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While passenger vehicle rollovers can be catastrophic in their own right, commercial truck rollovers are especially dangerous. If a commercial truck rolls over, it can cause serious injury and death to occupants of all surround passenger vehicles. If you, or a loved one, has been injured by a truck rollover, the attorneys at John W. Redmann, LLC can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Many truck rollovers are preventable through better awareness and driving habits. Cargo, improper vehicle awareness, and maintenance errors are some of the most common causes of truck rollovers.
One of the most common causes of truck rollovers is the improper loading of cargo. When the weight and distribution of cargo is properly balanced, trucks are able to stay upright through turns. Cargo loaded in an unbalanced distribution directs the weight too much to one side and makes the truck more susceptible to a rollover.
Likewise, improper securing of cargo can cause shipments to move while being transported. This has more consequences than simply damaging products; unsecured cargo can shift around the truck, disrupting the truck’s balance. This is also a risk for trucks transporting liquids, as half-filled trucks give the liquid room to move back and forth.
Both truck drivers and shippers can play a part in preventing truck rollovers due to cargo errors.
Improper vehicle awareness is another contributor to truck rollovers, as it is for all types of car accidents. Speeding is easily the top cause of rollovers, causing approximately 45% of related accidents. Speed-induced rollovers mostly occur when drivers go through turns too fast or do not travel at a speed suitable to the weather conditions.
Steering, overcorrection, and maneuvering errors can also lead to rollovers. Loss of control of the vehicle can result from poor road judgments on the part of the truck driver or reckless driving by other vehicles. As with other vehicle accidents, impairment, fatigue, and distracted driving are other common causes.
Sometimes even a properly loaded truck driven correctly can end up in a rollover situation if it has not gone through proper maintenance. Low tire pressure and worn brakes can also contribute to a rollover. Truck drivers should regularly inspect their vehicles and conduct proper maintenance before taking it on the road.
Because of the massive size of commercial trucks, the potential injuries in a rollover case can be substantial. Some injuries can even lead to life-long consequences for the victims, with extensive medical bills and forced adjustments to one’s lifestyle. Common rollover injuries include:
If the truck is carrying dangerous cargo, rollovers can cause additional injuries. Oil spills can create explosions and fires that result in burns and further injury, while toxic substances may pose an additional threat to anyone near the crash site.
Because the consequences of truck rollovers can be so severe, it’s critical to have a skilled attorney on your side who can fight for your right to compensation. Many trucking companies have vast legal resources backing them. You should too. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a truck rollover accident, contact our offices for a free consultation.
We at the Law Office of John W. Redmann, L.L.C. understand what you’re going through, and are here to provide support. Our New Orleans injury attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident and aggressively pursue your rightful compensation.