According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in 2010, approximately 4,305 dump trucks were involved in injury crashes and 349 additional dump truck accidents caused fatalities.
Dump trucks are often seen near construction zones and are commonly used to transport loose goods such as sand, gravel, or dirt. These types of trucks are useful for many reasons however for motorists they can simply be another hazard on the road.
Further FMSCA research indicates that more than 90 persons were involved in fatal crashes involving large trucks in the state of Tennessee.
Large trucks are hazardous not only because of the material they may be carrying but also because of their weight. A dump truck is usually considered a class 8 heavy duty truck meaning that they weigh more than 30,000 pounds. An average standard size vehicle can weigh between 4,500 and 5,000 pounds.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dump truck accident at the hands of a careless driver, the victim may be entitled to compensation for property damage, medical bills, lost wages, and more. Our experienced truck accident lawyers can provide comprehensive legal counsel to determine if you may be entitled to make a claim.
For a free review of your accident injury claim, fill out the FREE CASE REVIEW form to you right.
Causes of Dump Truck Accidents
There are many different types of dump trucks including standard, transfer, and semi-trailer end dump trucks which is a large combination truck.
All commercial vehicle drivers must have special licensing in order to drive these types of trucks as its important for them to receive proper training in order to prevent truck accidents. However, improper training is not always the cause of dump truck accidents.
Some common causes of dump truck accidents include:
- Tipping Over
- Cargo Load Shift/Spill
- Failure to Yield
- Failure to Lower Dump Truck Bed
- Driving Under the Influence
- Improperly Backing Up
- Poor Truck Maintenance
Construction zone accidents are a common location of dump truck accidents. Approximately 3% of injury crashes in 2010 occurred in construction and maintenance zones reports the FMCSA.
Types of Dump Truck Accidents
Similar to other large trucks, dump trucks have particular hazards that motorists need to watch for. The type of dump truck accident a person may be involved in can be connected to the cause of the accident.
Some common types of dump truck accidents include:
- Rollovers
- Side-Impact Collisions
- Truck Underride
- Material Spills
- Blind Spot Accidents
Truck underride accidents are one of the deadliest types of accidents and although dump truck are lower than most large trucks, motorcycle riders and motorists in small cars should be very cautious when riding behind dump trucks.
Contact our Knoxville Truck Accident Lawyers
Each day thousands of large trucks can be found on the road, including dump trucks. If you or a loved one was injured in an accident involving a dump truck and believe that the parties responsible for the accident should be held accountable for their actions, our attorneys are ready to help you.
At Greg Coleman Law our attorneys have more than 40 years of combined legal experience handling accident claims and we are dedicated to fighting for the rights of the individual not large firms and corporations. Our main office is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and we are also pleased to assist injury victims in the surrounding areas, including:
- Richmond Hill
- Marble City
- Plantation Hills
- Western Heights
- Burlington
and many more cities and towns. To find out how we can help you, contact us at (865) 247-0080 for a free, no-obligation initial case review.
If you prefer to contact us online, simply fill out the FREE CASE REVIEW form at the top right hand corner of this page and one of your attorneys will review your claim right away.
