Commercial Truck Accidents - Overview

Special Considerations In Truck Accident Cases

The operation of large commercial trucks on highways and roads presents certain unique dangers that are not a consideration where ordinary passenger vehicles are concerned:

• Jackknifing - Large big-rig vehicles such as eighteen-wheelers are prone to jackknifing under certain conditions, especially during sudden braking and turning. The fact that a truck jackknifes is not in itself proof of operator negligence, because many accident situations present difficulties in which there is no practical way to avoid jackknifing without risking some other form of catastrophe. For example, operation of a truck that has jackknifed may be held to be non-negligent where the jackknifing was due to unforeseeable slipperiness of the road, or to an abrupt turn undertaken to avoid a motorist or stalled truck.

• Turning Accidents - Commercial vehicles are very long, and can be difficult to turn. It is often necessary for the driver of a commercial vehicle to use two lanes of traffic to make a right turn, in order to avoid running the rear wheels into parked vehicles or over a sidewalk. While also not a clear cut case of negligence, some courts have held that driving a commercial vehicle in this manner (turning from an inside lane or occupying two lanes) is sufficient to establish the truck driver's fault.

Getting Legal Help After a Commercial Truck Accident

Any traffic accident involving a commercial truck is likely to result in serious physical injury and property damage. In the event that you or a loved one are involved in such an accident, after receiving proper medical care you may want to consult an experienced attorney to ensure that any potential legal claim is properly assessed and that your rights are protected. Especially in light of legal deadlines for filing lawsuits, meeting with an attorney as soon as possible is the best way to protect your rights.

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