Types of Truck Accidents

March 6, 2025 | By AP Law Group
Types of Truck Accidents

Trucks are complicated vehicles, so it should be no surprise that there are several types of truck accidents. There are the types of accidents that can happen with any type of motor vehicle—rear-end accidents, head-on collisions, side-impact accidents, sideswipe crashes, and rollover accidents. There are also collision types that are unique to trucks, such as jackknife collisions and underride accidents.

No matter the type of truck accident, the risk of serious injury is high. There is also a significant possibility that a truck accident victim will pass away from accident-related injuries. If you have suffered an injury or lost a loved one, allow a truck accident attorney to fight for justice on your behalf.

Here Is Why the Type of Truck Accident You’re in Is Relevant to Your Case

Every fact about a truck collision is relevant to the victim. The type of collision you were involved in is particularly important because:

  • The accident type can help your attorney prove who is at fault for the wreck: When a truck rear-ends another vehicle, the truck’s driver is generally at fault. If a truck hits another vehicle head-on in the other vehicle’s lane, there is also a significant chance that the truck driver is at fault. These examples show how the accident type can shed light on who is at fault for the crash.
  • The type of accident can help prove the connection between the collision and your injuries: Sometimes, insurance companies and other liable parties challenge claimants’ damages. One such challenge is to allege that a claimant’s injuries did not occur during the truck accident. How vehicles collided may help your attorney explain that your injuries are, in fact, a result of the crash.
  • Every detail matters in truck accident cases, even if it’s not immediately obvious why a detail matters: Truck accident lawyers like to have complete information about their clients’ accidents. They do not always know how a specific fact—like how a truck hit another vehicle—will be relevant to a case. However, having these details on hand can prevent surprises and provide strategic advantages.

The need to prove fault for your truck accident is especially noteworthy. Your attorney will detail the accident you’ve been in, as this should help them identify the at-fault party and determine who is financially liable for your accident-related damages.

The Cause of Your Truck Accident Is Just as Important as the Type of Truck Accident (and Possibly More Important)

Your lawyer will determine the type of accident you’ve been in. They’ll also determine whose negligence caused that accident. Some potential causes of truck accidents include:

  • Truck driver negligence: Truck drivers are often responsible for the collisions they are involved in. Many types of negligence, from being distracted to speeding and tailgating, can lead to a collision. A truck driver might also be responsible if they exceed drivetime limits, fail to inspect their truck, don’t ensure proper securing of cargo, or engage in other types of negligence that lead to a crash.
  • Truck defects: Trucks have many components. A defect in a single component, whether a tire, brake, or other feature, can spark a catastrophic crash. A few parties can be responsible for a truck-related defect, including the vehicle manufacturer, component manufacturer, truck driver, and trucking company.
  • Cargo—and trailer-related problems: A defect in a cargo trailer, an unsecured cargo load, improperly distributed cargo, or improperly secured trailer doors can cause or worsen an accident. These hazards may cause the driver to lose control of the trailer (and vehicle), lead to cargo falling into the roadway, and even contribute to a rollover.
  • Hazardous driving conditions: Driving conditions can become unusually hazardous when the roadway is littered with potholes or other flaws, traffic lights aren’t working, traffic signs are obscured or absent, roadside lighting is not present (or not bright enough), or lanes are not marked. Work zones can also contribute to dangerous road conditions.

Your lawyer will urgently gather all relevant information related to your accident. They will figure out what or who caused the collision.

Whoever caused your accident will likely be liable for your damages. Their insurer, employer, and possibly other parties may be liable (instead of, or in addition to, the at-fault party).

Whether You Were Rear-Ended, Side-Swept, or in Another Type of Truck Collision, Hire an Attorney as Soon as You Can

Lawyers understand what makes someone negligent and what makes someone at fault for a truck accident. Allow an attorney to determine who is at fault for your accident and who is financially liable for your damages.

Your lawyer’s help will extend well beyond establishing liability, as they will:

Start Advising You Immediately

Your lawyer’s advice will be one of their greatest gifts to you. Simply knowing what to do and what not to do after your accident should be a great relief. Your attorney will:

  • Provide a detailed answer to every question you have for them
  • Proactively provide advice they think you should hear after the crash
  • Lay out a plan for your case
  • Advise you in other ways, with that advice being personalized to you

Lawyers don’t wait, in part because the claims process won’t wait. They need to start helping you right away, and that is what your attorney will do.

Make Sure Nobody Jeopardizes Your Case

Truck accident lawyers know that they must be on guard. One or more parties may fight your case, and those parties may include:

  • Insurance companies who may engage in bad-faith tactics to minimize their financial losses (even if they treat you unethically in the process)
  • A liable trucking company, which may be aware of its liability for your accident—and dispose of evidence, try to blame you, or engage in other unethical practices as it attempts to avoid a financial loss
  • Any other party who owes you compensation for your damages

Your lawyer will have many responsibilities, but protecting you will be their first order of business.

Take Over the Day-to-Day Responsibilities of Your Case 

As soon as you hire a lawyer, you can free yourself of your case. Your lawyer will keep you involved, but you may feel lighter knowing that your lawyer is primarily responsible for resolving your claim or lawsuit.

A truck accident case requires regular attention and effort—two assets you might not have right now. Your attorney will have the necessary resources and bandwidth to prioritize your case, and they will get started right away.

Facilitate Your Recovery

Hiring your lawyer may facilitate your recovery in both direct and indirect ways because:

  • Your lawyer can refer you to any medical professionals you need to see after the accident
  • Your lawyer can also arrange for any mental health treatment that helps you heal (many accident victims suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, which is just one of many types of pain and suffering you might experience)
  • With your attorney handling your case, you may be better suited to see your doctors, get rest, and heal in the manner you deserve to

Being able to prioritize your health is priceless. Hiring an attorney to lead your case will allow you the time and energy that your recovery requires. Choose to let a lawyer help.

Truck Accident Lawyers Have Experience That Will Benefit Your Case

Don’t mistakenly believe that truck accident cases are effortless—most are anything but. Your truck accident case may be a particularly challenging undertaking because:

  • There are many potential causes of truck accidents: Careless truck drivers, defective trucks, defective trailers, negligence by a trucking company, and several other hazards can lead to truck accidents. Merely determining why a truck accident happened can be a challenge.
  • Evidence may be in the hands of those you’re demanding compensation from: Trucks can be veritable goldmines for accident-related evidence. Footage from cameras facing inward or outside the truck cab, data from the truck’s onboard computer, and photographs of damages to the truck are just some types of evidence that may be in a liable trucking company’s possession. Attorneys know how to secure such evidence right away—before liable parties have the opportunity to get rid of the evidence.
  • Complex regulations are often relevant to truck accident cases: The trucking industry is not just governed by state and federal law. Trucking companies and truck drivers must also abide by regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and certain other agencies. Your attorney will determine if any liable parties violated these regulations, which can be an important fact in your case.

It’s no surprise that the typical truck accident survivor has little knowledge of these challenges. Lawyers do, though. Allow a lawyer’s experience and relevant knowledge to work in your favor.

What Truck Accident Attorneys Do for Clients Like You

To understand how your lawyer will deliver value to you, it’s important to understand what they can do for you. Their responsibilities will include:

A single discussion between an insurance representative and a truck accident survivor can be hazardous to the survivor. Saying one wrong thing can compromise your claim.

Your attorney will lead all case-related communications on your behalf. Not having to deal with phone calls, letters from insurers, and other correspondence should be a benefit to your mental and physical health—and your case.

Recovering Evidence from Your Accident

Evidence from your accident will be a critical component of your case. Your lawyer will use this evidence to prove that you did not cause the collision and that someone else did. Some types of evidence that may help your case are:

  • Witness statements that confirm your account of the accident
  • Video footage of the crash (which should also mesh with your account of how the collision occurred)
  • Data from the truck’s black box
  • Photographs of damaged vehicles
  • Statements from others involved in the accident (which may include an admission of negligence)

In the chaos of an unexpected collision, victims don’t always know exactly what happened. Evidence like this can even enlighten you as to how the wreck occurred. Even more importantly, this evidence may be the justification for seeking compensation from at-fault parties.

Documenting Your Damages

Your lawyer will find out the cost of your collision. They will also document that cost.

Healthcare records, medical bills, testimony from mental health professionals, your account of how the collision has impacted you, and receipts for vehicle repairs are some examples of potentially helpful documentation.

Proving Fault and Liability

It’s necessary to prove who caused your crash. It’s just as necessary to prove who should pay for it. These may or may not be the same party.

You might ultimately sue a trucking company whose negligence contributed to your accident. You might obtain fair compensation from their insurance provider. Each case stands alone, and your attorney will establish fault and liability in your unique case.

Pursuing a Settlement

Settling can be a good option for many truck accident survivors because:

  • You probably want to move on from this accident, and settling tends to be the most efficient path to moving on
  • If you can get a fair settlement, there may be no need to pursue a trial (or even a lawsuit)
  • The trial comes at a cost, including both financial expenses and time

This is why you can expect your truck accident attorney to pursue a settlement.

There are circumstances in which it makes sense to file a lawsuit after a truck accident. There can also be good reasons to take a truck accident lawsuit to trial. Let your lawyer worry about strategy—they will get your feedback, keep you updated, and always act in your best interests.

Recoverable Damages for Truck Accident Survivors

Truck accident victims can be entitled to compensation for:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost income 
  • Vehicle repairs
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental health services

Hire a Truck Accident Attorney

The sooner you hire an attorney, the sooner they can begin fighting for compensation covering your accident-related damages. Do not wait to complete your free consultations with prospective firms. They will get to work right away.