Multiple Tractor-Trailer Crash Backs Up Ohio Turnpike

Multiple Tractor-Trailer Crash Backs Up Ohio Turnpike

In January 2017, WKBN First News 27 reported that a chain-reaction truck accident occurred on the Ohio Turnpike when a semi-truck overturned, causing three other tractor-trailers to collide in their attempt to avoid the overturned semi. The accident happened around 2:30 am, shutting down one of the eastbound lanes for a good part of the morning. At least one person was transported to a hospital. Police from local departments and a hazardous materials crew were called out to clear the roads and clean up the diesel fuel spilled from the trucks.

Why large trucks rollover

The most common reason for an 18-wheeler, commercial truck, van, or other truck rollover is going too fast through a curve. The physical size and dimensions of a truck make them much tougher to control than a smaller vehicle when speeding through a turn. Trucks also have a different center of gravity than cars, making them more susceptible to rollovers. Truck drivers who fail to slow down around a curve should be held accountable for any injuries they cause. The owners of the truck and any truck companies that improperly pressured the truck driver to go too fast for conditions should also be held liable for deaths and physical injuries. Other reasons trucks rollover include:  

• • Brake failure. Here, the manufacturer of the brakes can be held responsible.

 

• • Over-steering. This is normally due to the failure of the driver to pay attention and then overcompensate when a traffic danger arises.

 

• • Drunk or distracted driving. Both can cause the driver to lose control of the truck.

 

• • Faulty loading of the cargo. Cargo that is not properly secured, or that is too heavy or large for the truck, can shift while the truck driver is operating the truck, causing the operator to lose control or causing the center of gravity of the truck to shift.

   

Dangers to other drivers when a truck overturns

When a truck rolls over, the driver and any passengers of surrounding vehicles that are hit can die or suffer catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage. Other drivers and passengers on the road can be injured as they attempt to navigate around the overturned truck if they collide with other vehicles, strike road barriers, or flip over themselves. When trucks rollover, their cargo is likely to spill. Spilled cargo can strike oncoming vehicles in the windshield or other parts of the car. The vehicle occupants can also be hurt as they attempt to avoid the spilled shipments. If the cargo has hazardous material, that material can ignite, causing complete havoc and multiple tragedies. Truck overturn cases are very complex because the truck flip is normally just the start of a chain reaction of lethal events. Sorting out responsibility requires the experienced of highly skilled Ohio truck accident lawyers. For help with any truck accident case, please phone Crandall & Pera Law’s Ohio office at 877.686.8879 or use our contact form to make an appointment.