According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, overturn accidents constituted 4 percent of fatal traffic crashes in 2018 involving large trucks. They also accounted for 2 percent of non-fatal tractor-trailer wrecks.
Rollover truck accidents in Columbus can have serious consequences, especially if they involve 18-wheelers or other sizable commercial vehicles. If you were recently injured by an overturned or rolling tractor-trailer, contact a seasoned truck accident lawyer to discuss your legal options.
Damage Caused by Overturned Truck Crashes
While rollover accidents involving smaller vehicles can also have serious repercussions, the damage of overturned semi-trucks and big rigs often have catastrophic or even fatal consequences. Tractor-trailers can be 14 feet high by 55 feet long and weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When these massive vehicles roll over, they can push, strike, or crush anything else in their path. The speed of the truck at the time of impact may also exacerbate the damage of this type of accident.
Overturned or rolling tractor-trailers commonly inflict the following injuries on Columbus drivers:
- Broken bones
- Cuts and lacerations
- Neck and back injuries
- Chest injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage or paralysis
What Causes Rollover Big Rig Accidents?
There are many potential causes of rollover accidents involving large trucks. For example, a truck driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs may have compromised vision and reaction time. If they break or turn too suddenly as a result of their impairment, they could overturn their tractor-trailer and cause a rollover accident.
Drivers who speed and lose control of their trucks also risk tipping over, which can happen easily due to their size and weight. In terms of steering, a truck operator may flip their vehicle by overcorrecting or turning excessively, especially when driving at high speeds.
Other common contributing factors to rollover truck accidents in Columbus include:
- Distracted driving
- Driver exhaustion
- Maintenance failures, such as steering issues
- Failure to slow down when going around a curve
- Overweight or improperly loaded cargo
A rollover accident could also have dangerous domino effects. Many secondary accidents occur when other motorists swerve to avoid a rolling tractor-trailer and collide with other drivers. Additionally, any spilled cargo from the overturned vehicle could be hazardous, especially if the truck was hauling combustible or explosive materials.
Retain a Lawyer for Claims Involving Rollover Truck Accidents in Columbus
Rollover truck accidents in Columbus often have devastating repercussions that require legal action. Depending on the circumstances, multiple parties may be liable for damages, including the truck operator, mechanics who worked on the vehicle, the driver’s employer, and the truck manufacturer or distributor. If poor road conditions caused a truck to overturn, The Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles may also be held liable if they failed to act accordingly.
Bringing legal claims against numerous parties often helps an injured victim collect more damages. However, these cases can be complex and require determined legal assistance. Contact O’Connor, Acciani, & Levy to discuss your case and see what may be possible in your situation. We will work tirelessly to help you recover from your accident and pursue the financial resources that you need.
