You’ll see more trailers during the summer, which pose an accident threat if not maintained or driven safely. If a vehicle with a trailer is near you on a roadway, be extra wary and keep a safe distance. If a trailer caused a vehicle crash that led to your injury, Tyler Fleck may help you get the compensation you deserve.
In addition to the commercial tractor-trailers you see all the time, other trailers will be on the road, including those that carry:
- Lawn mowing and landscaping equipment
- Boats
- Lumber and supplies for home repairs and renovations
- Motorcycles, dirt bikes, and all-terrain vehicles
Camping trailers will also be on the road as more people go away on the weekends and take vacations.
How Do Trailers Cause Accidents?
There are many reasons why a trailer might cause an accident, including:
- High winds can make the trailer unstable and difficult to control and may tip it over
- Driving on water-covered roads can reduce traction, cause hydroplaning and loss of control of the trailer, which may jackknife
- Overloading and exceeding weight ratings could damage the hitch or result in it coming off the vehicle. If the trailer weighs too much for the vehicle towing it, it may go far below the speed limit, causing dangerous conditions when impatient drivers try to pass it when it’s unsafe to do so
- Trailers become disconnected from the towing vehicle because of improper attachment
- A rollover caused by a high center of gravity
- Miscalculated turns can cause the trailer to flip
- Miscalculated stopping distances can cause the trailer to jackknife or detach from the hitch
- If most of the weight is in the front or the rear of the trailer, it may be difficult to control
- Without the towing vehicle having the proper rear view mirrors, blind spots may cause crashes if the trailer sideswipes a car in the next lane
- Improperly secured cargo can come loose, fall off the trailer, and hit a following vehicle, or secondary crashes may happen when drivers try to swerve out of the way of cargo left in a travel lane
- Trailer sway happens when a trailer hits a bump in the road or there’s a pressure wave from a large truck traveling next to it. The trailer starts moving from side to side, and the vehicle towing it soon follows
- Tires are underinflated, damaged by dry rot, or traveling faster than their rated speed, so they fail, causing lost trailer control
- Unsafe driving, like speeding and drifting between lanes, is dangerous at any time, but more so when a trailer is behind a vehicle
- If a trailer is used at night but lacks brake and other lighting, a following vehicle may misjudge the distance and rear-end the trailer
Some accidents are caused by multiple reasons, like a speeding driver with an overloaded trailer.
Other attorneys take contingent fees of 33% to 50% of your settlement.
We want you to keep more of your money.
Our contingent fee is only 30% on cases settled prior to filing suit.
Who’s at Fault if a Trailer Causes an Accident?
It’s best to drive a safe distance behind a trailer, go the speed limit (and slower if conditions are not ideal), and if you pass, do so safely and quickly to get out of the way.
The driver of the vehicle towing the trailer is responsible for it and anything on it.
- If it’s a flatbed trailer, cargo must be secured appropriately and the weight safely distributed. If it can’t be secured, it shouldn’t be on the trailer
- The trailer must be reasonably safe for the road (the tires are safe, and the brakes, if any, properly function), and the driver should inspect it and make sure it’s properly hitched before driving
- If the driver doesn’t know how to drive with a trailer safely, they shouldn’t be on the road
If the driver violates these basic rules, unless you do something foolish that causes the accident, they should be to blame. Their insurance carrier should cover the costs of the accident and compensate you for any harm you suffer.
Are you or a loved one injured in a vehicle accident that involves a trailer?
You may be entitled to compensation if you or a family member are injured in a car crash. Call the Fleck Firm at (270) 446-7000 or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation. We’ll discuss what happened, your injuries, and how we can help. Insurance companies have lawyers. You should have one, too.
