Earlier this week, a tractor-trailer overturned a stopped traffic on I-95. There are five types of big rig accidents that are common on Palm Beach County highways. Rollovers are just one.
Five types of Palm Beach County Trucking Accidents:
- Rollover accidents
- Head-on accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Underride accidents
- Override accidents
- Rollover accidents – Most people are familiar with rollover crashes. Truck rollovers generally occur because of high speeds, shifting cargo, driver inexperience, improper maintenance or dangerous road conditions.
- Head-on accidents – A head-on truck crash occurs when one vehicle leaves its lane and crashes into on-coming traffic.
- Jackknife accidents – Jackknife truck wrecks occur when a truck driver suddenly brakes and the cab of the truck moves back to a position parallel with the trailer. When this happens, the driver will not be able to control his vehicle. Jackknife accidents often result in a rollovers.
- Underride accidents – In underrride accidents a smaller vehicle ends up crashed underneath the larger truck. This type of crash can occur when a driver is following a truck and the truck abruptly stops. If the driver cannot brake in time, his vehicle can get caught under the body of a tractor trailer. As the smaller car crashes into the semi-truck, anything coming into contact with the truck sustains serious damage – especially the occupants of the car. These types of accidents have a high fatality rate.
- Override accidents – Override accidents are similar to underride accidents, but the truck runs over the smaller vehicle. These deadly accidents often occur when a truck driver fails to check his blind spots for smaller vehicles. Because the bottom of a truck tends to hit a passenger car at eye level, victims who survive these types of accidents often sustain serious head injuries.
Eighteen-wheelers are far larger than the standard passenger vehicle. When a truck and car collide in a West Palm Beach trucking accident, it is the occupants of the passenger vehicle that are most likely to sustain serious injuries.
Unfortunately, even with the truck driver is at fault, the trucking companies will do their best to avoid paying damages. If you have been injured in a Palm Beach County large truck accident and want to ensure that you are treated fairly, you need an experienced Florida personal injury attorney on your side.
Craig Goldenfarb, an accident attorney in West Palm Beach, fights for the rights of Florida injury victims. To discuss your claim with an accident attorney in West Palm Beach, contact the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb.