As truck accident lawyers who have been fighting for clients since 1983, we know from first-hand experience how rollover accidents involving semi-trucks are among the most devastating types of crashes that occur on our Texas roads and highways.
Rollover accidents—which are often the result of negligence in the form of speeding, distraction/inattention, oversteering, or an imbalanced cargo load—occur after the big rig tips onto its side, creating a dangerous scenario for everyone else on the road.
To reduce the risk of truck driver injury or death in a rollover crash, a team made up of rocket scientists and automotive engineers is seeking a solution that would sense a rollover before it happens. According to FleetOwner, the scientists and engineers say their system would allow the trailer to detach from the tractor. The trailer, then free from the cab, could then roll over without harming the driver or damaging the truck's cab.
While this life-saving technology is certainly a welcomed development in the transportation industry, the solution doesn't seem to prevent a passenger vehicle from crashing into the out-of-control trailer that's detached from its tractor.
Preventing semi-truck rollover accidents
Many rollover accidents involving tractor-trailers are caused by negligent truck drivers and trucking companies.
Common causes of rollovers include:
- Speeding through sharp curves, which frequently occurs when a trucker is using a ramp to enter or exit a highway or is going down a steep hill.
- Driver inattention, which means the trucker might not recognize a hazardous situation in time and brake too suddenly or swerve to avoid a collision.
- Unsafe steering, which often involves an overcorrection.
- Poorly trained truckers who don't know how to avoid a rollover crash.
- Improperly loaded trailer because the trucker did not complete an adequate pre-trip inspection and/or a third-party vendor loaded the trailer incorrectly.
Because of the weight of the truck (some fully loaded tractor-trailers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds), crashes with smaller passenger cars typically result in catastrophic injuries and death.
Some of the most serious injuries truck accident victims suffer are:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis
- Internal organ damage
- Neck and back injuries
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries
Again, big trucks have a big size and weight advantage over other cars on the road, so the injuries sustained in a crash by those in the smaller passenger vehicle are almost always severe.
A truck accident lawyer can explain your legal options
Recovering compensation for damages that arise out of a truck accident can be complicated. Because liability can fall on multiple different parties (e.g., the trucker, trucking company, truck manufacturer, third-party vendor, etc.), you may have to deal with multiple different insurance companies that all have the same goal—to pay you as little money as possible, if anything at all.
Each insurance company also has teams of attorneys looking out for its best interests, which is why you shouldn't try to take them on without an experienced truck accident lawyer looking out for yours.
At The Herrera Law Firm, our attorneys know how to fight for the compensation you need and deserve. Find out how we can help if you were injured or a loved one died in a Texas truck accident. There’s no obligation when you contact us, and your consultation is free.
