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If you’ve been seriously injured in any of the above-mentioned personal injury cases, please do not hesitate to reach out to us as soon as you possibly can. Your case will be treated as a priority. You will get strong and dependable representation from our Boise personal injury lawyers. We want to encourage you to reach out to us today to set up your free initial consultation. You deserve justice and we can help you get it. Call us today.
Types of Truck Accidents in Idaho
Each type of crash carries its own causes, dangers, and legal considerations
Not all truck accidents look the same. A jackknife crash on a wet stretch of I-84 is a fundamentally different event than an underride collision at a rural intersection. The type of accident that occurred directly affects how we investigate the case, what evidence we look for, and which parties are likely to bear responsibility. Understanding the type of crash also points directly to its cause — and the common causes of truck accidents in Idaho often predict which type of collision results. At Hepworth Holzer, our Boise truck accident lawyers have handled truck accident cases involving nearly every type of crash that occurs on Idaho roads. Understanding what happened to you is the foundation of building a strong case.
If you were injured in any type of truck accident in Idaho, call us for a free consultation. Hepworth Holzer has recovered results including a $4.80 million settlement and a $1.60 million verdict in trucking accident cases.
Hepworth Holzer also helps residents of Idaho with Personal Injury Matters in: Ada County, Caldwell, Canyon County, Eagle, Garden City, Gem County, Kuna, Meridian, Nampa and Star.
Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife occurs when the cab of a semi-truck and its trailer fold toward each other at the coupling point, forming a shape similar to a folding knife. This typically happens when a driver brakes too hard or too suddenly, causing the trailer to swing out of alignment with the cab. The trailer can sweep across multiple lanes, blocking traffic, striking other vehicles, or causing chain-reaction crashes.
Jackknife accidents are particularly common in wet or icy conditions, on downgrades, and when a truck is carrying a lighter-than-usual load, which reduces traction. Speed is almost always a contributing factor. When a jackknife crash occurs, we examine brake system maintenance records, road conditions at the time, the driver’s speed and braking inputs from the black box, and whether the load was properly distributed.
Rollover Accidents
Commercial trucks have a much higher center of gravity than passenger vehicles, which makes them significantly more prone to rolling over. Rollovers happen when a truck takes a curve too fast, when cargo shifts and destabilizes the load, when a driver overcorrects after drifting onto a shoulder, or when high winds push a lightly loaded trailer off balance.
A rolling semi-truck is one of the most dangerous events that can happen on a highway. It can crush vehicles in adjacent lanes, block the entire roadway, and spill hazardous cargo across a wide area. Rollover cases often involve a combination of driver error, improper loading, and maintenance failures, meaning multiple parties may share responsibility.
Idaho Truck Accident Help
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7 Mistakes That Ruin Personal Injury Cases
Get our FREE guide and find out how you can protect your rights with Hepworth Holzer, LLPUnderride Accidents
An underride collision occurs when a smaller vehicle slides under the body of a semi-truck trailer, either from the rear or the side. These crashes are among the most deadly in all of transportation. The trailer’s height means that in a rear or side underride, the structure of the passenger vehicle passes under the trailer while the trailer itself shears off the roof at occupant level.
Federal regulations require rear underride guards on commercial trailers, but side underride guards are not universally required, and rear guards are sometimes poorly maintained or designed. When a guard fails or is absent and an underride crash occurs, the trailer manufacturer and trucking company may face liability beyond the driver’s own negligence.
Override Accidents
The opposite of an underride, an override occurs when a large truck drives over a smaller vehicle from behind. This typically happens when a truck driver following too closely fails to stop in time, or when a truck traveling at high speed encounters stopped or slowing traffic. The results are almost universally catastrophic for occupants of the smaller vehicle.
Distracted driving and following too closely are the most common causes of override accidents. Evidence from the truck’s event data recorder and forward-facing camera footage, if equipped, are essential in these cases.
Blind Spot Accidents
Commercial trucks have large blind spots on all four sides, commonly referred to as “no zones.” These areas extend up to 20 feet in front of the cab, 30 feet behind the trailer, and diagonally alongside both sides of the vehicle. A driver in one of these zones may be completely invisible to the truck driver, even when mirrors are properly adjusted.
When a truck driver makes a lane change, turn, or merge without properly accounting for vehicles in these zones, catastrophic side-impact collisions result. While truck drivers are trained to check their blind spots carefully before maneuvering, many crashes occur because they fail to do so or maneuver too quickly.
Wide Turn Accidents
Making a right turn in a large commercial truck requires swinging wide to the left first to create clearance for the trailer. This creates a dangerous situation where vehicles positioned to the right of the truck, or attempting to pass on the right, can be trapped or struck as the trailer swings. Wide turn accidents frequently occur at intersections and are a leading cause of serious injury to cyclists and motorcyclists.
Drivers who fail to signal, check mirrors, or swing wide enough before initiating a right turn create foreseeable hazards. These cases often involve commercial vehicles operating in urban or suburban settings where traffic density makes the maneuver particularly dangerous.
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Tire Blowout Accidents
A tire blowout on a commercial truck at highway speed is a sudden and violent event. The loss of a tire can cause the driver to lose control, pull sharply in the direction of the blowout, or shed large pieces of rubber into traffic that strike other vehicles. In some cases, the truck itself rolls over following a blowout.
Tire blowouts are frequently the result of poor maintenance. Worn tread, improper inflation, overloading beyond the tire’s rated capacity, and failure to inspect tires during pre-trip checks are all preventable causes. When a blowout results from negligent maintenance, the trucking company bears responsibility for the consequences.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions between a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle are almost always fatal or catastrophically injurious for occupants of the smaller vehicle. These crashes typically occur when a truck driver drifts across the center line due to fatigue or distraction, when a truck is traveling the wrong way on a one-way road or highway, or when a driver loses control on a curve.
The physics of a head-on collision at highway speed between a passenger vehicle and an 80,000-pound truck leave almost no margin for survival. Cases involving head-on collisions require immediate investigation to preserve evidence before the scene is cleared.
Cargo Spill Accidents
When improperly secured cargo falls from a truck, it becomes an immediate hazard for vehicles following behind. Debris on a highway can cause drivers to swerve suddenly, collide with other vehicles, or strike the cargo directly. Liquid cargo spills create slippery conditions that can affect large stretches of roadway.
Cargo spill cases can involve the truck driver, the trucking company, and the cargo loader or shipper. Whoever was responsible for securing the load properly is liable for harm caused when that load fails.
Call Hepworth Holzer After Any Type of Truck Accident in Idaho
Whatever type of truck accident you were involved in, the legal issues are complex and the window to preserve critical evidence is short. Hepworth Holzer has the trial experience and resources to handle any truck accident case in Idaho, from initial investigation through verdict if necessary. When a crash results in a fatality, our team also handles wrongful death claims arising from truck accidents. For injuries that permanently alter a victim’s life, see how we approach catastrophic injury cases in Idaho. Call us today for your free consultation.
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