What Are Common Types of Truck Accidents?

The trucking industry is an essential part of the United States economy. According to the American Trucking Association’s 2018 statistics, the industry shipped 11.49 billion tons and employed around 7.8 million people, including 3.5 million truck drivers.

Large commercial trucks—including tractor-trailers, semis, and big rigs—make up approximately 12.8% of all motor vehicles on the roadways, and unfortunately, accidents happen.

What Are Some Different Types of Truck Accidents?

There are several common types of large commercial truck accidents.

Head-On and Rear-End Collisions

Head-on accidents occur when large trucks collide with other vehicles head-on, and rear-end collisions describe crashes when large trucks drive over the back of another vehicle. Both types of collisions are incredibly dangerous, especially to those in the smaller vehicle.

Jackknife Accidents

Jackknife accidents happen when trucks brake suddenly and their trailers swing out to a ninety-degree angle. A jackknifing truck can easily overturn or roll-over, causing a huge roadway danger.

Blind Spot Accidents

Signs signifying blind spots—“if you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you”—are common on large commercial trucks, and for good reason. Semi-trucks have significant blind spots where the driver loses sight of other vehicles, and these blind spots are much bigger than in smaller vehicles.

Follow our truck accident safety guidelines to help avoid blind spot accidents.

Roll-Over Accidents

When a truck driver loses control, the tractor-trailer can roll over, making both the truck and any cargo that falls out of it a hazard for other motorists on the road.

Underride Accidents

Underride accidents are one of the deadliest types of truck accidents. They happen when trucks stop quickly and approaching vehicles get stuck under the tractor-trailer. The top of the smaller vehicle is often ripped off.

Some underride accidents could be prevented through the use of side guards on semi-trucks, a practice that the National Transportation Safety Board highly recommends.

Tire Blowouts

You can see the remains of tire blowouts across major roadways throughout the United States—shreds of back rubber on the shoulder or in the middle of the lane. The tires of any vehicle can blowout, but large commercial trucks are especially vulnerable to tire failure.

What Are the Most Common Types of Injuries from Truck Accidents?

Common causes of truck accidents include distracted driving, improper training, equipment malfunctions, and improper loading, and all types can lead to serious injury, death, and property damage.

Injuries can include the following:

• Back and neck injuries
• Broken bones
• Brain and spine injuries
• Severe burns
• Loss of limbs
• Paralysis
• Death

Contact a Truck Accident Attorney Today

No matter the type of truck accident, we are here to help.

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of a truck accident, contact the Indianapolis Truck Accident Attorneys of Wilson Kehoe Winingham. The lawyers at WKW can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call 317.920.6400 or fill out an online contact form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

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