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In addition to traditional types of motor vehicle accidents – such as head-on collisions and T-bone accidents – large trucks can be involved in a variety of unique (and highly damaging) crash types due to their size and shape. If you were injured in any kind of accident involving an 18-wheeler in Colorado, reach out to our Denver truck accident lawyer to learn if you may be eligible for financial compensation.Â
The average height of an 18-wheeler is about 13.5 feet from top to bottom. Passenger cars, by contrast, are generally just four to five feet tall. This height disparity creates a risk of override and underride accidents when cars and trucks are involved in collisions.
An override accident describes a large truck rolling up and over a smaller car, potentially collapsing the roof of the car and crushing the occupants inside. An underride accident is when a smaller car gets lodged underneath the trailer of a semi-truck in a collision, which can shear off the roof of the car and cause severe injuries, including decapitations and spinal cord injuries.
A jackknife accident is a unique type of crash that only exists among 18-wheelers. Semi-trucks are attached to their trailers by large king pins. If a situation occurs where the front cab of an 18-wheeler skids but the attached trailer does not reduce its speed, the trailer can swing out to the side in a shape that is similar to a folding pocketknife or jackknife.
While in a jackknife formation, a truck driver is unable to control the speed or direction of a truck. The truck may skid or slide into other motor vehicles, causing a multi-vehicle accident or pileup. The truck could also lose its center of gravity due to a sudden shift in weight distribution, causing the truck to tip or rollover.
The length of a tractor-trailer creates large blind spots for a truck driver, or areas of the surrounding roadway that the driver cannot see. These blind spots are not visible in any of the truck’s mirrors. This makes them danger zones for drivers. If a truck driver does not make safe lane changes, blind spots can contribute to sideswipe accidents and other collisions.
Even though a semi-truck has 18 wheels, the loss of just one can cause a serious truck accident. This is especially true if a tire on an 18-wheeler blows out, meaning it pops suddenly or explodes rather than a slow leak of air.
A truck tire blowout endangers others by causing a loss of vehicle control. These incidents can often be prevented by properly maintaining and inspecting the truck’s tires before drives and replacing any tires that look worn or damaged.
If an 18-wheeler is hauling cargo on an open flatbed or in its trailer, the cargo must be properly secured according to all relevant federal laws. Improper load securement could lead to cargo falling onto the road and striking other vehicles. Unsecured cargo or a poorly balanced load can also lead to items shifting in transit, a loss of vehicle balance and a truck rollover accident.
An 18-wheeler truck accident can be catastrophic in the level of damage it inflicts. Most of these collisions can be prevented with proper care exercised by the trucking company, its staff and the truck driver. If you are a victim of a big rig accident in Colorado, don’t wait to contact us to discuss your rights. You may be entitled to financial compensation from the trucking company or another party.