Dyer Truck Accident Attorney

While all vehicle collisions can be traumatic and result in devastating injuries and property damage, accidents involving semi-trucks tend to have catastrophic consequences. There are a huge number of these large commercial vehicles on Indiana’s roadways every day, resulting in a high volume of truck accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that in 2016, 119,000 people were injured in accidents involving commercial trucks.

Truck accidents have the potential to cause widespread damage, which is largely due to the fact that these kinds of vehicles are so much larger and heavier than their passenger vehicle counterparts and are often tasked with carrying dangerous cargo that could endanger others on the road if proper precautions are not taken.

Types of Large Trucks

Although most of us may think of semi-trucks first when we hear the term “commercial vehicle,” the reality is that there is actually a wide range of vehicles that fall under this broad category, including:

• Dump trucks, which are usually used to transport loose materials, such as gravel and dirt. These types of vehicles trucks are much more likely to be involved in rollover accidents because they are so top heavy.
• Flatbed trucks, which have an open trailer, making them ideal for use in transporting odd-shaped cargo, such as logs, lumber, and construction equipment. Proper technique is extremely important when loading these types of trucks, as a failure to do so could result in cargo coming loose while on the road.
• Semi-trucks, which, as the most common type of commercial truck that is used on public roadways, are involved in the highest number of accidents. Because of their often extreme weight, semi-trucks are notoriously difficult to stop and with their high center of gravity are more prone to rolling over if caught in a crosswind or when making a tight turn.
• Tanker trucks, which are used to transport liquids, most of which are flammable or hazardous, such as oil or gasoline. For this reason, tanker trucks are much more likely to explode in the event of a collision, while carrying liquid cargo, which is notorious for shifting during transport, can cause the vehicle to flip.

Regardless of the kind of large truck involved in a collision, these types of accidents usually result in at least severe property damage, and often physical injury as well, making it particularly important for injured parties to speak with an attorney about holding the at-fault parties who caused their accident accountable for their negligence.

Common Truck Accident Causes and Potential Liability

Truck accidents, like any other type of vehicle collision, can have a number of causes, but are most often attributed to one or more of the following:

• Truck driver fatigue;
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
• Speeding, swerving, or tailgating;
• Distracted driving;
• Tire blowouts;
• Mechanical failure; or
• Cargo spills.

When these accidents are the result of negligence, such as a truck driver failing to abide by federal regulations regarding break times, loading procedures, safety inspections, or vehicle weight limits, those individuals can be held liable for resulting damages.

In fact, the driver’s employer, the truck’s owner, and the vehicle manufacturer can also be held liable if the negligence of any of these individuals or entities also contributed to or caused the collision.

Call a Dyer Truck Accident Attorney for Assistance

If you or a loved one were involved in a collision with a commercial vehicle, please contact the dedicated Dyer truck accident attorneys Tanzillo Stassin & Babcock P.C. today to learn more about recovering compensation for your losses.