With your vehicle’s low center of gravity, a rollover crash on the roadways of New Jersey is probably one of the least of your worries. However, if you are next to a tractor-trailer, maybe it is not your own vehicle you should be worried about. We at Escandon, Fernicola, Anderson & Covelli, LLP, are aware of many issues that could cause that 18-wheeler to roll.
The American International Group, Inc., explains that a truck’s load is one of the major factors in whether it will roll. For example, a tanker truck has a constantly shifting liquid cargo that can throw the center of gravity off balance. If a solid load is not secured correctly, it also could shift and throw the weight of the trailer too far to one side on a sharp curve or a sudden stop. Other contributing factors may include the following:
- Road conditions: Steep grades, winding roads, wet or icy surfaces and uneven roads can all contribute to rollover risks.
- Truck conditions: Brake malfunctions, tire blow-outs or an issue with the truck’s suspension system may compromise the trailer’s stability.
- Driver conditions: Fatigue and distraction are two major reasons that a trucker may be in the position to make a sudden stop or swerve.
You may expect that a new driver is more likely to roll a truck, but actually, a trucker’s inexperience is not typically a factor. In fact, data indicates that more than two-thirds of rollovers involve a driver with 10 years of experience or more. Approximately 1,800 large truck and tanker truck rollovers occur each year.
More information about the types of truck accidents and their aftermath is available on our webpage.
