When you see a semitruck go around a corner and roll, what is your first thought? Do you assume that the driver must have been going too fast?
This type of accident is very dangerous, especially for those who may be riding next to the truck on the road. A semi can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds and can crush other vehicles in a second. It is true that some of these accidents happen when drivers are speeding, but that’s not the only reason.
The other major reason is known as a load shift. This means that the load that the truck is carrying shifts to the side and unbalances the truck. This could happen when a heavy load is centered but then falls to the outside edge as the truck goes through the turn.
A video on a trucking website shows what happened after a load shift. With no warning, a truck suddenly flips to the side in a catastrophic accident. You can see in the video that the driver is going under the speed limit and not too fast for conditions. He no doubt felt like he was in complete control of his truck until the very moment that he wasn’t anymore.
When a car or any vehicle smaller than a commercial truck is near a truck when it loses control or causes a crash for any reason, those in the smaller vehicle can suffer serious injuries. Make sure you know how to seek compensation when the truck driver and/or the trucking company is responsible for your injuries.