Big rig 18-wheeler truck accidents are some of the most dangerous and deadly things that can happen on Maryland roads and highways. There are many reasons — unique to each case — why big rig and big truck accidents happen.

• A driver might have been overly fatigued from too many hours driving and not enough sleep
• The driver might have been distracted
• The driver might have been speeding
• Weather conditions might have played a role

Whatever the reason, given the mass and weight of big rigs and 18-wheelers, truck accidents are some of the most deadly and cause some of the most severe injuries. If you have been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, or a loved one has been killed in such an accident, call the top-rated big truck accident lawyers here at the Law Office of Robert Castro. Use our contact page or call us at (301) 870-1200. We have offices in Waldorf, Maryland. Consider us your “go to” auto accident lawyers in Calvert County, Maryland.

Here is a list of some of the more common types of 18-wheeler truck accidents. As can be seen, the type of accident has an enormous impact on the type of injuries sustained by those in smaller vehicles. Interestingly, truck drivers tend to suffer minimal injuries when involved in road accidents.

Rollover accidents

These can be some of the worst accidents where, essentially, the truck rolls over onto its side. These types of big truck accidents can happen for a number of reasons, including speeding, swift lane changes, misjudging a turn or a road curvature, over-correcting an attempt to brake or avoid an accident, etc. The danger from a rollover is two-fold: that the truck might tip over onto a nearby vehicle and that the truck might slide — on its side — into other vehicles on the road. Severe injuries can result for those who are in smaller cars and trucks in the path of the careening truck.

Head-on collisions

It is sad to say, but truck drivers sometimes end up on the wrong side of the road or going the wrong way on one-way streets and highway ramps. Again, fatigue can be a cause along with distraction and other factors. Lately, lack of proper training and inability to read English have been the cause of head-on crashes involving commercial big rig and 18-wheeler trucks. These sorts of crashes result in deaths and severe injuries not only because of the differences in weight/mass of the truck and smaller vehicles, but also because of the extreme speed generated by the combined speeds of the truck and other vehicles heading towards one another.

Rear-end collisions

Rear-end collisions are often the most deadly truck accidents since, in many cases, the smaller vehicle in front is pushed forward and smashed into other vehicles or is sometimes crushed under the big rig or 18-wheeler truck. Speeding is often the main cause since rear-enders tend to be a function of insufficient distance for braking. The worst version of these accidents occurs when the front vehicle is stationary (like at a stoplight). These accidents almost always cause musculoskeletal and spinal injuries and often cause brain injuries as the bodies of the victims are whip-sawed back and forth by the impact.

Jackknife accidents

As most drivers know, a big rig or 18-wheeler truck has a cab and the attached trailer (or trailers). If the trailer swings out of alignment with the cab — either horizontally or vertically — the result is very dangerous for any vehicle impacted. In a horizontal jackknife, the trailer may swing sideways and may smash an oncoming vehicle like a swinging bat or a two-by-four. This sort of jack-knifing can also smash up against vehicles moving in nearby lanes, causing those vehicles to lose control and crash into other vehicles or stationary objects near the road. In a vertical jackknife accident, essentially, the trailer jets up over the cab, often turning the cab upside down. These can be the most dangerous types of accidents for truck drivers.

Side-swiping accidents

These types of big truck accidents often happen as a result of lane changing or turning. The usual cause is failure of drivers to check for nearby traffic. These accidents can lead to serious injuries, but the injuries caused tend to be less severe than the injuries caused by other types of big rig accidents.

Contact Waldorf, MD Personal Injury Attorney Robert Castro Today

This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer at (301) 870-1200. We are Waldorf, MD, Personal Injury lawyers. Our address is 11701 Central Avenue, Suite 200, Waldorf, MD 20601.