Unfortunately, fatal truck accidents are an unfortunate occurrence in New Hampshire and around the country. When you are in a passenger vehicle, colliding with a large commercial truck is extremely dangerous. That’s why maintaining an appropriate distance from trucks is very important. Here are some of the most common types of truck accidents:
Rollovers
Truck drivers are often carrying heavy loads in the trailer portion of their vehicles. When trucks have to make sharp turns, the trailer can sometimes become unbalanced and flip over. Rollover truck accidents can be devastating and lead to motor vehicle crashes that involve multiple cars. In some cases, spilled cargo can make a bad situation even worse.
Rear-end collisions
Trucks have a much greater stopping distance than other types of vehicles. If a truck is driving too close behind the car in front and then suddenly has to stop, this can lead to a rear-end collision. Since trucks are so much larger than passenger cars, the passenger car often ends up underneath the truck.
Head-on collisions
Head-on collisions between a large truck and a passenger car are often fatal for the occupants of the smaller vehicle. These truck accidents sometimes occur because a truck driver drifts into the opposite lane of traffic. Some reasons for this can include:
• Drowsiness
• Distraction
• Intoxication
Truck accident liability
When a negligent truck driver causes an accident with a smaller car, there is usually more than one liable party. The truck driver’s employer may have liability for hiring the driver and, perhaps, for requiring the driver to work for too many hours straight. In some cases, the shipping company that loaded the truck will have liability if the truck was loaded improperly.
