Client Review by Trucker Injured in 3 Semi CrashIntersections are common sites of vehicle crashes. The dangers can be much greater when semis or other big trucks are involved. Failure to yield the right of way is probably the most common cause of intersection wrecks or rear-end truck accidents. Truckers need to have special training on operating such large, heavily-loaded vehicles at intersections and turns because these huge vehicles can easily turn an ordinary accident into a devastating tragedy.
Causes of Truck Accidents at Intersections
These are some of the common factors in accidents involving trucks at intersections:
- Illegal maneuvers and right-of-way violations – including running a stop sign, doing an illegal U-turn, and not yielding to another vehicle’s right-of-way.
- Inattention – Truck drivers need to pay much more attention at intersections, because large trucks are more difficult to maneuver, especially to accelerate, stop, or turn.
- Blocking of traffic (“squeeze”) – When a semi-trailer or any large truck turns right or left, it obstructs the vehicles around it and the traffic “squeeze” increases the risk of crashing.
- Misjudgment of gap or speed – Large trucks like 18-wheelers take longer to accelerate or to brake. One can easily misjudge the speed of these vehicles or the distance between them.
Prevalence of Intersection Truck Collisions
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 3,906 large trucks involved in fatal crashes and 73,000 involved in injury crashes in 2013. About 17.5% (621) of the fatal truck accidents occurred at four-way intersections, while 8.2% (289) occurred at T-intersections. Meanwhile, among the injurious truck accidents, 18.6% (13,000) were at four-way intersections and 8.3% (6,000) were at T-intersections.
Some intersections seem to invite crashes more than others. These are the top five most dangerous intersections in Missouri, according to a report from State Farm:
- Glenstone Avenue/Sunshine Street (Springfield)
- Clarkson Road/Manchester Road (Ellisville)
- Fee Fee Road/ Olive Street (St. Louis)
- Glenstone Avenue/Kearney Street (Springfield)
- Clayton Road/Highway 141 (Town and Country)
Zooming in on Kansas City, the Kansas City Missouri Police Department also released a list of the metro’s most crash-prone intersections:
- I-435/I-70
- Gregory Boulevard/71 Highway
- 23rd Street/I-435
- Bannister Road/71 Hwy
- 87th Street/I-435
Injuries from Intersection Truck Accidents
Whether in a single-vehicle accident or in a collision between a truck and another vehicle, the truck’s sheer size and weight can cause catastrophic injuries. Head trauma, neck and spine injuries, and fractures are common; unfortunately, they can also lead to permanent conditions such as traumatic brain injury, paralysis, internal organ damage, and amputation.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in an intersection accident involving a truck, call on a reliable attorney to help fight for your compensation and justice. Flick Law Firm can provide the legal service you need to win your case, the same way our firm has been recovering money for people injured in truck accidents since 1995.
