Truckers’ Hauling Mistakes Could Endanger Your Family

It seems that every time you get on the Beltway you’re stuck behind a trailer and you absolutely hate it. Your wife continuously tries to tell you that there is nothing to worry about and you need to calm down. Unfortunately, no matter what you do, you’re always nervous and shaky when forced to drive behind one. 

Are you just being paranoid, or is worrying about trailer accidents justified?

Potential Hauling Risks That Could Get You Killed

Driving behind a truck towing a trailer can definitely be stressful. Trailers are only attached to trucks by a simple hitch, and if that hitch fails, or is improperly used, the heavy trailer could come loose—putting the cars behind it in great danger. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and data from the Fatality Awareness Reporting System, nearly 20,000 people are injured in the U.S. and 400 people a year die as a result of complications due to loose or improperly maintained truck trailers. These complications include:

• Defective hitch or locking system. A rusty, cracked, or poorly designed hitch can cause the trailer to easily become detached from the truck and roll straight into oncoming traffic.
• Improper weight distribution. When the trailer isn’t loaded properly, it can cause the entire rig—trailer, hitch, and truck—to become unbalanced and sway, jerk, or even tip over. This not only puts the people behind it in danger of a collision, but could also seriously injure the truck’s driver.
• The hitch and locking system weren’t properly used. If the locking ball wasn’t fitted correctly, or the hitch wasn’t attached properly, the weight of the trailer and the speed of the truck can cause the locking ball to come off—increasing the chance that the trailer will detach.
• Damaged or missing safety chains. Safety chains are used as an extra precaution if the hitch fails; however, if the chains aren’t properly installed, the trailer could easily spin out of control.
• Trailer “sway.” When a truck driver isn’t properly controlling the rig, or is driving too fast, it can cause the trailer to sway from side to side behind the vehicle hauling it. If it sways too much, it could collide into side traffic, whiplash the truck in which it’s attached, or break the hitch off completely.
• Jackknife. When the driver of the trailer doesn’t know how to properly brake, or brakes too soon without allowing time or room for the trailer to stop, it can cause the trailer to ram into the back of the truck causing it to jackknife. This not only puts the driver in danger, but also any surrounding traffic.

When a trailer is improperly attached, poorly maintained, or negligently used, the drivers around the trailer can suffer. Don’t allow an incompetent trucker to get away with causing complications that can hurt you and your family—take action instead.

Seeking Justice for Your Family

If you or a loved one has been injured, or you’ve lost a loved one due to a loose trailer-truck accident, call us immediately. Our vast experience and knowledge of truck accidents can help ensure that you get the respect, compensation, and justice you deserve. Insurance companies can be ruthless when it comes to injury claims, don’t let them discourage you from fighting back. Instead, let us fight with you. Call today for a free consultation, and get the support and advice you need.

Need more information about your accident rights? Request our free accident report: 10 Tips to Get the Maximum Compensation After a Maryland Auto Accident, and let us help answer your questions and teach you how to build the confidence you need to get the settlement you want. What are you waiting for? Click and download now, or call us directly to get your life back on track.