bone crashes occur in intersections and at side-streets/parking lots. If the truck T-bones the car, the collision is usually either critical or fatal in terms of severity. Passenger vehicles may also T-bone the truck or trailer, which is often caused by the truck driver’s impatience while pulling out in front of traffic that has the right of way.
- Sideswipe—Sideswipe collisions are very common on highways where passenger vehicles are passing slower moving trucks, or when trucks or passenger vehicles are merging on or off highway ramps. Another dangerous type of sideswipe collision occurs when the truck driver decides to change lanes abruptly without properly checking his or her mirrors, and ends up pushing the passenger vehicle that was already in that lane into another vehicle, or off the highway entirely.
- Jackknife—Jackknifing occurs during braking when the trailer of a truck pushes the truck from behind, causing the driver to lose control and the trailer to fold up in the middle of the road, which resembles a jackknife or pocket knife. Jackknife crashes are extremely dangerous for other road users.
- Falling Cargo/Improperly Loaded Cargo—Overloaded or improperly loaded trucks can cause the center of gravity to shift up higher, making the truck more prone to rolling over. Overloaded trucks are also slower to stop, and are harder to control.
Call Our Columbia Trucking Accident Attorneys Today
Fatalities caused in large truck crashes have increased by 43 percent in the last decade, according to the National Safety Council. Distracted driving, speeding, and aggressive driving are all on the rise. If you were injured in a truck crash, call the Columbia trucking accident attorneys at Simmons Law Firm today at 803-779-4600 to schedule a free consultation.
