Commercial trucks may be critical links in the nation’s supply chain, but they also tower over standard family cars and outweigh them by as much as 76,000 pounds. About 70% of truck accident injuries and fatalities occur to vulnerable motorists in smaller vehicles, not to the truck driver.
Truck override accidents in Washington and elsewhere are among the most catastrophic crashes imaginable, often resulting in severe or deadly injuries. This is why it is so crucial to speak with an experienced Arlington truck accident lawyer for legal guidance and support if you were injured in a crash.
What Is a Truck Override Accident?
Trucks have much larger tires than standard cars and ride high off the roadway. When a truck collides forcefully or at high speed with a smaller vehicle, the spinning tires may cause the truck to ride up and over the smaller vehicle in the collision, crushing the car beneath the weight of the truck. Truck override accidents most commonly occur during rear-end collisions, when the front end of a truck collides with the rear of a car directly in front; however, override accidents can also happen during T-bone collisions in intersections when the front of a large commercial truck strikes the side of a vehicle and overrides it.
What Causes Truck Override Accidents In Washington?
Trucks are difficult to maneuver, require long braking times, and make wide turns. The trucking industry is complex, requiring multiple entities to ensure that a truck is well-maintained, safely loaded, and driven by a well-qualified, rested driver. It only takes a moment of carelessness or the failure to follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Regulations for a truck accident to occur, including devastating override accidents in Washington. The most common causes of override accidents include the following:
- Speeding
- Tailgating (following too closely)
- Improper braking
- Failure to yield the right of way at an intersection
- Mechanical failures, such as brake or steering problems
- Drowsy driving
- Impaired driving
- Failure to adjust speed and braking to slippery roads or inclement weather
- Insufficient truck maintenance
- Visibility problems
A suddenly shifting load sometimes causes truck override accidents. When an improperly secured load moves forward in the trailer, it can force the truck forward over a smaller vehicle directly in front.
Washington Truck Override Accident Injuries
When a heavy commercial truck overrides a smaller vehicle, the motorists in the smaller vehicle not only suffer the crash force of the collision, but they also sustain crush injuries as the car’s roof collapses onto them. Common injuries in truck override accidents include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Skull fractures
- External head and facial injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Bone fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Traumatic amputations
- Lacerations and contusions
- Severe abrasions
- Soft-tissue injuries
In the worst cases, truck override accidents cause fatal crush injuries.
What Are My Options After a Truck Override Accident?
If you or a close family member suffered injuries in a truck override accident, it may feel overwhelming. The trauma of a devastating crash is followed by the stress of a complex truck accident claim. Washington’s fault-based insurance system requires injury victims to prove the at-fault party’s negligence and liability for their damages, like past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. In some cases, a case involves a wrongful death claim to recover compensation and justice for a grieving family member.
After a serious truck override accident in Washington, a truck accident attorney carefully investigates the accident, determines the cause, and documents evidence of liability on the part of the truck driver, trucking company, truck maintenance service, or other entity. Then, the Arlington personal injury attorney carefully calculates an injury victim’s damages to maximize their financial recovery.
How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer In Washington Help Me?
If you suffered serious injuries in a truck override accident or you lost a close family member in a truck accident in Washington, your case deserves experienced legal representation. Call Wells Trumbull for a free consultation to learn about your legal rights.