The Dangers of Dump Trucks for You and Your Passengers

Dump trucks are potentially hazardous heavy commercial trucks. They are especially dangerous if they have an inexperienced driver, are improperly loaded, and travel too fast or slow. When you see one on the road, keep a safe distance away or pass it as quickly and safely as possible.

What is a Dump Truck?

It’s a heavy-duty vehicle transporting and unloading loose materials like gravel, sand, dirt, or debris. Its body may be raised and tilted so what’s on it can be emptied onto the ground, in a specific area, or another vehicle. This reduces the need for manual labor, and the unloading process takes less time.

What Accident Risks Do Dump Trucks Pose?

Some hazards are obvious, while others are hidden. They include the following:

• Blind spots: They are much larger than those of passenger vehicles. They make it difficult for truck drivers to see other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists, increasing the chances of an accident, especially when the truck changes lanes or turns. It may be tough for the driver to see what’s behind the truck, whether backing up or traveling on the road. Be aware of and try to avoid these blind spots, and stay a safe distance from them to cut the risk of a collision

• Rollovers: These trucks have a high center of gravity, especially when improperly loaded. Sharp turns, sudden movements, or an uneven road, especially at high speed and in the presence of other traffic, can lead to rollovers. If this happens, given the weight of the truck, anyone in a vehicle it lands on has a good chance of being severely or fatally injured

• Unsecured cargo: A dump truck’s cargo should be properly secured so it doesn’t fall onto the roadway or strike another vehicle behind it. Depending on what’s inside the bed, it should be covered. The material coming off the truck may damage following it, create dangerous obstacles on the roadway, or distract a driver trying to get away from the oncoming mess and collide with another vehicle

• Failure to follow applicable rules, regulations, and laws: The driver may be fatigued, impaired, or unqualified. The driver may travel above the speed limit to finish the job as soon as possible, making the truck more difficult to control. Overloaded trucks may travel far below the speed limit going up hills, frustrating other drivers, who may pass it when unsafe. They may speed down hills after reaching the top, potentially rear-ending another vehicle or striking one in the opposite lane head-on. The truck’s owner may skimp on maintenance or repairs to lower their costs, making the dump truck more likely to have a mechanical problem that can cause an accident. Tires that should be replaced are still used, or brakes are pushed extra miles to delay the replacement costs. The bed may be overloaded, or its contents may not have been properly loaded, or they shifted, making a rollover more likely
  
  
• Poor weather conditions: Darkness, rain, and snow cuts how well the driver can see. Wet or icy roads, especially if combined with worn tires, make it more difficult to stop and steer the truck, increasing the risks of a rollover

Each situation is unique. Accidents often have multiple causes, such as an overloaded truck with bad brakes or a speeding and fatigued driver.

Should I Hire Satterley & Kelley, PLLC, if I’m Injured by a Dump Truck?

A critical step to protecting your rights to compensation for your injuries is investigating the accident. This is something few people know how to do well, and we do it for every one of our cases. With an investigation, you may have enough evidence to make an insurance claim or carry your burden of proof at a trial.

Depending on the situation, several parties may be involved, each with their own insurance coverage. A trucking company or someone else may own and maintain the truck. The driver may be a trucking company employee or an independent contractor. We will find out who’s involved, what they did or failed to do to cause the accident and determine which one’s at fault and how much. Is that something you can do?

We’ve negotiated settlements and taken commercial truck accident cases to trial for decades. They can be very complex and challenging, but we’ve represented hundreds of clients in truck accident cases and can also help you.

Talk To a Dump Truck Accident Attorney Today

If you or a family member is injured or killed in a Kentucky dump truck accident, our law firm can and will help you handle legal matters. Put boots on the ground with help from Satterley & Kelley, PLLC.

Call toll-free at 855-385-9532 or complete our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation at our Louisville office.