A trailer and an on-road truck combination create a cargo-carrying vehicle known as a tractor trailer. A tractor-trailer is comprised of two entirely separate units so that the truck can be hooked to other trailers and the trailer can be hooked to other trucks. In an accident involving a tractor trailer, the chance of injury is greater than in normal automobile accidents.

18 wheeler truck accidents account for one in every eight traffic deaths. Extremely destructive, these often fatal trucking accidents occur when large trucks, usually over ten thousand pounds or more, collide with other vehicles or pedestrians.

Semi-trailer trucks are motor vehicles in which the trailer is supported at one by the truck to which it is connected and at the other end by its own set of wheels. Any big rig is dangerous if driven negligently.

Jackknife accidents refer to those in which a big rig such as a semi truck or a tractor trailer folds such that it resembles the acute angle of a folding pocket knife. If a vehicle towing a trailer skids, the trailer can push it from behind until it spins round and faces the other direction.

T-bone accidents occur when an automobile crashes into another moving vehicle at a perpendicular angle. This type of accident is also known as a broadside accident or a side-impact collision. T-bone accidents often occur at intersections when another driver fails to stop for a light or at a stop sign.

A head-on accident or head-on collision is one in which the front ends of two vehicles hit each other as opposed to a side collision or read-end collision. Head-on collisions are an often fatal type of road traffic accident.

Rear-end accidents are those traffic accidents where a vehicle crashes into the vehicle in front of it, usually cased by tailgating or panic stops. Typical scenarios for rear ends are sudden braking by the first car so that the following car does not have time to brake and so collides with the first. Alternatively, the following car may accelerate more rapid than the leading car resulting in a collision.

A truck underride accident occurs when a truck is turning and a car, unable to stop in time, goes underneath the trailer of the truck. The front engine of the car passes easily under the trailer, but the cab is sliced off by the trailer with devastating effects on passengers and driver.

Rollover accidents relate to a vehicle’s stability in turns. That stability is determined by the relationship between the center of gravity and the distance between the left and right wheels. This makes the vehicle unstable in sudden turns or changes of direction. This increases the likelihood it will tip over if it skids sideways.

Truck driver fatigue occurs when a driver chooses to ignore mandatory resting laws and pushes beyond his or her limit. When under a tight delivery schedule or working for an early delivery bonus, a driver may throw common sense aside and continue to drive while too tired. Did you know a tired driver drives as if under the influence of alcohol?

Drug and alcohol testing are a way of life for the truck drivers. Those who drive commercial vehicles know they face stricter regulations regarding drugs and alcohol while driving than to other drivers. Unfortunately, many truck drivers ignore the results of the test and keep driving. This can prove fatal for anyone on the road.

Many states have stringent drinking while driving laws for big rig drivers; much more strict than the laws for regular drivers. Allowing an 18 wheeler go out of control while driving drunk is a real threat for everyone involved.

Accidents that involve delivery trucks may carry significantly higher risks of injury due to the typically larger size of vehicles involved. Further, because of the configuration of a delivery truck they are prone to tipping over or flipping and obstructing a highway after a collision.

One in every eight traffic fatalities is caused by a collision with a large truck. Most deaths that occur in these accidents are the passengers of the automobiles, while drivers of trucks typically remain uninjured. Victims of catastrophic accidents may be entitled to recover for pain and suffering and more.

People who are involved in motor vehicle accidents can suffer severe injuries. These injuries are frequently much more severe in cases where motorcycles and trucks collide. Commercial trucks, frequently called semi trucks, 18-wheelers, or tractor trailers, present a special danger on the road for motorcyclists.

Trucks involved in loading, reversing or turning can cause serious injury to pedestrians. These accidents often occur when a truck is backing into a loading facility. When a driver strikes an unseen pedestrian, catastrophic or fatal injury often results.

An accident involving a truck and bicycle is one of the most devastating accidents imaginable. In any accident with a truck, the bicyclist is completely unprotected. Due to a truck’s size, weight and speed, impact with a commercial truck will cause serious often fatal injuries to a bicyclist.

The main injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents involving a truck are back and neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, head and neck or traumatic brain injury and injuries to the shoulders and knees. When a truck collides with another vehicle, a bicyclist or a pedestrian, resulting injury is usually more severe.

Wrongful death is a claim against a person who may be held liable for a death. Wrongful death is a civil, not a criminal action. Attorneys at Lagstein Law Firm have successfully litigated cases involving serious injuries and wrongful death from car, motorcycle or tractor-trailer accidents.