Types of Truck Accidents in Ohio

Common Types of Trucks

Commercial vehicles are designed and used to haul all kinds of goods and materials. From semi-trucks to vehicle haulers, many trucks have unique features to perform their intended function better.

The most frequently seen trucks on the road are:

• Tractor-Trailers: Semi-trucks, semis, big rigs, or 18-wheelers are the most recognized commercial vehicles. They utilize a tractor unit to pull one or more trailers that can be loaded with freight.
• Tanker Trucks: These trucks carry large quantities of liquids, from gasoline, water, industrial chemicals, and pesticides. Tankers are recognized easily by their shape and can be dangerous because of their often hazardous and spillable cargo.
• Flatbed Trucks: These are level cargo haulers with no sides or roofs. They can move large, heavy loads, generally secured by tying materials down.
• Garbage & Utility Trucks: Whether operated by a municipality or private company, these vehicles often have features like hydraulic lifts, retractable baskets, plows, and lighting that make them complicated and human error is common.
• Construction Trucks & Cement Trucks: From dump trucks carrying materials to heavy equipment and cement mixers traveling between job sites, construction trucks are large and difficult to maneuver.
• Delivery Trucks: Companies like UPS, Amazon, or FedEx are familiar sights on highways and neighborhood side streets as they make deliveries. Accidents are bound to happen when you combine delivery quotas, mandatory hours, lax driver training, and inclement weather.
• Box Trucks: Commonly used by individuals and small to medium-sized businesses to move cargo, these tucks have a cube-like shape and are very versatile. They also have limited visibility, and limited driver training is required.

Common Types of Truck Accidents

In 2020, an estimated 146,930 people were injured in crashes involving large trucks. 68% (99,501) of these truck accident victims were occupants of other vehicles. Here are several common types of large commercial truck accidents.

Rear-End Truck Accidents

Large trucks need more time and distance to come to a stop. When truck drivers are distracted, going too fast, or tailgating, they can easily collide with the vehicle in front of them resulting in a rear-end accident.

Jackknife Truck Wrecks

Jackknife accidents usually occur when large trucks brake too hard and make other dangerous maneuvers. Which often results in trailers swinging wide, making a 90-degree angle.

Tanker Truck Crashes

Tankers frequently carry hazardous liquid cargo, and because they have a high center of gravity, they are hard to drive. Without sufficient training, a collision can happen easily.

Dump Truck Accidents

Dump trucks or tippers are equipped with an open box bed and hinged at the rear end to tip upwards and unload efficiently. A common sight on construction sites, dump trucks are big, heavy vehicles that often present debris as a common danger.

Utility Vehicle Accidents

From fire trucks and ambulances to gas company vehicles and city maintenance trucks, these vehicles operate in all conditions and may not adhere to normal traffic laws.

Underride/Override Truck Accidents

These represent some of the deadliest truck accidents. Underride and override collisions happen when trucks stop suddenly, causing smaller cars to wedge under the much larger truck.

Truck Rollover Accidents

When a trucker loses control of a big rig truck, the trailer can roll or flip over, creating a serious hazard for other motorists.

Unsecured Cargo Accidents

Trucks often carry a lot of different cargo. If not adequately secured, the load can fall or fly off at high speeds, potentially causing severe injuries and accidents.

Blindspot Truck Accidents

Semi-trucks have significant blind spots. These are areas where truck drivers lose sight of other motorists, and they are much bigger than in smaller cars. Accidents usually happen while merging, turning, or changing lanes.

Head-On Truck Crashes

Head-on accidents occur when large trucks directly collide with the front of another vehicle. They regularly happen on tight roads, one-way streets, or when one vehicle travels the wrong way. They are incredibly dangerous and account for a lot of truck-related fatalities.

Wide-Turn Truck Accidents

Trucks need to be maneuvered in a specific way to turn in either direction safely. When turns are too wide or happen too fast, a driver can swing into oncoming traffic and cause serious collisions.

If you or a loved one are hurt in a truck crash, here are some possible reasons why it occurred:

Driver Negligence in Truck Crashes

Truck drivers owe other motorists a particular duty of care and should be well-trained before getting behind the wheel. Nevertheless, driver error is the most common cause of truck accidents.

Examples of trucker negligence are:

• Distracted Driving
• Fatigued Driving
• Disregarding Traffic Signals
• Speeding/Dangerous for Conditions
• Impaired Driving
• Reckless/Aggressive Maneuvers

Reckless Motor Carriers

Many commercial vehicles are owned and operated by large trucking companies. And like many big companies, these businesses may cut corners on safety, driver training, and routine vehicle repairs. If any of these apply, the trucking company could be held responsible.

Careless Third Parties

The cause of some types of truck crashes is more challenging to identify. For instance, negligent tire manufacturers may have released a faulty product, eventually leading to a tire blowout. In addition to defective parts manufacturers, various third parties could be at fault for many truck accidents.

Damages if You’re Hurt by a Truck

Each truck accident is different, with distinctive causes and contributing factors. If you were hurt or lost a loved one in any type of truck accident caused by negligence, you could be compensated for your:

• • Current and future medical expenses
  • Lost income and reduced earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Disfigurement
  • Loss of consortium
  • Funeral expenses

Truck Crash Insurance Claims

After most truck accidents, a victim will seek compensation through an insurance claim with the driver or truck company’s provider. This process usually requires compiling your losses, establishing the parties” liability, and negotiating for the best settlement possible.

Truck Accident Lawsuits

Unfortunately, not every truck crash results in a fast and fair settlement for everything you need. You may benefit from filing a lawsuit depending on the type of truck crash, who is involved, and the wreck details.

A capable attorney can review your accident, negotiate for maximum value, and help determine the best action.

Injured? Get Ohio Truck Accident Help

The legal team at Ohio Truck Accident Help is prepared to help you get the maximum settlement or courtroom verdict possible. Our goal is to stop lowball offers, prevent negligence in the trucking industry, and give injury victims the best chance at the compensation they deserve.

If you or a loved one have been injured in any Ohio truck accident, call (855) 721-2737 to set up a free, no-risk consultation. We’ll find the cause and fight for your interests.