HURT IN A TRUCK ACCIDENT?

Trucks often transport goods from state to state and are a necessary part of the nation’s economy. However, accidents involving a tractor trailer truck can be devastating. The types of trucking accidents that occur on Milwaukee’s roads and highways include:

• Wide Turn Accidents – If a truck driver first turns to the left before making a right turn, it causes the truck to make a “wide turn.” This type of accident can cause damage to vehicles traveling behind the truck, or in the lane on the right side of the truck. Wide turn accidents often occur when a large truck attempts to navigate narrow city streets that are not designed to accommodate the tractor-trailer’s size.
• Rollover Accidents – Rollover accidents may occur when a truck driver fails to operate a vehicle safely. When a truck driver is speeding and hits a guardrail, curb or uneven ground, it may cause the truck to roll over. Driving too fast for road conditions is a common factor in rollover truck accidents. If a tractor-trailer or cargo tanker is not loaded properly, or imbalanced, the cargo can shift when rounding a curve, causing the truck to turn over.
• Rear-End Accidents – Large trucks are much heavier than passenger vehicles. Because of their weight, 18 wheelers require more distance to stop safely. If a truck is speeding and has to make a sudden stop, often it cannot do so and will collide with the vehicle in front of the truck. Rear end accidents often involve fatigued or distracted drivers who are not alert to changes in traffic conditions.
• Jackknife Accidents – A jackknife accident may occur when a tractor-trailer brakes too hard, causing the trailer to skid forward and form a 90-degree angle with the tractor, similar to a folding pocketknife.
• Under Ride Accidents –Due to the difference in size between a tractor-trailer and a car, a car can become lodged underneath a truck trailer, causing severe injuries to the automobile occupants. Under ride accidents may occur in rear end or side impact collisions, if the truck does not have under ride guards or the guards fail. If the truck’s cargo is not properly loaded and secured on the trailer, it can fall onto the road as the truck is moving, creating a highway hazard to other vehicles. This type of accident can be very serious if a truck loses its load while moving at a high speed on an interstate.

Weather contributes to a higher number of motor vehicle accidents in Wisconsin and other areas of the country that experience winter driving conditions. Commercial trucks have schedules to maintain and delivery deadlines to meet. Sleet and snow and poor weather conditions do not keep trucks off the road in Wisconsin. The law states the following about hazardous conditions: Extreme caution in the operation of a commercial motor vehicle shall be exercised when hazardous conditions, such as those caused by snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust, or smoke, adversely affect visibility or traction. Speed shall be reduced when such conditions exist. If conditions become sufficiently dangerous, the operation of the commercial motor vehicle shall be discontinued and shall not be resumed until the commercial motor vehicle can be safely operated. Whenever compliance with the foregoing provisions of this rule increases hazard to passengers, the commercial motor vehicle may be operated to the nearest point at which the safety of passengers is assured.

If you were involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler tractor-trailer, here is what you should do: Check to see if you are injured, or if any of the occupants of your vehicle were injured. Next, you should call 911 and request an ambulance if needed. While you wait for the police and the ambulance, it is safest to remain in your vehicle. However, if you are able, and it is safe to do so, you can check to see if the occupants of the other vehicle need assistance. It is very important that you do not move your vehicle until emergency personnel arrive on the scene. If you are able, take photographs of the truck accident scene and damage to both vehicles. Contact Gruber Law Offices so that you can understand what rights you have moving forward. Exchange insurance and registration information with the other drivers involved. Give your statement to the investigating police officer. Obtain a copy of the police report to make sure that all the information you provided to the police is correct.

There are many reasons why commercial truck accidents are more complicated to resolve than automobile accidents. It is so important to have a law firm on your side that truly understands the details of trucking law, knows the rules and regulations and gets results. Often, the injuries in a truck crash can be extremely severe. This generally means the stakes are higher, and insurers and trucking companies will move aggressively to limit their liability. Commercial truck owners are also legally required to carry higher amounts of liability insurance than the average car owner is required to purchase. Another complicating factor is that multiple parties may share liability in a truck accident, including the truck driver, the trucking company, a cargo shipper and the company that loaded the trailer. Each may even have their own separate insurance policies. In reality, we could spend hours and hours explaining why a truck accident is more complicated to resolve than a regular automobile accident.

Yes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatigued and overworked drivers are a common cause of commercial trucking accidents. Truck drivers may disregard, or be told to disregard, the applicable Hours of Service Rules. These are the federal requirements and the rules requiring them to take rest brakes. Common sense also dictates that drowsy drivers can be dangerous drivers and may fail to react in time to avoid causing an accident. These factors could play a role in maximizing and getting the best result possible after a truck accident.

As soon as it is safe to do so. Given the serious nature of these accidents and the evidence that needs to be collected, the sooner you contact an attorney the better.

Truck accidents lawsuits happen when someone is injured or dies in a truck accident. Some of the factors that come into play are past pain and suffering, future pain and suffering, and other potential damages.