Many kinds of truck crashes happen along the I-81 corridor, where heavy truck traffic is common. These accidents often cause serious injuries with long-lasting consequences.
Virginia’s pure contributory negligence law prevents those injured from seeking compensation for their damages if they bear any responsibility for the crash, complicating accident claims.
1. Rollovers
Rollover accidents occur when a truck tips onto its side or roof. These accidents often result from speeding, sharp turns or uneven road surfaces. Rollover accidents can cause severe injuries, including head trauma, spinal cord injuries and broken bones.
2. Jackknifes
Jackknife accidents happen when a truck’s cab and trailer fold in on each other, resembling the shape of a folding pocket knife. These accidents typically occur when the truck brakes suddenly or loses control, causing the trailer to swing out of alignment. Jackknife accidents can lead to multi-vehicle collisions and serious injuries to drivers and passengers involved.
3. Underrides
Underride accidents occur when a smaller vehicle slides underneath the back or side of a truck’s trailer. These accidents often result in catastrophic injuries, such as decapitation or severe head and neck trauma, due to the height difference between the truck and the smaller vehicle.
4. Blind spot collisions
Blind spot accidents happen when a truck driver fails to see a vehicle in their blind spot and changes lanes or makes a turn, causing a collision. Injuries from blind spot accidents can range from minor cuts and bruises to more severe injuries, depending on the speed and force of the impact.
5. Tire blowouts
Tire blowout accidents occur when a truck’s tire suddenly bursts, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. These accidents can lead to rollovers, collisions with other vehicles or running off the road. Injuries from tire blowout accidents can include whiplash, broken bones and internal injuries.
Establishing fault
Negligence determines fault in truck accidents. The driver or party found to have acted negligently, such as by speeding, driving recklessly or violating traffic laws, is responsible for the accident and must pay damages to other injured parties. Evidence from the accident scene, witness statements, police reports and the investigation results establish fault.
Truck accidents are dangerous
Truck accidents can happen in many ways, and all of them can have disastrous consequences. Knowing what kinds of truck accidents commonly occur and the Old Dominion State’s strict laws may help you avoid them.
