Equipment failure

Equipment failure regarding brakes, turn signals, steering components, and tires are just some of the parts of trucks that can fail and cause devastating accidents. Trucking laws require regular inspection, but laws and regulations are not always complied with. Truck drivers do not always properly maintain their trucks, and that can lead to serious accidents. Even in properly maintained vehicles, equipment may fail due to shoddy work by manufacturers or repair shops.

Jackknifing

Jackknifing occurs when a truck folds as the trailer tries to pass the cab. Jackknifing means the accidental folding of an articulated vehicle (one towing a trailer) such that it resembles the angle of a folding pocket knife (hence the name). Jackknifing usually happens to an empty vehicle and does not really happen that often. Sudden braking or turning, brake malfunction, wet or otherwise slippery roads, and uneven road surfaces can all cause a truck to jackknife. Jackknifing can be the cause of a serious truck accident or it can happen after something has collided with the truck. Most experienced truck drivers know how to correct a skid before it becomes a jackknife.

Turning accidents

Turning accidents often occur because trucks are so long, and they often have to make very wide turns. Sometimes these turns require the trucks to take up more than one lane of traffic. Always be aware of trucks around you and allow them enough room to make those wide turns. A truck will often swing to the left before making a right hand turn; this opens up space to the truck’s immediate right. If a car pulls into that space, the car can be hit or even crushed without ever being seen by the truck driver.

Stopping Distance

The stopping distance that is required for trucks is much greater than the stopping distance required for passenger vehicles, and trucks that follow vehicles too closely are an accident waiting to happen. Following too closely obviously does not allow a driver enough time to stop in the event the vehicle in front of you brakes suddenly. Not having enough stopping distance between the truck and the vehicle in front of the truck can trigger a jackknife and cause a serious accident. Be sure to allow ample distance between your vehicle and the front of the truck you are passing. Many truck drivers will flash their headlights to let you know that it is safe to return back to your lane after passing.

Blind spots

Blind spots in trucks are much larger than in passenger vehicles. We have all probably seen those signs on trucks that say, “If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you” Trucks have large blind spots that prevent them from seeing nearby vehicles. A truck that is changing lanes can easily collide with a vehicle in its blind spot. Experienced truck drivers know how to avoid these collisions, but not all truckers on the road are experienced.

Being aware of the dangers truck drivers face every day they go to work and being aware of how to share the road with trucks will certainly help you avoid the catastrophic type of accident that often occurs when trucks and passenger vehicles collide. For more information, please check www.TruckInjury.net often as new articles will be updated frequently!

Author: Patricia Woloch

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Woloch

A truck injury can easily happen when a smaller passenger vehicle comes into play with a jackknifed truck accident.  I have witnessed such accidents as a driver in Southern California, and it often does not end well for the smaller vehicle.  If you, or a loved one, has been in an accident with a truck you should contact an attorney who can assist you with legal counsel and representation should it be necessary to deal with your damages, your medical bills and even long term medical care, if needed.  Ask A Lawyer Online Now.  Get an Answer ASAP.  12 Lawyers Are Online!  Law.JustAnswer.com

There are many 18-wheelers on the highways and mixed in everyday traffic congestion, there are times when they need to stop quickly or are traveling in rain that sudden stopping can cause them to jackknife. This while frightening to the driver is also extremely dangerous to other vehicles around them, so dangerous that it can cause accidents that end in severe injuries. When an 18-wheeler jackknifes who is at fault is a question only an experienced truck injury attorney will have the resources to investigate when it happens there.

When an 18 wheeler jackknifes the back end of the trailer comes around toward the cab of the truck, this leaves the driver little or no control of this large motorized piece of metal weighting thousands of pounds sweeping down the road aiming at any vehicle in its path.

This may not be an every day occurrence for 18wheelers; however when it does happen it often happens so quickly that there is little time to maneuver a vehicle out of its path. Other reasons this may happen is with the schedules these drivers have they often travel at speeds and have a larger load than the truck should, this on crowed highways in California, for example, such as the 405, the 101, the 91 and the 55 freeways are a deadly combination for other motorists on these freeways.

Reasons that an 18-wheeler can jackknife other than weather conditions can range from the truck driver who is aggressive and wants to make his destination on time, being overtired from the schedules they keep to make their loads on time, along with excessive speed, using a cell phone at these speeds and 18-wheelers that do not have the proper maintenance and tires.

A few of these reasons combined can turn into a time bomb on the highways and freeways for motorists, and when this happens the unfortunate driver who is also on the road may be to shocked to avoid it or not the adequate amount of time to veer out of this 18-wheelers path. The injuries that can occur can be anything from whiplash to in some cases death and when an 18-wheeler jackknifes who is at fault, this may seem obvious.

Often injured motorists and passengers or family members will blame the driver and while he assumes responsibility for being behind the wheel, he often is not the owner who has not properly maintained the 18-wheeler. This is when an experienced  truck accident attorney will know what should be done to investigate the accident and the owner of the trucking company will be doing their homework.

Author: Michael Ehline

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Ehline

There are approximately 251 million registered vehicles in the United States alone and in 2004 there were 198.8 million registered drivers with an estimated 6.6 million driver’s licenses likely to be issued in 2007-2008, according to information obtained from programs under the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

In 2005, there were nearly 6.4 million auto accidents resulting in approximately 40,000 fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2007, the USDOT reported that:

* There were 236,468 non-fatal large truck accidents.
* 54,961 injury-related large truck accidents.
* 80,752 injuries due to large truck accidents.

Large truck accidents account for a significant portion of vehicle accidents every year and also account for a portion of crash-related injuries and fatalities among drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

According to research conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), fatalities caused by truck accidents are rising and have steadily risen 5.8 percent over a the previous ten-year period. Causes of Truck Accidents There are a plethora of reasons that an individual can become involved in a truck accident, but there are a list of common, reoccurring truck accident scenarios that have been identified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which conducts research on highway collisions involving an array of motor vehicles.

The following are some of the primary causes for a fatality or injury because of a truck crash:

* Trucks hitting pedestrians.
* The force of the collision between a large truck and a smaller passenger vehicle/vehicles.
* Trucks hitting fixed objects.
* Loss of control (tire blow out, vehicle failure, weather conditions, etc.).
* Animal in roadway.
* Physical driver factor, including falling asleep, heart attack, etc.

Another study conducted by the FMCSA also found that truck accidents will vary based on roadway type, weight of vehicle and cargo body type. The study found that of the three main categories of roadway types (rural, urban and unknown), urban roadways (interstate, freeways, expressways, etc.) accounted for 63 percent of all large truck accidents. Additionally, weight factored into the equation of truck accidents and truck fatalities/injuries.

The study measured truck weight by single unit trucks (two axles, threes axles, etc.) and combination trucks (tractor trucks, truck pulling trailers, etc.). Of these, 62 percent of accidents were made up by combination trucks, specifically the tractor truck pulling a trailer.

Additionally, the study reported an array of truck varieties that had been in an accident:

* Van trucks, including closed van, refrigerated van and open top van.
* Dump trucks (rear dump trucks and bottom dump/hopper bottom).
* Tankers (tank-liquid, tank-dry bulk and tank-compressed gas).
* Garbage refuse trucks.
* Cement mixers.
* Pole/logging trucks.
* Auto carriers.
* Livestock carriers.
* Bobtail units (with no cargo body).
* Other category, which includes tow trucks, etc.
* Unknown category (meaning un-inspected vehicles).

Of these trucks, the van trucks accounted for 46 percent of large truck crashes with dump trucks accounting for 16 percent of accidents and flatbed trucks accounting for 15 percent.

Truck Accident Costs While the percentage of truck accidents varies each year, the UMTRI has noted that there is a steady increase of truck accident fatalities and injuries among passengers.

Accompanying this increase is the rising costs per crash. Research determining the average price for medium as well as heavy truck accidents was conducted by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, which was paid for by USDOT.

The study found that: An average truck accident cost $91,112 in 2005.

* Crashes involving truck-tractors with two or three trailers accounted for the most costly crashes averaging $289,549 per crash.
* Truck crashes involving trucks with no trailers and straight trucks cost an average of $56,296 per crash.
* Reports have suggested that it will cost more than $3.6 million per crash for truck accidents involving a fatality.
* Whereas, truck crashes involving injury-only crashes averaged at $195,258 per crash.

While the costs of fatal and non-fatal accidents have been considered shockingly high by some, the study noted that these cost estimates excluded additional factors such as:

* mental health costs.
* roadside furniture repair costs.
* cargo delays.
* it is estimated that even those who are involved in or caring for a victim that was in a truck accident will have lost earnings.
* the value of schoolwork lost was also not factored.

Because of these exclusions, the estimated truck accident costs may even be considerable higher than estimated by the USDOT.

Seeking Assistance after a Truck Accident

It is often difficult for an individual to gauge the devastation that has just occurred after a truck collision. It is important that an individual who has suffered from a truck accident seeks medical attention immediately.

While an individual may feel no pain after an accident, their injuries may be internal and an examination by a medical professional immediately following an accident can ensure that the appropriate safety precautions are taken.

Additionally, it may be necessary for a truck accident victim to consult an experienced truck accident attorney for legal purposes, which may include a legal consultation for a potential truck accident lawsuit.

Developing a truck accident lawsuit may seem to be a drastic measure by some, but when considering the costs associated with a truck accident, whether fatal or non-fatal, it can be deemed a necessary step, one that may provide monetary compensation in return for damages following a truck collision.

Author: Katie Kelley

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katie_Kelley