Watch Out For These Common Types of Transport Truck Accidents

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If you drive a passenger vehicle, the sight in your rearview mirror of a transport truck approaching a highway speed can be intimidating. One in five traffic collisions involves at least one truck according to data compiled by Ontario Provincial Police. Improper maintenance, loads shifting and driver fatigue are only a few of the causes of accidents involving commercial vehicles. Knowing some of the common types of transport truck accidents and their causes could help to keep you safe when on Ontario roads.

Watch out for wide turns

Large commercial vehicles, particularly tractor-trailers, require more room than smaller vehicles when negotiating a right turn. Drivers frequently veer to the left to give themselves sufficient room to make the turn, but a truck driver must be aware of vehicles in adjoining lanes in order to safely execute this manoeuvre and avoid crashing into other vehicles on either side of the truck.

Unsafe lane changes

Drivers of large commercial vehicles must contend with blind spots to the sides and rear of their vehicles. If you are unable to see the driver in a trucks sideview mirror, it is safe to assume you are in a blind spot where the driver cannot see your vehicle. Moving out of the truck driver’s blind spot reduces the risk of a collision in the event the truck changes lanes.

Rear-end collisions

The size and weight of a commercial vehicle increase the distance it needs to come to a complete stop. Trucks take at least twice as long as passenger vehicles to come to a complete stop.

Rear-end collisions commonly occur when a truck driver is speeding or fails to notice that traffic has slowed or come to a stop. Talking on a cellphone, texting and other distractions along with driver fatigue can cause a truck driver to delay applying the brakes. Owners of commercial vehicles that do not maintain the brakes and other safety equipment create the risk of a part failing and preventing the vehicle from stopping in time to avoid a crash.

Check your rearview mirror when making sudden stops or when approaching slower traffic to determine if an approaching truck is stopping in time to avoid a collision. If it is not, you should move out of the lane if it is possible to do so safely in order to avoid being struck in the rear.

Unsecured loads

Loaded flatbed tractor-trailers are common sights on Ontario highways, but when trucks are improperly loaded or the loads are not properly secured, they can cause deadly accidents. A shifting load, even in an enclosed trailer, could create stability problems and cause a truck driver to lose control the vehicle.

Cargo on a flatbed that is not properly secured can shift and create affect a driver’s ability to steer and maintain control over the truck. Flatbeds also pose a danger to other vehicles when improperly secured loads fall off and strike other vehicles.

Ontario personal injury lawyers

The personal injury lawyers at Diamond & Diamond have years of experience successfully handling claims for compensation by people injured due to collisions with negligent transport truck drivers and owners. If you suffer an injury and need to file a claim, you should speak to one of our lawyers. Call the Diamond & Diamond 24/7 injury hotline at 1-800-567-HURT or visit our website tospeak to someone now. We offer free consultations and case evaluations to injury victims throughout Ontario.