Watch Out for These Dangerous Trucks, According to an Alabama Truck Accident Lawyer

Trucks are a common sight on Alabama’s roads. Whether they are light trucks, big rigs, tankers, or flatbeds, we have a high volume of large commercial vehicles on our roads. And while most truck drivers do their best to operate their vehicles safely, big trucks are dangerous. Over the past decade, the number of truck wrecks has steadily grown in our state—there were 10,486 collisions in 2019 alone.

Our Alabama truck accident lawyers think it’s important that drivers understand the different kinds of trucks and the potential dangers associated with them.

Beyond the structural hazards involved in driving near these large trucks, there are a variety of factors that make these vehicles difficult to navigate. For instance, the blind spots of big trucks are often far greater than that of a standard car. Any passenger vehicle traveling in this area is at serious risk of a potential crash.

To learn more about the dangerous trucks on the road, common injuries after a crash, and what to do if you or someone you love was involved in a crash, keep reading.

The Most Dangerous Trucks on Alabama Roads

There are all kinds of trucks on Alabama roads; each of these trucks serves a specific purpose and each presents a different set of potential dangers in the event of a crash.

The following are some of the most common (and dangerous) trucks typically involved in traffic accidents.

Semi-Trailer Trucks

These are large vehicles which use a towing engine, the semi-trailer, to carry freight and cargo loads. Semi-trailer trucks are also referred to as tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and big rigs. Semi-trailer trucks are typically involved in catastrophic accidents that tend to lead to severe injuries, often fatalities. Any trucker who operates these vehicles must obtain a special Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to legally transport freight.

Extra Duty Trucks

When a cargo load is extremely large, they need to be hauled by an extra duty truck. These massive trucks haul items like houses, or otherwise enormous items. Truckers operating extra duty trucks must carry a special license to legally do so.

18-Wheeler Trucks

A type of semi-trailer truck, these trucks specify that there are 18 wheels. These are the most commonly used trucks to carry cargo. In fact, most freight loads are transported on an 18-wheeler truck. Improperly loaded 18-wheeler trucks are known to jackknife.

Tanker Trucks

Tanker trucks get their name due to the large tank that is used to store gases and liquids. Because of their high center of gravity and unstable cargo, tanker trucks are extremely dangerous in the event of a collision. Tanker trucks are typically associated with carrying dangerous liquids and rollover crashes.

Flatbed Trucks

Alabama drivers will recognize flatbed trucks by their open truck beds and lack of sides. The design of the flatbed truck helps to make loading up and transporting goods as easy and efficient as possible. However, when cargo is improperly loaded, the likelihood of a crash is high.

Garbage Trucks

Waste collections vehicles play an important role in Alabama. However, garbage trucks also have large blind spots and make frequent stops, making them a risk on the road.

Dump Trucks

Dump trucks are also referred to as production trucks and are used to transport gravel, sand, dirt, and other loose materials that are used in construction. In addition, dump trucks can be used to carry waste to landfills. These vehicles have an open box that is hydraulically operated to dump the contents of the open box behind the vehicle. Dump trucks are often involved in crashes as they try to back up.

Panel Trucks

A small truck or car with a fully bounded body is called a panel truck. These are typically used as delivery trucks for things such as baked goods, laundry, flowers, or any other types of consumer products. While they’re not as large or heavy as other commercial vehicles, they still pose a risk to Alabama drivers.

Cement Trucks

Because cement must be shipped wet, concrete mixers have a revolving drum that can help combine its contents. Compared to most big trucks, cement trucks pose two unique threats. First, they are top-heavy and prone to rollover accidents. Second, their loads are often unstable, sloshing back and forth in the drum, also increasing the likelihood that the trucks will roll or tip over.

Truck Insurance Plans

Understand that big trucks are usually covered under big insurance policies, but also have experienced defense attorneys ready to fight your claim. Trucking companies know the risk their vehicles pose on the roadways, and are prepared to do what’s necessary to weaken your case.

RELATED: A Commercial Vehicle Hit Me. Now What?

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Mobile, Alabama

Many large commercial truck and delivery truck drivers operate their large trucks safely every day, but the risk of a crash is never zero. And because the trucking industry’s profit margins are narrow, some trucking companies and truckers choose their financial bottom line over safety. These choices can have tragic consequences.

Large trucks can weigh up to 40 times the weight of the average passenger vehicle and their large cargo can make an otherwise safe vehicle unstable. While the cause of commercial truck accidents in Mobile and throughout Alabama are often complicated, the most common causes include:

• Truck driver error or reckless maneuvering
• Improper loading
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Driver fatigue or driving while sleep-deprived
• A mechanical failure
• Improper maintenance or other shoddy “fixes”
• The truck company pressuring drivers to take fewer brakes and drive more in the name of saving time and money
• Uneven or fluid loads that make a truck prone to rolling
• Dangerous road conditions
• Some other cause

Because trucks are so large and dangerous, drivers have a responsibility to act safely and responsibly behind the wheel. When they do not do so, for whatever reason, it can cause years of pain, suffering, and medical bills for drivers of smaller vehicles who did nothing wrong.

Common Injuries After a Truck Wreck

Because most trucks are so much larger than the average passenger vehicle or family car, there are all kinds of injuries you might sustain from an accident. They include:

• Broken bones
• Soft tissue damage, like bruising, sprains, strains, or damage to muscles
• Nerve damage
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions
• Emotional injuries like anxiety, depression, or PTSD
• Wrongful death
• And other catastrophic injuries, depending on your situation

Our Alabama and Mississippi law firm has been fighting for injured people for decades. We’ve seen all kinds of truck injuries, from facial burns and full-body bruising, to a broken back, and more. We know how devastating even the most “routine” injuries can be, which is why we work so hard to make sure injured people who did nothing wrong have the resources they need to recover—both financially and physically.

If you or someone you love were hurt in a crash with a truck, you shouldn’t have to spend the rest of your life paying off the medical bills or putting your life on hold because of the pain. If this sounds like your story, it’s time to consider hiring a personal injury lawyer who can fight for you.

Hurt by a Truck in Mobile or Alabama? Here’s What to Do Next

While the time after a truck is filled with confusion and stress, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.

• At the scene of the crash: Call emergency services and the police. When officers arrive, follow their instructions and give them all the details you can about the crash. If you can, take down the name and contact information of the other driver and any witnesses who may have seen the crash. If you speak with the truck driver, don’t apologize or admit fault. When it’s safe to do so (if you’re able), take a few cell phone photos of the scene, your vehicles, and anything else that seems related to the accident.
• Immediately after the crash: Get medical attention as soon as you can, whether you think you’re badly injured or not. Some injuries, like internal bleeding or certain kinds of nerve damage, can be slow to develop. Seeing a doctor as soon as you can helps reduce the risk of those injuries becoming more painful and costly later. Additionally, your medical records act as critical evidence for your truck accident claim or lawsuit. If you’re suffering from injuries, but never got medical help, the other side might say you’re not as hurt as you say you are and refuse to offer fair compensation.
• In the days after the crash: Memories that seem so clear in the moment fade over time. Protect your story by writing down everything that happened to you, any pain you experience later, or any other way the crash has affected your life. Then, share these details with an experienced Mobile, Alabama truck accident lawyer who can help you understand your options, file a claim, and demand you get a fair settlement.

RELATED: Veteran Run Off the Road by Big Truck Wins $3 Million Jury Verdict—The Largest Alabama Jury Verdict in Alabama Year to Date

Contact an Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys Alabama Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today

Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys has decades of legal experience, helping residents in Mobile, throughout the state of Alabama, and Mississippi get the financial compensation they deserve after a crash. During our time providing professional legal services, we have built a strong reputation across the Alabama and Mississippi. With half a billion dollars recovered in past verdicts and settlements, our Mobile personal injury attorneys have proven that they know what it takes to win.

Our team of experienced truck accident lawyers is ready to speak with you about your Mobile truck accident injury. Get started by requesting a free case evaluation by calling 251-888-8888 or complete this brief form today. Our Mobile law firm is conveniently located on Dauphin Island Parkway near I-10, and we’re ready to hear your story and win your truck accident case on your behalf.

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.