Accidents occur on the roadways every day. Due to the massive size and weight of large commercial trucks, trucking accidents can lead to major property damage and catastrophic injuries.
Many types of major trucking accidents can cause destruction; here are just a few examples.
1. Jackknife accidents
A jackknife accident usually occurs when a trucker must brake too hard or too quickly or makes an improper turn. The weight and momentum of the trailer cause it to turn at the point where it attaches to the cab and come forward to form a 90-degree angle with the cab.
2. Rollover accidents
Rollover accidents occur when a truck pulling a heavy load takes a corner too abruptly or quickly, causing the trailer to topple over onto its side. This turns the trailer into a hazard, sliding along the road and endangering any other vehicle in its path.
3. Head-on collisions
A head-on collision occurs when one vehicle crosses into the flow of oncoming traffic and strikes another vehicle head-on. This type of collision is often catastrophic and causes serious injuries or death to one or both drivers.
4. Rear-end collisions
Rear-end collisions occur when a truck is unable to slow down or stop in time to avoid other vehicles in its path. A rear-end collision can also occur if another vehicle strikes the back of a trailer.
There are other types of trucking accidents, such as t-bone collisions and accidents with unsecured loads. The causes of accidents vary along with the types of accidents, but most trucking accidents result in injuries and damage because trucks are so much larger and heavier than the other vehicles on the road.