Anyone who drives on the highway knows that large commercial trucks can be intimidating to drive near when you are in a much smaller vehicle. Big rig trucks are massive in size and weight, so when you are involved in a wreck with a commercial truck, it can cause serious injuries. However, not all accidents caused by large commercial trucks involve a collision. Serious damage and injuries can also be caused by truck debris.

You might be surprised to learn that many accidents and injuries are caused by truck debris. Truck debris can be caused by improperly secured cargo or parts falling from the truck. This type of debris can cause significant harm to other drivers on the road. Below are a few things to know if you or a loved one suffers damage or injuries from truck debris:

Types of Truck Debris Accidents

When debris from a commercial truck strikes your vehicle, the damage can range from minor to quite serious. Depending on the type of debris, the speed involved, and where it strikes your vehicle can influence the amount of damage and the injuries suffered. Below are a few ways commercial truck debris can impact other drivers’ safety:

• Debris Flying Off the Truck: When cargo or parts fly off a commercial truck that is speeding down the highway, other drivers may sustain cracks in their windshield, dents in the body of their car, or penetration into the engine or interior. All these types of damage from debris can also lead to injuries to the occupants of the vehicle.
• Truck Debris on the Road: Even if your vehicle is not struck by truck debris when it flies off, the debris lying in the roadway can cause an accident. If a large item is lying on the road, other drivers may not be able to avoid it, causing them to swerve and crash or, at a minimum, damage their vehicle.
• Tire Blowouts: Commercial trucks have large tires that create damaging projectiles when they blow out. If a piece of the tire strikes a vehicle, it causes severe damage to the vehicle and often injures the vehicle’s passengers.
• Liquid Spill: Some commercial trucks transport liquids. If the liquids leak or spill on the roadway, it can create hazardous slick conditions. Vehicles following the truck are put at risk of losing traction and crashing.

Liability for Commercial Truck Debris
There are several parties that may be liable for your property damage and injuries resulting from truck debris. It is critical to confer with an experienced personal injury attorney to understand who may be liable for your accident. Examples of the parties that may be liable include the truck driver, trucking company, manufacturer of truck parts, maintenance company, cargo loading company, and others. Your accident attorney will investigate the accident and determine which parties are potentially liable to you.

Contact an Injury Lawyer Today

Whether you have questions about how to settle your case or you need assistance filing a personal injury lawsuit, it is wise to confer with an experienced injury attorney.

If you have been involved in a commercial truck accident or other type of personal injury case that was caused by the negligence of another party, it is important to have effective attorney representation. At Babbit, Mitchell & Ogle, our injury lawyers have been representing injured victims of accidents and insurance disputes for over 60 years. Call Babbit, Mitchell & Ogle in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at (405) 692-7676 to schedule a FREE consultation.