No one likes to see a large truck laying on its side. Not only is it likely that the truck driver suffered serious injuries, but other road users probably suffered harm. If it seems like you see or hear about truck rollover accidents often, it’s because these accidents happen more easily than you may think in certain conditions.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, rollover accidents were responsible for 45 percent of the deaths involving occupants of large trucks in 2018. By comparison, only 20 percent of car deaths involved rollovers. When people are involved in accidents with commercial trucks, the results are often catastrophic.
While you can’t always prevent an accident from taking place, knowing why rollover accidents occur can help to keep you safe. You need to drive especially carefully when large trucks are nearby.
Common Causes of Rollover Accidents
A number of factors can cause a truck to rollover. If you suffer injuries in a crash with a truck, your Atlanta car accident lawyer will first want to know the reason for the accident. This will help them to identify the responsible party and get you the compensation you deserve.
Distracted Driving
Texting, talking on the phone, fiddling with the radio, or eating while driving any type of vehicle is dangerous. However, if a trucker is distracted, the results can be disastrous. Distracted driving is a major contributor to many types of accidents including rollovers. Truck drivers must keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel if they want to drive as safely as possible. Anything else can cause them to be held liable for an accident
Speeding
Speed plays a major role in rollover crashes especially when there are bends in the road. If you’re approaching a curve and you see a large truck that seems to be going too fast, try to distance yourself. Truck drivers tend to misjudge the speed at which they can safely negotiate a curve and with the vehicle’s high center of gravity and potentially heavy load, the truck can easily flip over.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
Both truck drivers and trucking companies should ensure that vehicles only go on the road when they are in good shape. Companies should adhere to regular maintenance schedules and drivers should carry out safety checks before every trip. They should also report any problems they encounter with the functioning of the vehicle. Trucks can rollover if the brakes fail or a tire blows out and the driver has to turn suddenly.
Overloaded or Unbalanced Load
Cargo must be carefully balanced when it’s placed on a truck. Also, the truck shouldn’t carry more weight than it can legally transport. If the truck is unbalanced or overloaded, the truck’s center of gravity can be thrown off. This can result in the truck rolling over in some cases.
Overcorrecting, Oversteering, or Understeering
Often, drivers’ lack of control over their vehicles contributes to rollover crashes. One of the biggest problems is oversteering when they change lanes or swerving wildly to avoid a possible hazard. These actions can cause the truck to become imbalanced, somewhat like when it goes around a bend at a high speed. Overcorrecting (responding disproportionately to a small steering mistake) and understeering (failing to take significant action when necessary) – can also result in a rollover.
Possible Liable Parties in a Truck Rollover Accident
As you can see from the factors we outlined below, rollover accidents are often due to the actions of the truck driver. However, drivers aren’t the only parties who can be held liable for a crash. Sometimes, the accident may not even be their fault. Commercial trucks often have multiple individuals and entities associated with them.
These include the driver, the owner of the truck, the owner of the cargo, and the owner of the trailer. Someone else may be responsible for loading the cargo. Then, there are the parties who maintain the vehicle as well as the manufacturers of the truck and the parts.
Some rollovers also result from collisions with other vehicles or attempts to avoid such collisions. In addition, road conditions created by construction workers or engineers can be responsible for crashes. While you may assume the driver is responsible for your crash, your lawyer will thoroughly investigate the crash to ensure they identify the correct party.
Contact an Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer Today for Help
If you were injured in a truck accident, you may be facing a long recovery period and high medical bills. The person responsible for your injuries should have to compensate you. Call our Atlanta truck accident lawyers today to set up a free consultation.
