Crashes involving concrete trucks can lead to devastating damage and serious injuries. Here’s what makes these accidents even more dangerous than “typical” motor vehicle crashes. If you or a loved one has been injured in a concrete truck accident, contact an experienced Indianapolis truck accident lawyer at Vaughan & Vaughan to protect your rights and start building your case.
Sheer Weight
A fully loaded concrete mixer often weighs 60,000 pounds or more. That is over ten times as heavy as a standard car. This much weight means it takes much longer for the truck to come to a stop, even if the brakes are working properly. In a collision, this weight means a heavier force and impact than a small car would cause. This leads to significant injuries, damages, and fatalities.
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Higher Rollover Chances Due to the Top-Heavy Build
Unlike most trucks, the drum that carries the concrete sits high above the road. This creates a top-heavy setup, making the truck more likely to roll over. Quick turns or hitting a rough spot in the road could lead to rollovers and serious accidents.
The Load Moves, Changing Balance Unexpectedly
Unlike boxed shipments, the concrete inside is wet and always rotating. Liquid concrete actually moves as the driver goes around a corner or if the ride is bumpy. When it shifts suddenly, the balance of the truck changes. This can push the vehicle off its intended path or tip it over.
Limited Vision Can Hide Cars, Bikes, or People
The drum that mixes concrete and the cab’s shape create large blind spots to the sides and rear. Even with extra mirrors, it’s hard to see certain areas next to or behind these trucks. Turning at intersections or backing up, a mixer operator might miss someone alongside the truck – leading to sideswipes, danger to people crossing on foot, or collisions with riders on bicycles.
The Unique Risks of Air Brakes
Most people know smaller vehicles have hydraulic brakes. Mixer trucks, however, use air brakes, which are more complex. These brakes are designed for vehicles carrying massive loads, but they often need special care and frequent upkeep.
There are more parts to check, different warning signs, and sometimes longer stopping distances – especially when the roads are slick or the truck is going down a hill. Poor air brake maintenance, overheated parts, or one brake working harder than others can make it really difficult for these trucks to stop in an emergency.
Dangers From Concrete and Spilled Cargo
What a mixer truck carries is another big worry. When something goes wrong, like a tip-over or a bad crash, the spinning drum can blow open. This can dump wet cement across lanes, making the road dangerous for everyone on the road. These spills can block traffic, increase the risk of more crashes, and slow emergency responders.
Underride Accidents
Large trucks sit high off the pavement but most cars ride much lower. If a car hits the side or the rear of a mixer truck at certain angles, it can slide underneath – called an underride accident. This kind of contact puts everyone in the smaller car at risk of serious head trauma, spinal damage, or fatal injury.
Survivors of mixer truck crashes almost always deal with more severe injuries compared to other types of car crashes.
Who May Be Liable for a Concrete Mixer Truck Accident?
After such a serious accident, it’s normal to wonder who might be legally responsible. You’ll likely have medical bills to deal with, property damage, and possibly a significant amount of time away from work. Knowing who could be liable gives you an idea of who you should file your claim against.
Driver Liability
In a lot of cases, the driver is responsible. They often cause accidents because they were violating traffic laws, driving while distracted, or were fatigued and not paying close enough attention to the road.
Trucking Company or Owner
The company that owns or operates the truck can share blame. A business may be responsible if they failed in checking the driver’s background, provided insufficient training, encouraged drivers to stay on the road for too long, or ignored federally required maintenance.
Contractors and Ready-Mix Companies
Some accidents happen because people loading the truck didn’t do their job properly. This could lead to overfilled drums, increasing the risk of a roll over.
Vehicle or Parts Manufacturers
It’s rare, but sometimes a crash is the result of hidden defects. If this is the case, the manufacturer of the vehicle or the parts can be held legally responsible.
More than one person or business can be blamed for a commercial truck crash. Talking to a personal injury lawyer is the best way to figure out who is responsible and what steps to take next.
How to Pursue Compensation After an Injury
When someone else’s actions cause you harm, you deserve the chance to seek money for your losses. Taking the right steps can make a big difference for your claim.
Get Medical Treatment Early
After the accident, make sure you get medical treatment right away. It’s good for your health and safety but you also want to make sure you’re building the connection between the accident and your injuries.
Save Every Record
Keep copies of everything related to your injury. Hold on to ambulance bills, receipts for hospital visits, records from doctors, and proof of what you had to pay out of your own pocket. Employers can give you statements to show missed work and lost wages.
Get Help From a Truck Accident Lawyer
An Indianapolis personal injury lawyer makes the process easier, especially when it comes to talking with insurance companies or the other party’s legal team. Strong legal support means you have someone on your side when the other side tries to minimize your losses or offers less than you deserve.
Whenever you’re ready to get started and learn more about a possible case for compensation, we’re here. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
