Big rigs and commercial trucks cause Palmetto Bay truck accidents each year. While each Palmetto Bay traffic accident is different, many truck accidents fall into one of a few different categories:
1) Rollover accidents. Large trucks such as semis can easily rollover. In many cases, this can occur because a driver is speeding, especially around a curve or when turning. However, even when traveling at just 5 mph, a larger commercial truck can roll over if the truck rolls over a curb or object or if the truck is heading down a steep incline. The top-heavy nature of trucks makes them prone to this type of accident.
2) Jackknife accidents. This type of accident often occur when the drive axle brakes on the tractor lock up, sometimes due to brake failure or some other cause. When this happens, the trailer skids and only comes to a halt after it forms a sharp angle with the truck. While the accident is in progress, the driver has no control of the truck and the truck can easily collide into and crush any vehicles or objects in its wake.
3) Tire blowouts. Tire blowouts can occur on any vehicle, but when they happen on a passenger car in most cases the driver can safely steer the car to the shoulder of the road and change the tire before a Palmetto Bay car accident occurs. When a tire blowout occurs on semi truck, controlling the vehicle is much more difficult due to the size and force of the truck. The truck can easily veer out of control, crashing into other cars. The pieces of tire can also crash into oncoming cars, possibly obscuring the vision of the drivers. In many cases, tire blowouts are preventable and are caused by poor maintenance, tire defects, overloading the truck, or improper tire inflation.
4) Underrride accidents. This is one of the more frightening types of Palmetto Bay car accident. In this type of accident, a smaller vehicle slides under the rear trailer of the truck. In many cases this occurs because the truck stops or slows down suddenly and the vehicle just behind it does not react in time. When an underride accident occurs, devastating damage is often the result. In many cases, the car can be dragged for some time by the truck. In many instances, the smaller vehicle has the entire cab sheared off or destroyed. These types of accidents are often fatal or result in serious injury, especially if the passenger vehicle is speeding at the time of the crash.
No matter what type of Palmetto Bay truck accident you have been involved in, you will of course have many questions and concerns. If you have sustained serious injuries, contact the Flaxman Law Group today to speak to a compassionate and experience member of our legal team. The initial consultation with the Flaxman Law Group is free and comes with no obligation, so there is no risk to you.