Rollover Truck Accident Lawyers

What Causes Rollover Truck Accidents?

Rollovers can take place for a variety of reasons, with the majority of them being the result of driver error. The following are some of the most frequent causes of rollover truck accidents.

Distracted Driving

A truck driver who focuses on anything besides driving can put everyone on the road in danger. Texting, eating, changing the radio station, or even checking the GPS can take a driver’s attention off the road.

As a result, they can fail to spot hazards until it’s too late, leading them to swerve or try other evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision. When this happens, it can cause them to lose control of the vehicle.

Speeding

A speeding truck is always a potential threat, even when the driver is in control. Speeding means going faster than the posted speed limit, as well as driving too quickly for weather and road conditions.

As with distracted driving, speeding can cause a truck driver to overlook certain hazards until it’s too late, resulting in emergency maneuvering and potential rollovers.

Intoxicated Driving

In New Jersey and throughout the country,  the legal BAC for those holding a commercial driver’s license is 0.04%. This is a much stricter limit than for non-commercial drivers because of the size of the vehicles these professionals operate and how easily they can get out of the driver’s control.

Drugs and alcohol can affect a driver’s reflexes and coordination while also making them more distractible. They can also lead to recklessness or aggressive driving. Despite these risks, intoxication continues to be a problem among truck drivers.

Fatigued Driving

To prevent accidents as a result of truck drivers falling asleep at the wheel, there are regulations in place that restrict how long a driver can be on duty. Unfortunately, these regulations aren’t always respected.

Less scrupulous employers can encourage drivers to break the law, and drivers themselves may feel the need to drive for longer to meet a particular deadline or goal. That means there can be drivers on the road struggling to stay awake.

A tired driver will be less attentive and incapable of reacting quickly enough to avoid threats that appear on the road. They may even lose consciousness altogether.

Inexperienced or Inadequately Trained Drivers

Companies that cut corners when hiring drivers could also be liable for accidents. Drivers must have the right training and ample experience to manage heavy trucks safely. A company that doesn’t offer adequate training could be to blame for mishaps.

Improper Cargo Loading

It’s imperative for trucks carrying cargo to be loaded correctly. Otherwise, the cargo may shift during travel, creating an imbalance that could result in a rollover accident. The same can occur if the truck has been overloaded.

Improper Truck Maintenance

All truck drivers are obligated to perform pre-trip inspections, without which maintenance issues can go unnoticed. Problems with brakes, tires, and other parts could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, leading to a rollover.

Often, it’s not just the drivers who are expected to perform these checks but the companies employing them as well. Failure to do so constitutes negligence.

Manufacturing Errors

If a part or component of a vehicle malfunctions, it could endanger the driver and other road users. In these instances, the manufacturer or distributor of the part could be at fault.

Road Conditions

Things like potholes, uneven pavement, and inadequate lighting can all contribute to accidents. In most places, the local government is responsible for maintaining safe roadways.

Determining Liability in Rollover Accidents

The party most likely to be responsible for a truck accident is the truck driver themselves. Sometimes, however, other entities could be liable.

In some cases, the trucking company that employs the driver could be deemed negligent if they failed to properly train or supervise the driver or pressured them to meet certain deadlines. The loading crew could also be on the hook if they overloaded the truck’s cargo or loaded it incorrectly, causing it to shift in transit.

As mentioned, the truck’s manufacturer could also be liable if a part didn’t function as it was supposed to. Brakes can fail, and brand-new tires can blow out, leading to sudden, unexpected rollover events.

If road conditions cause the accident, the government entity or road owner in charge of maintaining the road typically bears liability.

Common Rollover Accident Expenses

Truck rollover accidents often cause severe injuries that leave the victim saddled with expenses of all kinds. You could be stuck paying for hospital bills, medication, physical therapy, and other costs.

If your injuries are severe enough to require ongoing care, you could be looking at years of additional expenses. Disabling injuries could mean modifying your home or vehicle to accommodate your needs.

Property damage is another common outcome of truck rollover accidents. Smaller vehicles can be seriously damaged or even totaled when they collide with a truck, leaving the driver facing large repair bills.

On top of that, you’ll likely need to rent another car or find other means of transportation while your vehicle is being repaired. This can add to the growing expenses associated with the accident.

Dealing with injuries often means not being able to work, resulting in lost wages. You could miss out on salaries, commissions, bonuses, vacation days, and more. If your injuries are too severe to return to work in the same capacity or at all, you’ll suffer future losses as well.

Furthermore, while getting treatment for your injuries, you may have to pay for childcare, which means further expenses in the form of nannies or daycare services. If you have pets, you may need to hire someone to care for them while you’re in the hospital or recovering from pain and mobility issues.