Most of the time, a truck accident can be blamed on some sort of negligence, either on the part of the trucking company, the truck driver, or some other party. In many instances, there are several potentially liable parties. But there are other truck accidents that occur due to road conditions. The following is a look at eight of the most common road hazards that can result in a collision.
If you’ve suffered a serious injury in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault, you should turn to the expert attorneys with Penn Kestner & McEwen. We’ve represented clients hurt in accidents similar to yours for a very long time – and we’ve delivered significant results on their behalf. Learn more about what we may be able to do for you by contacting us online or calling (800) 732-3070 to schedule a free consultation.
1. Missing Signage
When there are proper signs on a road, all drivers – whether they’re behind the wheel of a commercial truck or a passenger car – will have a clear idea of what they need to do. If that signage is missing, however, that could lead to potentially tragic results.
For example, there are a lot of back roads across the country that can be confusing for people who aren’t familiar with them. They may not be ready for a sharp curve that seems to come out of nowhere, and could easily run off of the road as a result. When a stop sign is missing at an intersection, a driver might assume they have the right of way when they really don’t. The consequences could obviously be devastating.
2. Poorly Designed Roads and Intersections
You would like to be able to assume the people who design roads always know what they’re doing. Unfortunately, there are many instances where that’s far from the truth. These are just a few examples of how poor road design can create conditions that could result in truck accidents.
- Blind curves. This is a sharp curve on a road that can make it almost impossible for motorists, as well as truck drivers, to be able to see traffic approaching in the opposite direction.
- Intersections. Incredibly, there are some intersections with lanes that are far too narrow, or have sharp, sudden turns. In some cases, they’re so poorly designed that drivers can’t see who’s coming without using mirrors.
- Road drainage issues. When a road doesn’t drain properly, even a relatively small amount of rain can lead to dangerous flooding, or the formation of ice if the temperatures are low enough. A large truck could easily spin out of control.
3. Broken Guardrails
Guardrails should be strong enough to keep vehicles from going off the road. But if they’re broken, the consequences could be fatal. There have even been instances where a guardrail was negligently manufactured. Instead of giving way when struck, they actually lock up, forming a sort of spear that can easily slice through a vehicle.
4. Potholes
Potholes not only cause a lot of vehicle damage, they also cause accidents. Even an experienced trucker could easily be surprised by a pothole so deep that it causes a loss of control. When a pothole is deep enough, the impact can be incredibly destructive.
5. Steep Shoulders
Large commercial trucks are always at risk of a rollover, one of the most common types of truck accident. When the shoulder of a highway is too steep, that creates a drop off, of course. If a truck driver needs to pull over on this kind of shoulder, that could cause the truck to tip over on its side.
Also, if the driver is unaware of the steep shoulder, they might try to overcorrect, resulting in either a rollover or jackknife accident.
6. Objects in the Road
Just about every driver has had to dodge an unexpected road object at one time or another. It could be trash flying off of the back of a dump truck, or a piece of furniture that wasn’t properly secured to the back of a passenger vehicle.
When someone is driving a car, they can avoid those obstacles easier than a truck driver can. Since their vehicles are smaller, they are more maneuverable. That’s not the case with an 80,000-pound semi-truck. It doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination to picture how much of a problem this could be.
7. Slippery Roads
Severe thunderstorms, as well as ice and snowstorms, make driving treacherous even for the most seasoned motorist. Navigating this kind of weather can be even harder for a truck driver. Huge trucks need a lot of traction in order for the driver to maintain control. Ice, snow and even water can reduce that traction in an incredibly dangerous fashion.
8. Construction
Road construction is often referred to as a “necessary evil,” and with good reason. Truckers might not be aware of temporary lane shifts, speed reductions, or other changes. Loose tar or gravel can also create unexpected hazards.
What do Poor Road Conditions Mean for Liability?
As stated earlier, there are several parties that could share blame when truck accidents due to road conditions happen. The driver might have been too fatigued to operate the rig safely. A part could have failed because the trucking company didn’t take the time to properly inspect the truck before the trip.
But, as you can see, there are some accident scenarios that are out of a driver or trucking company’s control. So, who can you take action against when this is the case?
If the road was designed poorly, you might be able to sue the government agency responsible. You could possibly sue whatever agency failed to fill a dangerous pothole. The problem is that suing the government is incredibly difficult. You’re going to need the help of an expert attorney to have even the slightest chance of winning.
Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney if You’ve Been Involved in an Accident
That’s exactly what you’ll get when you turn to Penn Kestner & McEwen. We will get to the bottom of why your accident happened, since we have the resources and experience to conduct thorough investigations. Once we identify the liable parties, we’ll work passionately on your behalf in order to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Schedule a free case review by calling (800) 732-3070 or using our online contact form.
