Breaking Down the Anatomy of an 18-Wheeler Truck Accident: Common Scenarios and Causes

If we compare 18-wheeler truck accidents with some of the most catastrophic incidents on the highways, we come to understand that these commercial trucks, just by their sheer size and weight, can be regarded as the worst.

In contrast to such accidents between two smaller vehicles, collisions with 18-wheelers often come to the forefront at times with deadly aftermaths, giving an understanding of the complexities and reasons for these types of accidents.

For the most part, these accidents do not happen at random; instead, they are caused by the influence of many minor factors that eventually combine into complex patterns. So, some of the most exciting and complex stories are born out of traffic accidents, which may include the numerous details of driving an 18-wheeler and the environmental and human components related to accidents. In fact, the scenario can either be the truck rear-end collision with the reduced stopping distance or other jackknife accidents caused by some awkward maneuvers of the driver, which involve several factors.

If you look for the best 18 wheeler truck accident lawyer near me, they can explain that a chain of events falls in the trucking industry as well, resulting in changes in safety policies, driver training, and adaptation of technology as a way to stop further incidents from happening.

The Nature of 18-Wheeler Trucks

Large trucks (the 18-wheelers), also referred to as semis, tractor-trailers, or big rigs, play a vital role in the transportation industry by moving all kinds of goods, even over long distances.

Nonetheless, their jaw-dropping size, substantial weight, and advanced mechanisms give them a complex nature that is distinct from ordinary cars, resulting in new and pressing difficulties and risks on the road.

A typical semi-truck can run between 70 and 80 feet (21 to 24 m) in length and, when fully loaded, can weigh up to 80,000 pounds (36,000 kg).

Driving an 18-wheeler is a job that demands specialized training and skills, which might mean a lot of extra training. The motorists will be faced with the task of identifying the lane, braking, and navigating turns precisely through conditions like heavy traffic and tight spaces that are usually in urban areas, as well as hazards that come with bad weather.

Common Scenarios and Causes of Truck Accidents

There can be different scenarios and causes of 18-wheeler truck accidents. Here are some.

? Rear-end collisions of 18-wheeler trucks are also referred as fender-benders. The fact that these trucks are super heavy and large means that a rear-end collision can be catastrophic for other regular cars, which are way lighter than trucks. Stopping between roads is one of the main causes of accidents with these trucks, especially since they are very heavy but, at the same time, large, causing the drivers to need more space to stop and increase the reaction time.

?  The turnover of the trailer is what they call jackknife accidents. The trailer extends its movement in a direction perpendicular to that of the tractor. Such a state of affairs is often provoked by breaking harshly, wet surfaces, or non-proper driving at the bends. When the back of the truck (called the trailer) folds in on itself, the trailer starts to skid backward. This spins the trailer in the opposite direction from which the tractor is going, and it can quickly become very dangerous to all the other vehicles in the area. The trailer can extend to this dimension, where many lanes can be damaged easily by the force of the trailer.

? Rollover accidents are by far the deadliest type of accidents that a truck is involved in, referred to as a truck being overturned and falling on either its side or roof. Rollover factors include over-steering, careless driving in curves, inappropriate load resulting in imbalanced center mass, and sudden maneuvers to avoid obstacles or other vehicles. The consequences could be horrendous, and it could put connecting cars at risk, or hazardous material could spill onto the road.

? Underride accidents refer to the case where a smaller vehicle involved in a crash with the rear or side of an 18-wheeler ends up sliding underneath the truck trailer. Such fatalities are rather typical in case of traffic accidents because the small vehicle's passenger compartment may be crushed or sheared, which, in turn, causes severe injuries or death for the vehicle passengers. Underride guards, which are made of metal and installed on the rear and sides of trailers, are intended for cars not to get through under these trailers in case of such crashes.

?     Long turns may be the greatest obstacle for an 18-wheeler, whose extended wheelbase and trailer length increase the need for turning lanes. As the truck drivers make a turn, they have to swing wide so that they can clear obstacles like curbs or parked cars on the inside.

Conclusion

Common scenarios and activities that lead to big accidents of 18-wheelers are critical to be known by the drivers and the other people on the roads. Through our awareness of such incidents, we contribute to the larger cause, which is decreasing car crashes, asking for safety measures beforehand, and ultimately letting people live in the public spaces we have in common.