Of all of the vehicles that you can get in an accident with while driving down the highway, none can cause as much damage and devastation as an 18 wheeler. The trucking industry causes thousands of fatalities on highways each year. You probably know the feeling. Most people who spend even a small amount of time on the highway have had some sort of close call with a giant truck.

Rhode Island truck accident lawyer

Perhaps they whipped past you and you felt they were coming into your lane a bit; maybe they took a quick turn and the back of the truck almost hit your car; maybe they tried to pass you on a bridge and you felt that rush when you realized you could not bail onto the shoulder if you needed to. It is completely natural to feel uncomfortable or scarred around 18 wheelers, these massive contraptions weight far more than any other thing on the road, have significantly less visibility, less control and are driven so much they are constantly suffering from some sort of ware and tare to the body of the car or the engine.

Trucking accidents can be deadly due to various factors

Trucking accidents can be deadly due to various factors, and the severity often depends on the circumstances of the crash. Some types of trucking accidents that can be particularly deadly include:

1. Jackknife Accidents: This occurs when a truck’s trailer swings out to the side, forming an angle with the cab. Jackknife accidents can lead to multi-vehicle collisions and significant damage.
2. Rollover Accidents: Trucks have a higher risk of rolling over due to their size and weight. Rollover accidents can result in serious injuries or fatalities for both the truck driver and others on the road.
3. Underride Accidents: When a smaller vehicle collides with the rear or side of a truck and slides underneath it, it’s known as an underride accident. These can be extremely dangerous and often result in severe injuries or fatalities for occupants of the smaller vehicle.
4. Head-On Collisions: Direct collisions between trucks and smaller vehicles can be catastrophic. The force of impact in head-on collisions can lead to devastating injuries and fatalities.
5. High-Speed Collisions: Accidents involving trucks traveling at high speeds can be more severe due to the increased kinetic energy involved. The impact of a high-speed collision can cause extensive damage and result in fatalities.
6. Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Incidents: Trucks carrying hazardous materials pose an additional risk. Accidents involving the release of hazardous substances can lead to serious health hazards and fatalities, affecting not only those involved in the accident but also nearby communities.
7. Fatigue-Related Accidents: Truck drivers who are fatigued or experience drowsiness are at a higher risk of accidents. Fatigue can impair reaction times and decision-making, contributing to deadly crashes.
8. Brake Failures: Malfunctions or failures in a truck’s braking system can lead to loss of control and result in serious accidents. Brake-related issues are a significant concern in trucking safety.

RI wrongful death attorneys

It’s important to note that many trucking accidents involve a combination of factors, and efforts to improve safety often focus on addressing multiple aspects, including driver training, vehicle maintenance, and overall road safety measures. There are a number of reasons, such as the ones just mentioned, that can contribute to these metal beasts being the incredible road hazard that they are. But the equation that makes them downright deadly are the sum of the following:

Tired drivers-truckers are paid by the trip

• Tired drivers-truckers are paid by the trip. There is absolutely no incentive for them to not go as fast as possible down the highway in order to reach a destination and immediately pick up their next load. Because of this, it is not worth it for them to stop for food or even sleep in many instances. As a result, there are thousands of sleep deprived, hungry drivers operating enormous and unruly vehicles. The very nature of 18 wheelers should indicate that only the most competent people should be allowed to operate them, but as it currently is, people who are not mentally aware for good portions of the drive are operating them.

• Wear and tare-trucks are literally driven into the ground. At any random time on long stretches of the highways you will see tire debris from these large trucks after blowouts.

• Difficulty operating