Truck rollovers are some of the most treacherous accidents on Wisconsin roadways, endangering the truck driver and any vehicle close enough to be impacted. Given the prevalence of 18-wheelers on major highways such as I-90 and I-94, motorists encounter large commercial trucks regularly. This may still leave you wondering why do truck rollover accidents happen in Wisconsin. Understanding these accidents can help to protect you and your family.
Factors in Truck Rollover Accidents
You’ve probably seen the aftereffects of a truck rollover. The massive emergency crew response, the cranes used to lift heavy trucks and trailers, and the road closures and traffic delays that often occur as a result.
Rollover accidents are common and are responsible for 35% of all traffic fatalities. There are several situations that can cause a tractor-trailer to rollover, including:
- Speed. When a heavy truck navigates a curve at a high rate of speed, the truck’s center of gravity can shift, decreasing the driver’s ability to control the vehicle and making it vulnerable to a rollover. Speed is a factor in most rollover crashes.
- Inattentiveness and inadequate adjustments to compensate for hazardous road conditions and other drivers. Wisconsin’s cold, lengthy winters, high winds, and unpredictable weather can impact all drivers on the road, but especially large trucks. The added weight of cargo, combined with hazardous conditions and driver carelessness, can create a recipe for a rollover.
- Poor truck maintenance. It’s the driver and the trucking company’s responsibility to maintain their vehicle. Worn tires, faulty trailer hitches, steering malfunctions, and other mechanical failures can turn a truck into a fatal weapon.
- Improper loading practices. Trucks must be loaded according to DOT standards, but some load configurations can create an especially dangerous shift in the truck’s center of gravity, leading to a higher risk of rollovers.
Injuries Caused by Truck Rollovers
Severe, life-threatening injuries are common in all truck accidents, but especially in rollovers. Back and neck injuries, broken bones, and traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries can impact survivors for life, leading to paralysis in some cases. Severe trauma, such as crushed limbs, internal bleeding, and burns, can also occur because of a truck rollover accident, especially if the truck is carrying flammable cargo or caustic substances.
If you have been injured because of a truck rollover accident, it’s important to seek medical attention and keep records of witness statements, video, and photographic evidence of the crash.
Much of the time in truck rollover crashes, the driver of the truck carries a higher degree of liability, meaning your chances of receiving a settlement increase if evidence proves that the truck driver was at fault. It may be necessary for you to hire a rollover accident lawyer to help you gather records and other vital evidence to strengthen your case.
Drive Defensively to Avoid Being Injured in a Truck Rollover Accident
While it is impossible to avoid sharing Wisconsin roads with 18-wheelers and other large commercial vehicles, there are some things you can do as a motorist to increase your safety when you encounter a big rig.
Slow down, especially during hazardous weather conditions and when road crews are present. Give plenty of room for trucks to pass, and when you must pass a truck, use your signal and allow enough time and distance to overtake and pass the truck without cutting it close.
If you notice a truck struggling in high winds or if it has hazard lights on, allow plenty of distance and space. If you suspect the driver has loaded their truck irresponsibly, or there are signs of driver impairment, report the truck to the highway patrol by calling 911.
Hire a Rollover Accident Lawyer
Victims of rollover accidents usually do not escape unscathed. The force of a commercial truck when it collides with a smaller vehicle during a rollover can lead to devastating injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered health issues and lost wages due to a negligent truck driver, it’s important to seek legal advice early to increase your chances of a successful rollover accident claim.
FAQs
What Is the Most Common Cause of a Rollover Accident?
The most common factors in most rollover accidents are speed and load instability. Trucks carry a high degree of weight and force. Physics conspires to increase the risk of a rollover at accelerated speeds. Especially when a truck takes a corner or a curve too fast, rollovers become more likely due to the shift in the center of gravity.
What Types of Trucks Are Most Prone to Rollover Accidents?
Large, heavy tractor-trailers are more prone to rollovers because of the nature of the cargo they carry. Trucks carrying dynamic cargo, like livestock haulers, which are common on Wisconsin roads, are also more vulnerable to rollover accidents because the animals may move and shift, redistributing the load and impacting the driver’s ability to control the vehicle.
How Can I Protect Myself After a Rollover Accident?
It’s crucial to follow proper accident procedure if you are involved in any accident. Call 911 for medical help, collect witness statements, document the accident with video and photography, and request copies of the police report. Your actions after an accident can influence your likelihood of prevailing in any legal action you take, so it’s important to contact a truck rollover lawyer to help build your case.
Who Is Liable in a Rollover Accident?
Most of the time, the truck driver will hold a higher percentage of liability in a truck rollover accident. However, since Wisconsin utilizes a modified comparative negligence rule, it is still the burden of the plaintiff in any personal injury case to establish relative negligence. A qualified truck rollover accident lawyer can help you gather the evidence you will need to prove that your liability is lower than that of the other party.
Wisconsin Truck Rollover Accident Lawyer
With over 20 years of experience serving the residents of western Wisconsin, Craig Steger brings a wealth of legal knowledge and compassion to every case. If you’ve been injured in a truck rollover, you deserve compensation for your suffering. To create safer roads for everyone, negligent truckers must be held accountable. Contact us today for your free consultation.
