As you might imagine, any time a large commercial truck is involved in an accident there are likely to be serious injuries or fatalities, however when an 18-wheeler rolls over, the devastation can be truly tragic. In 2014, eleven percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths occurred in a large truck collision. Ninety-seven percent of vehicle occupants killed in a two-vehicle crash which involved a large truck and a passenger vehicle were occupants of the passenger vehicle. Trucking accidents take the lives of more than 5,000 people, each and every year in the United States however the majority of these accidents could be prevented. Rollovers happen quickly, leaving the truck driver and the drivers around him or her without sufficient time to react.
A force known as lateral acceleration works in a large truck to both cause and prevent a rollover truck accident. Lateral acceleration can keep a truck standing, or work to turn it over. Rollover threshold is the term used by engineers and trucking experts to measure the risk of a rollover. RT is the largest level of lateral acceleration which the vehicle can withstand before it turns over. Consider that for the average pickup or car the amount of lateral acceleration it can withstand is 1.3 while a fully loaded tractor-trailer has an RT of .28. This gives you a good idea of how easily a truck can actually be involved in a rollover accident.
The center of gravity is another issue with large trucks which can contribute to rollover. Any commercial truck with a relatively high center of gravity traveling the roads with an extremely heavy load has a greater chance of a rollover accident. Similarly, the space between the tires can also influence the rollover risk; tires which are set more closely together result in a greater risk of rollover. Trucks which are exceeding the posted speed limit, or driving faster than conditions warrant are also more liable to be involved in a rollover accident, since high speeds have an effect on lateral acceleration. Roadway hazards such as sharp turns are well-known to cause truck rollovers, especially in trucks with heavy or unstable cargo.
Further Reading: Using Social Media After an Accident
Improper maintenance can be directly related to rollover accidents especially when tires are not at their optimal inflation rate, brakes performance is poor, or the truck suspension has undergone damage. Steep downhill grades in an overloaded truck are responsible for a certain number of rollover accidents, since brakes can be severely strained on such a road. Inclement weather can make it extremely dangerous for truck drivers, causing them to lose control of the truck due to an icy road or poor visibility. When truck drivers have not been properly trained or do not have the experience necessary, rollover accidents are a strong possibility, leading to serious injuries or death.
A big rig pulling a trailer is much more likely to be involved in a rollover accident due to the wide variance of rollover factors between the truck and the trailer. The driver making a turn in a commercial truck can generally “feel” the proper speed he or she should be making the turn at, however the lateral acceleration for the trailer could be completely different. Should the driver make a turn too sharply or too quickly, the trailer can rollover, pulling the tractor or cab into the rollover as well.
As you can see, there are a wide variety of factors involved in rollover accidents. When a truck is involved in a rollover there are usually many vehicles around them which are also involved. If you’ve been involved in a truck rollover accident, you need reputable legal help in order to receive compensation for your injuries. You may have extensive medical expenses, lost wages and many other damages through no fault of your own. An experienced personal injury attorney with a background in trucking accidents can be your most important advocate during such a difficult time.
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If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident accident in Broomfield, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, or anywhere in Colorado, it is important to contact our experienced trucking accident attorneys immediately. At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., our committed trucking accident lawyers are dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves justice. Contact us at (303) 423-1770 or (866) 385-3505.
Our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience representing injured accident victims in Broomfield, Arvada, Superior, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, Longmont, and throughout Colorado
At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., we are honored to help accident victims in their time of need, and take our responsibility as personal injury lawyers incredibly seriously. We know how important it is for victims to secure the full and fair compensation they need following a serious accident, and that is why we take a hands-on, personalized approach to every case we handle.
awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries. Read More
awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement. Read More
awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier. Read More
settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air. Read More
settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager. Read More
awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job. Read More
settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit. Read More
settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino. Read More
awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident. Read More
$1,250,000.00 –awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries.
$1,200.000.00 –awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis.
$450,000.00 –settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement.
$425,000 –awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier.
$300,000.00 –settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air.
$300,000.00 –settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager.
$250,000.00 –awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job.
$250,000.00 –settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit.
$150,000.00 –settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury.
$125,000.00 –settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino.
$75,000.00 –awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident.
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4:50 pm
October 25th, 2016