If you feel nervous when driving alongside an 18-wheeler thundering down I-93, you’re not alone. Rollover accidents involving heavy trucks are among the most serious and frightening crashes on New Hampshire roads. When a large commercial truck tips onto its side or overturns, the consequences can be catastrophic for anyone nearby.
These accidents can leave drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles facing years of severe injuries, emotional trauma, and financial stress–all due to someone else’s negligence. If you have been injured in a truck rollover accident in New Hampshire, contact the New Hampshire personal injury lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. Call us today at 888-332-5855 or online for a free consultation. We represent clients throughout New Hampshire, from Goffstown to Portsmouth, and want to help you, too. We will help you fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve.Why Heavy Truck Rollovers Are So Dangerous
Heavy trucks, such as semi-trailers and tankers, are much larger and taller than passenger vehicles. Their size and design give them a higher center of gravity, which makes them more likely to tip over during sharp turns or sudden lane changes. In addition, because a tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, it’s extremely difficult to control once it starts to lose balance. When a truck rolls over, it’s dangerous for the driver and anyone in the vicinity. The trailer can slide across multiple lanes of traffic, crushing nearby cars or triggering chain-reaction crashes. Yet the risk of a rollover is actually higher on rural roads. These roads tend to be narrow and winding, leaving other drivers with little time or space to react if the truck rolls. Truck drivers also tend to be more attentive in high-traffic areas like highways than on roads with fewer drivers.Common Causes of Truck Rollover Accidents
Most truck rollover accidents are preventable. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, about 88 percent of truck accidents are due to driver error. Common causes include:- Excessive speed.
- Improperly loaded or unbalanced cargo.
- Overloaded trailers.
- Driver fatigue or distraction
- Poor vehicle maintenance.
Potential Injuries Caused by Rollovers
The injuries caused by truck rollover accidents are often severe and can be life-changing. Victims may suffer broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal injuries, or crushing trauma. Such injuries may require multiple surgeries, extended hospital stays, and months or even years of rehabilitation and medication. Beyond physical injuries, many people experience emotional distress following a New Hampshire truck rollover accident. You may have anxiety about driving, experience financial strain from medical bills and lost income, or have difficulty coping with any loss of independence that occurred due to injuries arising from the accident. Families can also suffer emotionally as they may struggle to care for an injured loved one.Who May Be Legally Liable for a Truck Rollover Accident?
Many people assume the truck driver is the only one responsible for a rollover accident. In reality, multiple parties may share responsibility, depending on their role in the accident. Responsible parties may include:- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The cargo loading company
- A maintenance provider
- Another motorist on the road