Accidents involving tractor-trailers are some of the most devastating that I see as a personal injury attorney here in Mississippi. This is mainly due to the tremendous difference in a tractor trailer’s mass versus that of an average passenger car. Tractor trailer rollovers, where the truck rolls onto its side or even upside down, can be particularly deadly because the tractor-trailer has no control over its movement and often impacts with more than one vehicle because of its tremendous size. I wrote the following blog post to help those who have questions about how and why tractor-trailer rollovers occur and what you should do if you are injured as a result of one.
If you have been injured, you must find experienced counsel to help you attain your fair share of compensation for your loss of income and injury. Barrett Law has the experience to help you if you have been injured. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.
Truck Rollovers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that more than 1,300 tanker truck rollover accidents occur in the United States yearly. Fatalities result from 60 percent of these accidents.
The high center of gravity on tractor trailers makes them more susceptible to overturning. Certain loads, such as liquids that slosh back and forth in tanker trucks, increase this susceptibility even more. Many other factors make a tractor-trailer more likely to overturn, listed below:
Road conditions—Truckers must stop or stay off the road when roadway conditions are too dangerous. Slick, wet, and icy roads dramatically increase the chances of a tractor-trailer rollover, as do certain construction conditions when the road surface is torn up or being repaved.
Speed—Driving too fast than conditions or roadway will allow is a primary cause of tractor trailer rollovers. Taking curves too fast, including highway off and on-ramps, can cause truck’s loads to pull them over. Tractor trailer drivers have to drive at a speed that will keep their trucks on the road and protect other motorists, and that does not necessarily allow them to go the speed limit. Often the safe speed for tractor trailer is 10 miles per hour slower than the posted speed limit.
Partial Loads—It may be a bit counterintuitive, but partial loads where the truck is under capacity are more dangerous than full loads where the truck is at its weight capacity. Partial loads are hazardous for two reasons. First, the partial load may be unevenly loaded, making the trailer unsafely heavy in one area and too light in another; this can lead to fish-tailing or swaying. Second, a full load leaves little room for movement, while a partial load can shift if it is not carefully secured. A shifting load can also cause fish-tailing or swaying. Either way, a swaying trailer can ultimately result in a loss of control.
Truck maintenance–All of the tractor trailer’s mechanical parts, as well as the equipment required to hold the load in place, must be maintained appropriately. Even if a load is packed correctly, a broken load strap that allows the load to shift could result in a rollover.
What Should You Do If A Dangerous Roadway has Injured You or a Loved One?
If you have been injured in a truck rollover accident in Mississippi, the attorneys at Barrett Law will thoroughly investigate the circumstances and causes of the crash and help you receive the compensation that you deserve. Let experienced personal injury counsel take care of preserving medical records, attaining expert opinions regarding the trucker’s driving, and dealing with opposing attorneys. These are essential tasks that a personal injury attorney can handle for you while you concentrate on healing.
Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have suffered an injury due to a tractor trailer rollover. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.