Truck Accident Lawyer in Pensacola, Florida

Most Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents

The more typical commercial truck accidents that happen in Florida include the following:

• Head-On Collisions – A head-on collision occurs when the front of one vehicle strikes the front of a second vehicle. Head-on truck accidents often happen when a truck driver drifts across the center line or median into the path of an oncoming vehicle, drives the wrong way down a one-way street, or makes a wide right turn into the path of oncoming traffic.
• Rear-End Collisions – A rear-end collision involves the front of one vehicle striking the rear of a second vehicle. Rear-end truck accidents can occur when truck drivers tailgate other vehicles or speed. They may also happen if a truck’s tires or braking system are not properly maintained, which can affect braking performance.
• Rollover Accidents – A truck’s high center of gravity makes it more likely to tip over onto its side or roof in an accident. Trucks can experience rollover accidents if a truck driver takes a steeply banked curve at an unsafe speed, if a tire blowout leads to a sudden loss of control, or if the truck’s cargo is not balanced or secured.
• Runaway Trucks – When a truck driver travels at highway speeds, it has a lot of momentum behind it, and when its driver loses control of the vehicle, it can be impossible to get it back. Runaway truck accidents, also known as a roadway departure, can result from a brake or power steering failure, possibly due to defective parts or insufficient maintenance.
• Jackknifes – A change of momentum between the trailer and the tractor towing it can cause it to swing forward towards the cab at the point of articulation. These truck accidents are called jackknife accidents because their motion resembles a folding knife. They may occur due to improperly balanced or secured cargo, brake failure, or excessive speeding on steep hills, curves, or slick road surfaces.
• Blind Spot Collisions – Also known as a sideswipe or side-impact collision, a blind spot collision occurs when a truck driver attempts to move into a traffic lane already occupied by another vehicle in the driver’s blind spot. Commercial trucks have large blind spots extending the entire length of the trailer behind the truck driver and sometimes into multiple lanes of traffic. Blind spot collisions often occur because truck drivers fail to check their mirrors or examine adjacent lanes before merging.
• Tire Blowouts – A truck may suffer a tire blowout due to a defective tire or a tire that has exceeded its service life. A tire blowout is likelier when a truck carries a cargo load heavier than its weight rating.
• Lost Loads – A lost load truck accident involves a truck spilling its cargo onto the roadway. Falling cargo can impact other vehicles around the truck or may be left on the road to pose a collision hazard for approaching traffic. Other drivers may get into subsequent accidents when they swerve to avoid this spilled cargo.
• T-Bone Collisions – A T-bone collision involves the front of one vehicle striking the side of another vehicle, leading to a T-shaped wreck. T-bone accidents frequently occur at intersections when truck drivers run a red light or stop sign or fail to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic when attempting a turn.
• Underride Collisions – An underride collision involves a vehicle getting stuck underneath a truck’s trailer. A truck driver risks causing an underride collision when they merge into a lane already occupied by a car or suddenly slams on the brakes.

Common Injuries Sustained in Truck Accidents

The size of a commercial truck and the speed it can reach on the highway mean that it imparts extreme force in the event of an impact. These powerful forces can lead to severe injuries after a trucking accident like the following: