While any number of commercial vehicles can be involved in a serious accident, the most common of all are 18-wheelers, also known as tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and big rigs. These commercial vehicles have a trailer, also often known as a cab, for the driver to sit and a long trailer that carries the truck’s cargo.
Under the law, these trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, making them much larger and much heavier than passenger vehicles. When they are involved in a crash with these vehicles, the occupants inside the smaller vehicles are at the greatest risk of suffering a serious injury. You can file a claim to recover compensation for your losses after a crash with an 18-wheeler, but do not file on your own. A Fort Lauderdale 18-wheeler accident lawyer can ensure you receive the full damages you deserve.
Our Fort Lauderdale 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer Explains Different Types of Accidents
Crashes involving 18-wheelers occur for many different reasons, but they can also happen in a variety of ways. Some of the most common types of accidents involving 18-wheelers are as follows:
- Underride and override accidents: These collisions occur when a smaller vehicle becomes trapped underneath an 18-wheeler. A truck driver may stop suddenly, sending a car behind them underneath their trailer. This is known as an underride crash. Or, a truck driver may not stop in time, smashing into a car in front of them and causing them to become lodged under the truck. This type of crash is known as an override accident.
- Jackknife accidents: Tractors are attached to trailers by a device known as a coupling. The coupling keeps the trailer connected to the tractor while the vehicle is in motion, and helps the truck to turn more easily. Some situations result in a trailer swinging out very widely, and into adjacent lanes of traffic. When this happens, it is known as a jackknife accident.
- Rollover accidents: Tractor trailers have a very high center of gravity. If the trucker cannot control the truck, a rollover accident may occur, in which the truck falls on its side, placing everyone in the nearby vicinity at risk.
Our Fort Lauderdale 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer Can Help with Your Injuries
An accident involving an 18-wheeler will result in very serious injuries. The most common of these include:
- Broken bones
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Head injuries
- Internal injuries
- Rib and torso injuries
- Lacerations
- Seat belt injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Wrongful death
Regardless of the type of injury you have sustained, or if you have lost someone, an 18-wheeler accident lawyer can help you claim full damages.
Call Our 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale Today
18-wheeler accidents are very serious and before you file a claim, call our Fort Lauderdale 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Rosen Injury Law, P.A. today. Our seasoned attorney will determine what caused your crash and who to hold liable for damages so you collect the full amount you deserve. Call us today at 954-787-1500 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
