What Are The Most Common Types Of Truck Accidents In Kentucky?
Truck accidents are a staple on our roads and highways, notwithstanding all traffic regulations and reinforcement. Victims of these crashes usually sustain injuries like traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), internal bleeding, orthodontist problems, disfigurement, spinal damage, etc.
If you or your loved one was injured in this manner, it is prudent that you consult a Kentucky truck accident attorney to learn more about your legal rights. A lawyer can also help you seek compensation against the liable party.
What Are the Main Causes of Kentucky Truck Accidents?
Motorists are used to sharing the road with large vehicles, but it only takes one traffic mishap to derail everyone and wreak havoc. The news is awash with reports of accidents involving all manner of trucks, be it tractor-trailers, flatbeds, garbage trucks, tow trucks, etc. For example, in August of 2021, U.S. News & World Report reported that five people in western Kentucky perished following a crash between a Volvo semi-truck and a passenger vehicle. These types if incidents are included in the common types of truck accidents in kentucky
Unfortunately, truck accidents do occur causing extensive damage but speaking to a lawyer with experience handling compensation lawsuits emanating from truck accidents will protect your rights. In addition, a truck accident attorney can help you discover indisputable evidence and negotiate an agreeable settlement from the at-fault party.
While determining liability, your lawyer will also teach you more about the common types of truck accidents in Kentucky, including:
Jackknife Accidents
Jackknifing happens when the trailer pushes the towing vehicle, making it spin and face backward. In doing so, the car resembles a pocket knife, hence the name jackknife accident. Big rigs normally jackknife when the driver suddenly brakes, resulting in the trailer skidding towards the cab at a 90-degree angle. Oncoming traffic crashes into it, causing a massive pile-up.
The main causes of jackknife accidents include:
- Speeding
- Untrained driver
- Load imbalances
- Driver fatigue
- Inexperienced driver
- Poor weather conditions
- Insufficient following distance
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Rear-End Accidents
Crashing into a large truck on the highway can be catastrophic, leaving victims with severe injuries and, sometimes, death on the spot. In addition, the impact forces can damage smaller vehicles so severely that repairing them would be futile. If your car is totaled, you will need to replace it per the terms of your insurance agreement.
Tire Blowout Accidents
Tires often blow out due to wear and tear, especially when driving on poorly-maintained roads. When this happens, a truck can swerve violently in any direction. Other motorists following closely may be surprised and not have enough reaction time, thus crashing into the trailer.
Underride Truck Accidents
This sort of accident occurs when small cars ram into the rear of a tractor-trailer as it breaks or comes to a complete halt. An underride accident is one of the most frequent truck accidents, and the damage to humans and vehicles is often severe.
Blind Spot Accidents
One safety precaution when driving on U.S. roads is staying clear of a truck’s blind spots. These areas include either side of the truck and the rear, where drivers cannot see smaller cars when switching lanes.
Additionally, trucks have a high center of gravity, and high winds can topple them over. Therefore, any motorist in the truck’s vicinity is at risk of getting crushed if the driver loses control.
Lost Cargo Accidents
It is not uncommon to see cargo falling off a rig when loaded improperly. Likewise, bulky things on the asphalt are dangerous stumbling blocks for smaller cars. They can confuse and make several vehicles collide in a split second.
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Truck Rollover Accidents
An article by the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM) concluded rollover accidents usually result from loss of control, making the truck fall on one side. In addition, improper cargo loading can make the driver lose control, and the sheer size of big rigs only exacerbates the issue.
Wide Turn Accidents
When truck drivers are preparing to make a right turn, they may swing left too widely due to miscalculations. Traffic from the rear or pedestrians walking on the right side can get trapped by the trailer. A motorcyclist could crash into pedestrians or other vehicles caught in this wide berth.
T-Bone Crashes at Intersections
Perpendicular collisions are common when a driver fails to yield to a red light and crosses an intersection. A vehicle coming from another street might crash into the truck at a vertical angle. It can also happen when a truck pulls into or out of a parking space or merges onto busy roads.
T-bone accidents typically result from distracted driving, poor marking of the intersection, and sleep deprivation.
Head-On Collisions
Crashing into a semi at high speeds is one of the most devastating accidents you will experience or witness. The impact forces are so great that victims perish instantaneously or succumb while receiving treatment.
