Oklahoma City Truck Accident Lawyers
Runaway Trailer Accidents in Oklahoma - What You Need to Know
Large trucks are typically equipped with brakes on both the tractor and the trailer in order to stop the truck within a manageable distance. When the brakes on a trailer fail, however, a runaway trailer can result. Runaway trailer accidents may cause catastrophic injuries to those sharing the road with large trucks.
Runaway trailer accidents are less common than other types of crashes, but they can still cause serious harm. Between 2000 and 2007, at least 540 runaway trailer accidents in the U.S. claimed 164 lives, according to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Types of Runaway Trailer Collisions
The common factor among runaway trailer accidents is the moment when the driver of the vehicle pulling the trailer loses control of the trailer. A common way this happens is when the trailer separates from the vehicle. Connecting the vehicles improperly or a defective connection or safety chains can lead to separation, as can an accident in which another vehicle or object strikes the trailer, knocking it off or away from the vehicle pulling it.
A trailer can run away from a pickup truck or van, a box truck, or a full-size tractor-trailer. Once separate from the vehicle, the trailer has no direction, and there is no way to control it. The trailer can pick up speed, crashing into anything in its path and causing serious damage. Or it may slow down and stop in the middle of a roadway or even roll backwards down a hill or rise, creating a serious obstacle.
Another way a runaway trailer accident can imperil lives on the road is if the brakes on the trailer fail. On a full-size tractor-trailer, brake failure is a particular danger. Trailer brake failure can cause a jackknife accident, especially on icy roads, tight curves, or when the trailer is quite long. Even if the trailer does not jackknife, its momentum can cause it to push into the tractor ahead of it, forcing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Many interstate highways, especially those with many tight curves or grades, have ramps off the sides to give drivers with runaway trailers a place to stop their vehicles.
Runaway Trailer Crashes Causing Serious Injuries
Many types of serious injury can result from a runaway trailer accident. If the trailer's brakes fail and it plows into the back of the vehicle carrying it, the result is similar to a rear-end accident, and similar injuries, such as whiplash and other spinal cord or back injuries, can result. A trailer that escapes can strike another vehicle or be hit by another vehicle, causing traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, bone fractures, and organ damage. In some situations, these injuries may prove fatal.
Quality Legal Skills Protecting Your Rights
Experienced Oklahoma City truck accident attorney Ray Maples knows how complex proving fault in a runaway trailer crash can be, and how hard it can be to gather the appropriate evidence. That's why he's dedicated to helping injured people get the compensation they need after an accident by building effective cases to hold negligent parties legally responsible. For a free, confidential consultation, call today at (405) 883-4487.