Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyers

What are the main types of truck accidents?

Many truck accidents are unique to trucks, because of their physical size. Those types of truck accidents can include:

• Jackknife truck crashes.When a tractor-trailer jackknifes, the trailer ends up at a 90-degree angle from the cab of the truck. Trucks are likely to jackknife if the driver speeds, takes a turn too quickly, cargo shifts, or the roads are wet. Empty trucks are more likely to jackknife than trucks with cargo in their trailers.
• Blindspot accidents.Trucks have terrible sightlines. Unlike cars, trailers have no rear or side windows. Truck drivers rely on mirrors and newer technology to see. Many Kansas City truck accidents are caused because the driver doesn’t see cars that are directly in front of the truck, to the sides of the truck, or in the rear of the truck. Drivers need to be extra careful when they turn or change lanes to ensure no cars are in the way.
• Wide turn accidents. Many rigs, semis, and other large trucks need to move into a middle lane just to be able to complete their turn safely. Trucks need so much room to turn left or right that any vehicle near the truck may be hit. Truck drivers should be in the correct lane when they turn and should turn extra slowly to ensure any cars nearby can get out of the way.
• Underride truck accidents. Most commercial trucks are high off the ground because the wheels are so large. This poses a great danger for any small cars if there is a truck accident. The small car can easily slide under the truck, instantly crushing the occupants. Trucks should have rear and side guards to prevent underride accidents.
• Cargo spills and shifts. Federal and state rules regulate how much cargo a truck can haul and how the cargo should be carried. There are also industry standards to follow, including different considerations for hauling machines, agricultural products, vehicles, hazardous materials, liquids, and merchandise. Shifting cargo also makes it difficult for a driver to operate their rig, and cargo spills can cause a nightmare for any nearby vehicles.
• Tire blowouts.18-wheelers have 18 tires. Most trucks, especially trucks with trailers, have more wheels than cars. The wheels are much bigger than car wheels. If just one tire blows out, a truck accident is likely to occur.
• Rollovers. The center of gravity of large trucks is different than cars, making them much more prone to rollovers. Truck rollovers can cause havoc as cars try to avoid the truck and any cargo that spills from the truck. Rollovers are often dangerous or fatal to the truck driver.

Other common types of truck accidents that are similar to car accidents, but more deadly and more catastrophic, are:

• Head-on collisions
• Broadside or T-bone crashes
• Sideswipes
• Rear-end collisions
• Intersection accidents

What does truck driver negligence look like?

Truck accidents occur for many of the same reasons car accidents occur. Drivers are distracted, they speed, they violate traffic laws, or they drive under the influence. However, there are some traits unique to truck drivers that can increase the risk of an accident.

• Driving a commercial truck is hard, lonely work. Many drivers drive 12 or more hours a day, and often don’t get enough rest because the more time they are on the road, the faster they can get back to their families or meet deadlines. In some cases, they’re being pushed by their companies.
• Commercial truckers need special training. Drivers need training to learn how to operate their rigs. This includes inspecting their truck before and after the drive. Drivers need to learn how to back out properly, turn safely, drive with blind spots, and handle emergencies in a vehicle that can weigh tens of tons, and doesn’t have the quick braking capability of passenger vehicles.
• Truck parts can wear out quickly. Brakes, tires, clutches, steering columns, and other parts suffer wear and tear, and they need to be repaired or replaced. Failing to properly inspect and maintain a rig can mean big problems later. In some cases, however, the parts are defective, which means the manufacturer of the part may actually be liable.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the hours a driver can operate their truck without resting. The FMCSA and OSHA have rules governing the duty to inspect trucks, the weight of trucks with cargo, and other safety concerns. At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we understand these rules. We work aggressively to show truck drivers violated these oversight rules or any state or local traffic rules.