Accidents involving runaway trailers are rare. In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that only .10% of the fatal crashes involving large trucks from 2007-2011 involved the trucks couplings, hitches, or chains. However, when they do happen, they can leave a path of destruction and result in serious and sometimes fatal injuries.
Runaway trailer accidents happen when a truck and its trailer are travelling at different speeds. This may force the driver of the truck to lose control or the trailer to become unattached. If the latter occurs, a trailer (because of its weight, size, and speed it is travelling) will crush almost anything in its way until it is brought to a complete stop.
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a runaway trailer accident, the experienced attorneys here at Greg Coleman Law want to hear your case and advise you on the best way to proceed in the legal process. We will fight for those victims who have a legitimate case and work tirelessly to make sure they get maximum compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses.
You can begin right now simply fill out the Free Case Review form to the right and we will contact you. There are absolutely no obligations and it is strictly confidential.
Causes of Runaway Trailer Accidents
A majority of tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate vehicles with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds per gross vehicle weight and are under pressure to make strict delivery times.
As if those two factors didnt make their job difficult enough, they also have to contend with the following:
Driving Speed
When operating a commercial truck, drivers must adjust their speeds to account for the road conditions and the weight and type of cargo they are transporting.
Steep Declines
Large trucks can sometimes have difficulties with their brakes when slowing down on a road that descends in elevation. An experienced attorney will need to investigate to determine if poor roadway design or negligence on the part of the driver were factors in the crash.
Brake Failures and Vehicle Defects
If the trailers brakes do not work in accordance with the tractors brakes, the trailer can become unattached. This can also occur if other parts of the vehicle are defective or malfunctioning.
Sudden Turns
If a truck driver takes a turn suddenly or too quickly, it can cause the truck to jackknife or the trailer could detach.
Here at Greg Coleman Law, our team of attorneys has the skills and resources necessary to prove driver negligence in a court of law and get deserving victims the compensation that they are seeking. With over 100 jury trials and countless bench trials, we have obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in successful verdicts and settlements, across a variety of areas of personal damages cases.
Runaway Trailer Accident Injuries
The severity of a runaway trailer accident will depend upon the speeds involved, the size and weight of the unattached trailer, and how long it travels before being stopped. Any number of injuries can occur during one of these collisions, but here are some of the most common:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Paralysis
- Internal injuries
- Back and neck injuries
If you sustain any of the injuries listed above, seek immediate medical attention. In addition to the care that you receive, the documents that doctors create can help strengthen your case if your claim goes to trial.
Contact Our Knoxville Truck Accident Attorneys
Although runaway trailer accidents only constitute a small percentage of overall truck accidents, it just takes one to forever alter the lives of victims. After a crash, they can be left wondering how they will be able to deal with their physical and mental anguish, medical costs, and lost wages.
Greg Coleman Law is prepared to do what it takes to make sure entitled victims get the compensation that they are due. We are centrally located in Knoxville and proudly serve the injured throughout Knox County, including those in:
- Farragut
- Powell
- Hardin Valley
- Corryton
- and cities and towns throughout Tennessee.
To learn more, please contact us today at (865) 247-0080. A friendly and professional member of our intake team will ask you some questions about the specifics of your case and then get you quickly connected to one of our attorneys.
Alternatively, you can simply fill out the form at the top of this page and we will reach out to you. Its 100% free and confidential.
