When a semi-truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the outcome can be life-altering. Semi-trucks are powerful machines that, in a crash, can take away your health, independence, and peace of mind. At Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott, our Kansas City truck accident lawyers have seen the devastation these crashes cause, and we are here to help. Let’s review the most common type of truck accidents.
The Most Common Type of Truck Accident: Rear-End Collisions
The most common type of truck accident is a rear-end collision. These accidents happen frequently because semi-trucks need far more time and distance to stop than passenger vehicles. When a truck driver is speeding, distracted, fatigued, or impaired, or when critical maintenance is ignored, the chances of a rear-end crash rise dramatically. Sudden traffic slowdowns, poor weather, or hazardous road conditions can make stopping even harder.
Why Rear-End Truck Accidents Are So Dangerous
Unlike typical rear-end accidents between cars, a rear-end collision involving a semi-truck can cause catastrophic harm. The force of a truck can crush smaller vehicles, trigger multi-car pileups, and result in life-changing injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Broken bones
These crashes are not just accidents. They are tragedies that often could have been prevented if the truck driver or company had followed safety rules.
Other Common Types of Truck Accidents
While rear-end collisions are the most common type of truck accidents, there are many other types of truck accidents that can cause serious harm. These include
- Underride accidents, where any part of a smaller vehicle slides beneath the trailer of a truck
- Override accidents, where the truck rides the back of over a smaller vehicle
- Jackknife accidents, when a truck’s trailer swings out at an angle, often blocking multiple lanes of traffic
- Rollover crashes can occur when a truck tips onto its side, sometimes spilling dangerous cargo
- Blind spot accidents, wide-turn collisions, and crashes caused by lost or shifting cargo are also frequent and dangerous
Each of these accidents often stems from negligence, whether it is driver error, poor maintenance, improper loading, or failure to follow safety regulations.
Defensive Driving Tips to Help Prevent Truck Accidents
Unfortunately, many car accidents involving large trucks are caused by passenger vehicle drivers who are unfamiliar with how trucks operate. Unlike cars, semi-trucks require much more space to stop, turn, and maneuver. Understanding these differences can help drivers avoid catastrophic accidents. Here are key defensive driving tips to help prevent truck-related crashes:
- Give trucks plenty of space. The ideal stopping distance for a fully loaded semi-truck traveling at 65 mph is around 525 feet, which is about two football fields or 48 car lengths. Cutting in front of a truck or braking suddenly can cause a dangerous override accident.
- Avoid passing on the right. Large blind spots on the passenger side mean truck drivers often can’t see vehicles traveling there, increasing the risk of underride crashes.
- Stay out of blind spots. If you can’t see the truck’s side mirrors, assume the driver can’t see you either.
- Watch for wide turns. Trucks need significant space to make turns, especially right-hand turns. Never try to squeeze past a turning truck.
- Be patient and cautious. Don’t try to beat a truck through an intersection or dart between trucks in heavy traffic. Their size and weight make sudden maneuvers dangerous.
Understanding a truck’s speed, size, turning radius, and stopping limitations helps prevent needless crashes—and saves lives.
How Our Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyers Help Victims
At Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott, we do not stop at identifying what happened when you’ve been hurt in a truck accident. We dig deeper. Our lawyers take accountability for uncovering why the crash happened and who is responsible. Our approach includes:
- Hiring top trucking experts to reconstruct the scene
- Interviewing witnesses and conducting depositions
- Holding focus groups to test legal strategies
- Researching and collaborating as a team to build a strong case
We know the rules that trucking companies and drivers must follow. We know how to expose violations like improper maintenance, unsafe driving, and failure to follow federal regulations. We work to hold all responsible parties accountable, from the driver to the trucking company, to manufacturers if necessary. That is how we maximize compensation for our clients and help create positive change in the trucking industry.
Contact Our Firm to Learn More
Our lawyers are aggressive in court, but compassionate in everything else we do. We help our clients through the healing process, not just the legal process. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a rear-end truck accident or any other type of truck crash, contact us today for a free consultation. Let us help you take your peace and power back.
More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents and Insurance