Types of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents in North Carolina take many forms, but nearly all share one trait—they cause significant harm. When a fully loaded tractor-trailer collides with a passenger vehicle, the consequences are often catastrophic. Victims face lengthy recoveries, mounting expenses, and an uphill battle proving fault in cases that often involve multiple companies and insurers. Understanding the different types of truck accidents and how they occur helps victims recognize their rights and build stronger claims.

When life knocks you down, you need a heavyweight in your corner. At Lanier Law Group, we stand up for North Carolina drivers and families injured in all kinds of trucking collisions. Our attorneys know how to investigate, preserve evidence, and fight powerful trucking companies that put profits over safety.

Why North Carolina Accident Victims Trust Lanier Law Group

We have built our reputation on experience, resources, and compassion. Each client receives direct attention and dedicated advocacy from a team that understands the physical, emotional, and financial toll of a serious truck crash.

Decades of Experience Handling Every Type of Truck Accident in North Carolina

For more than twenty years, we have represented victims of tractor-trailer, semi-truck, and delivery vehicle crashes across North Carolina. Our experience covers everything from rollover wrecks on I-40 to underride collisions on rural highways. This breadth of knowledge allows us to recognize patterns of negligence quickly and develop strategies that hold carriers accountable.

Proven Success Against National and Local Trucking Companies

Our attorneys have achieved results against some of the largest trucking companies and insurers in the country. We have taken on complex cases involving violations of federal safety standards, defective truck parts, and fatigued or unqualified drivers. Our preparation and willingness to go to trial send a clear message: we fight every round until justice is achieved.

Dedicated Legal Team Offering 24/7 Support for Injured Clients

From the first phone call, our clients have access to a statewide network of legal professionals ready to help. We answer questions, coordinate with doctors, and guide you through every step of the claim. You can count on prompt communication and personal attention from a firm that treats your recovery as our top priority.

Why Truck Accidents in North Carolina Differ From Regular Car Crashes

Truck collisions differ from typical auto accidents in nearly every respect. The vehicles are larger, the damage more severe, and the laws more complicated. Understanding these differences helps explain why hiring an experienced truck accident lawyer matters.

The Size and Weight of Trucks Make Crashes More Severe

A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to eighty thousand pounds, compared to around four thousand pounds for the average car. That size disparity means a truck traveling at highway speed can demolish a smaller vehicle even in a low-speed collision. The physics alone make injuries from these crashes far more serious.

Longer Stopping Distances and Blind Spots Increase Risk

Because of their mass, trucks require more distance to stop—sometimes the length of two football fields. They also have wide blind spots on both sides and directly behind the trailer. Drivers who fail to maintain safe distances or check their “no-zones” risk causing collisions with vehicles they cannot see.

Multi-Layered Liability Involving Carriers, Drivers, and Contractors

Unlike standard accidents involving two private drivers, truck crashes often involve multiple entities. The driver may be employed by one company, operating a truck owned by another, and hauling cargo for a third. Each party may share fault depending on their role in maintenance, training, or scheduling.

Federal Safety Rules Create Complex Legal Standards

Commercial carriers must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), which govern everything from driver rest periods to load limits. Violations of these rules can serve as powerful evidence of negligence. Our attorneys use these regulations to identify exactly how and when safety standards were ignored.

Catastrophic Injuries Require Higher Settlements and Longer Cases

Truck crashes often result in catastrophic injuries that require lifelong care. Calculating future medical needs, lost earnings, and rehabilitation costs demands precision and expertise. These cases typically take longer because insurers fight hard to minimize large payouts, making persistence and trial readiness essential.

Jackknife Accidents and Their Causes on North Carolina Highways

Jackknife accidents are among the most recognizable—and most dangerous—types of truck crashes. They occur when the trailer swings outward from the cab, forming an angle resembling a folding knife. The truck often blocks multiple lanes, leading to multi-vehicle collisions.

What Is a Jackknife Accident?

A jackknife happens when the trailer’s momentum overpowers the cab’s control, usually during sudden braking or slick conditions. Once the trailer begins to swing, it can hit nearby vehicles or cause the truck to overturn.

Common Causes: Hard Braking, Speeding, or Wet Roads

Sharp braking on wet or icy roads is a leading cause of jackknife crashes in North Carolina. Speeding down steep grades or attempting to stop too quickly on curved ramps can also trigger these events. Improper brake maintenance or uneven cargo weight increases the likelihood of losing control.

Dangers of Multi-Vehicle Pileups in Jackknife Crashes

When a truck jackknifes on a busy interstate, trailing vehicles have little warning. The trailer can sweep across multiple lanes, creating a chain reaction of collisions. These pileups often involve dozens of cars and cause widespread injuries.

Common Locations: Sharp Curves and Interstate Ramps

Highways such as I-40, I-85, and I-95 feature sharp exits, long downgrades, and heavy traffic—conditions that make jackknife accidents more likely. Curved mountain routes in western North Carolina, particularly along U.S. 74 and I-26, also pose significant risk during rain or snow.

Legal and Financial Consequences for At-Fault Carriers

When jackknife crashes result from driver error or mechanical failure, the trucking company may be liable for extensive damages. Violations of maintenance requirements or improper braking procedures can strengthen a victim’s case. Our team investigates whether the company enforced safety protocols or allowed preventable risks to persist.

Rollover Crashes Involving Large Commercial Trucks

Rollover accidents occur when a truck tips onto its side or roof, often spilling cargo and blocking traffic for miles. These wrecks are particularly devastating because they can crush smaller vehicles and cause secondary crashes.

Why Trucks Are Prone to Rollovers: High Center of Gravity

Tractor-trailers have a much higher center of gravity than passenger cars. When a driver takes a curve too quickly or shifts weight suddenly, that imbalance can cause the truck to roll. Even modest changes in speed or cargo position can make a large truck unstable.

Common Causes: Speeding, Sharp Turns, Uneven Loads

Excessive speed is the top contributor to rollover crashes in North Carolina. Taking an exit ramp or curve too fast, particularly with an unbalanced or shifting load, can easily tip a truck. Other causes include abrupt steering to avoid obstacles or running off the road edge.

Rollover Risks on Rural and Mountain Roads

Many of North Carolina’s rural and mountain routes feature steep grades, tight corners, and narrow lanes. Trucks that exceed safe speeds on roads like U.S. 321 or the Blue Ridge Parkway face higher rollover risk. Drivers unfamiliar with these terrains often underestimate how quickly gravity and momentum can combine to cause disaster.

Common Injuries and Property Damage in Rollover Accidents

Victims of rollover crashes frequently sustain head and spinal injuries, fractures, and internal bleeding. Vehicles caught beneath the truck can be crushed entirely. Cleanup and recovery take time, causing extended highway closures and additional danger to emergency crews.

Negligent Maintenance or Loading Practices That Contribute

Rollover risks increase when tires, brakes, or suspensions are not properly maintained. Improper loading—especially when cargo is stacked unevenly—creates dangerous weight shifts. We review loading records and maintenance logs to identify whether negligence played a part.

Underride and Override Accidents With Tractor-Trailers

Underride and override crashes are among the deadliest types of truck accidents because they involve one vehicle sliding under or over another. These collisions often result in catastrophic or fatal injuries.

What Happens in an Underride or Override Collision

In an underride crash, a smaller car slides beneath the rear or side of a trailer, shearing off the roof. An override occurs when a truck drives over the top of a smaller vehicle during a rear-end collision. Both are almost always fatal for occupants of the smaller vehicle.

Common Scenarios: Sudden Stops or Rear-End Impacts

Underride accidents often happen when trucks stop abruptly or lack proper lighting and reflective markings. Override crashes occur when truck drivers follow too closely or fail to brake in time. These collisions frequently happen at night or during low-visibility weather.

Missing or Defective Underride Guards

Federal law requires trailers to have underride guards, but defective or poorly maintained equipment can fail during impact. When guards are missing or don’t meet safety standards, manufacturers and carriers can be held liable for resulting injuries or deaths.

Catastrophic Injuries and Fatality Risks

Underride and override collisions typically cause instant fatalities or traumatic brain and spinal injuries. Survivors often face lifelong disabilities. These cases require detailed accident reconstruction to demonstrate how proper safety measures could have prevented the tragedy.

Manufacturer or Carrier Liability for Equipment Defects

If defective guards, lighting systems, or brake components contributed to an underride or override crash, liability may extend to the manufacturer or maintenance provider. Our attorneys investigate every component, working with engineers to pinpoint failures in design or upkeep.

Rear-End Collisions Caused by Heavy Trucks in North Carolina

Rear-end collisions involving large trucks are common on North Carolina highways and interstates. Because of their weight and braking limitations, trucks can easily plow into slower or stopped traffic, causing extensive damage.

Common Scenarios: Traffic Slowdowns and Interstate Merges

Traffic congestion on I-40, I-77, and I-95 creates conditions ripe for rear-end crashes. When vehicles merge or slow for exits, inattentive truck drivers may not stop in time. Rear-end collisions often trigger chain reactions involving multiple cars.

Why Heavy Trucks Need Longer Braking Distances

At highway speeds, it can take a fully loaded truck more than five hundred feet to stop—nearly twice the distance of a passenger car. Wet or downhill roads increase this distance even further. When drivers fail to account for these factors, serious collisions result.

Fatigued or Distracted Driving as Contributing Factors

Fatigue, cell phone use, and impatience all contribute to rear-end truck crashes. When truckers drive long hours without rest or glance away to adjust devices, they lose the seconds needed to brake safely. Black box data showing no deceleration before impact is often clear evidence of distraction or drowsiness.

Typical Injuries: Whiplash, Head Trauma, and Back Damage

Rear-end crashes can cause severe whiplash, concussions, and back injuries. The size of a truck magnifies these injuries dramatically. Even low-speed impacts can crush vehicles and leave occupants with permanent pain or disability.

Establishing Liability Through Black Box and Dashcam Data

Event data recorders capture braking, speed, and throttle information moments before a crash. Combined with dashcam footage, this evidence provides a timeline that shows whether the trucker acted appropriately. We secure and analyze this data immediately to prevent loss or tampering.