The personal injury attorneys at Estey Bomberger are serious about protecting and preserving the rights of seriously injured victims of all types of truck accidents. We have represented victims of virtually every type of truck accident, including accidents caused by defective brakes or tires, truck drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs, truck drivers who fell asleep at the wheel, truck drivers who were texting and driving, and others. The following list some (but not all) of the common types of truck accidents.

Multi-Vehicle Pileup Accidents
Pileup accidents, sometimes also called chain-reaction crashes, generally involve at least three vehicles, sometimes many more. A common scenario of a pileup accident occurs when a speeding truck rear-ends a vehicle stopped in traffic and pushes it into numerous stopped other vehicles.

Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife accident occurs when a tractor towing a trailer folds, turns or spins so that it resembles the angle of a folding knife. Almost all jackknife accidents are preventable with proper braking and steering. A jackknife accident may occur when a truck driver slams on the brakes while going downhill, and the trailer swings out to the side, causing the truck to overturn. As a result, the truck and its trailer may collide with multiple other vehicles on the highway or freeway.

Underride Collisions
An underride accident occurs when a passenger vehicle slides under the back of a truck. Some reports estimate that underride accidents are responsible for more than 50% of fatal car vs. truck accidents. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, either the driver of the car or the trucking company may be responsible for an underride collision.

Truck vs. Motorcycle Accidents
A collision involving a big-rig or tractor-trailer may be fatal for the motorcyclist, or result in catastrophic, permanently disabling injuries Truck vs. motorcycle collisions may either crush a motorcyclist underneath a truck, or eject a motorcyclist into the path of other vehicles on the road.

Truck vs. Pedestrian Accidents
When a large commercial vehicle strikes or runs over a pedestrian, the consequences or almost always catastrophic or fatal. The faster a truck is travelling when a collision occurs, the higher likelihood of fatality. Injuries such as spinal cord injuries, multiple broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries are common consequences of truck vs. pedestrian accidents. Truck vs. pedestrian accidents sometimes involve garbage trucks, which make frequent and unexpected stops.

Rear-End Accidents
In the majority of collisions where a truck rear-ends a passenger vehicle, such as a car, pickup truck, minivan or SUV, the driver of the truck is responsible. These accidents are common when a passenger vehicle is disabled on a highway or freeway and the driver of a big-rig is not paying attention and is unable to stop in time.

Head-on Collisions
When a truck driver veers into oncoming traffic and collides head-on with another vehicle, the consequences are often deadly. Head-on collisions are often caused by fatigue or distraction.