Louisiana Truck Accident Lawyers

Types of Louisiana Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can occur in a variety of ways. Some accidents occur when drivers are not giving proper care and attention to the road. In other instances, drivers are speeding or otherwise driving carelessly or recklessly. In still other cases, truck drivers are fatigued while behind the wheel or operating their vehicles due to lack of sleep, or while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In any of these circumstances, a serious truck accident can result. Some of the most common types of truck accidents include the following:

• Rear-end accidents - A rear-end accident occurs when a truck or tractor-trailer collides with another vehicle in the rear. While these types of accidents sometimes occur at highway speeds, they are more common at intersections as a result of driver carelessness. When a truck collides with the rear of a smaller vehicle at a high rate of speed, it can cause the occupants of the smaller vehicle to sustain mild to severe injuries, along with other damages.
• Head-on collisions - A head-on collision is common on a dual-lane highway or other roadway that does not have a concrete median or barrier separating the lanes of traffic. A head-on truck accident collision occurs when the front of a truck collides with the front of an oncoming vehicle. In order for this to happen, the truck must encroach over the center line and into the oncoming traffic lane. A head-on collision—especially one that occurs at a high rate of speed—can result in serious injuries or fatalities to the occupants of either vehicle. These collisions can result from truck driver fatigue, inattentive driving, or alcohol or drug use while behind the wheel.
• T-bone accidents - A T-bone accident, or side-impact collision, is common at an intersection where a truck driver disregards a stop sign, yield sign, or other traffic control device. When a large truck impacts the side of a smaller vehicle, it can cause the smaller vehicle to spin around or overturn, causing the vehicle occupants to sustain serious injuries.
• Rollover accidents - A truck rollover accident can occur when a large truck tries to negotiate a sharp turn at a high rate of speed, causing the trailer to overturn in the middle of the roadway. Rollover accidents are also common when a large truck or tractor-trailer jackknifes. A truck rollover accident can lead to a massive car pileup or other large-scale motor vehicle accidents.
• Chemical spills - Some tractor trailers carry highly flammable materials, like petroleum or other hazardous chemicals. When the tractor or trailer is involved in a serious accident, the contents of the trailer could spill onto the roadway, or a vehicle fire at the scene could lead to an explosion. It goes without saying that serious injuries or loss of life could occur as a result of such an incident.

The skilled team of Louisiana truck accident attorneys and legal professionals at Stewart J. Guss Personal Injury Lawyers can investigate how your accident occurred, and, if necessary, can retain an accident reconstructionist or another expert to assist with fortifying your case.