The final day of September saw dozens of semi-truck rollovers across the country. It was a day like any other — a day filled with large-truck wrecks that could have been prevented.
Between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. on September 30, news headlines rolled in.
A semi-truck rolled over on a Denver overpass, its trailer dangling over the edge and leaking the dish soap it had been hauling. Another rolled over in an Illinois roundabout, exactly a week after a semi flipped in the same spot.
A 19-year-old boy died when the semi he was riding in overcorrected and flipped over; a semi-driver was trapped in his overturned truck; and a box truck that swerved to miss a deer flipped over, killing one of its passengers.
These wrecks each occurred in a different state, at different times, all on the same day. Why are rollover accidents so common? What is causing them?
What causes semi tractor-trailers to roll over?
The accidents mentioned above involved some of the common causes of rollover. But, first, what is it about large trucks that makes them so prone to flipping over?
Semi tractor-trailers’ high center of gravity means it doesn’t take much for them to be overturned. Driver error contributes to 78% of these wrecks, according to the FMCSA. Here are some common trucker mistakes that can have serious consequences.
Speeding
Driving too fast is dangerous, especially on curves. If a truck driver does not reduce his speed when driving on a curve or turning a corner, he can lose control of his vehicle. Trying to steer a speeding truck can result in a rollover.
Braking too hard can cause a truck to flip. If a driver is speeding and doesn’t give himself enough space between his truck and other vehicles, slamming on the brakes can cause the truck to lurch and flip.
Distracted, Drowsy, and Drunk Driving
If you have ever glanced down at your phone while driving, you know how easily your car drifts to the left or right. In a commercial motor vehicle, even one second of inattention can cause the truck to veer off course. Then, when a driver yanks the wheel or overcorrects, the truck can topple.
The same applies for drowsy and impaired driving. Truckers who aren’t alert and sober are apt to cause wrecks.
Failure to assess road conditions
Strong winds, slick roads and limited visibility all contribute to risky driver behavior. In bad weather or poor road conditions, truck drivers struggle to maintain control over their vehicle. This leads to hard braking, swerving, sudden lane changes and, consequently, flipping.
How many rollover semi wrecks happen each year?
When a semi becomes overturned, it can involve multiple vehicles. Some truck drivers exit their cabs unharmed, while others die at the scene or are rushed to the hospital. Sometimes, cars on the road are struck by the truck and their passengers are injured or killed.
The severity depends on the circumstances of the wreck. However, even if a rollover seems harmless, it should be taken seriously.
Between 2013 and 2022, more than 8,550 fatal motor vehicle crashes involved a large-truck rollover, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. At the beginning of that decade, 717 fatal large-truck rollover crashes were recorded. The final year saw 1,061.
That’s a 48% increase between 2013 and 2022. Like most types of fatal truck wrecks, those including rollover have become more common.
Looking at Indiana specifically, we see that 187 fatal large-truck rollover accidents occurred in the decade selected. The number of wrecks jumped from 16 in 2013 to 30 in 2022 — nearly doubling. An 88% increase in this type of wreck over the course of a decade is alarming.
But most wrecks in which a large truck overturns do not result in death. In 2022 alone, injury-only and property-damage-only rollover accidents totaled to 24,862. That’s an 84% increase from the 13,493 recorded a decade prior.
If we combine all large-truck rollover wrecks in 2022, fatal and non-fatal, and distribute them over the course of the year, we find that there were, on average, 71 per day in the United States.
Determining Fault in a Semi Rollover Accident
With so many factors affecting car and truck accidents, it can be hard to make sense of your situation. As a firm of experienced truck wreck attorneys, Craig, Kelley & Faultless has the tools to assess an accident and help victims of commercial motor vehicle wrecks recover financially.
If you have been seriously injured by a semi-truck that rolled over, jackknifed or swerved into your lane, reach out to our attorneys today. We have lawyers licensed in various states: Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa and Tennessee.
Contact us at (800) 746-0226 or with our online form for a free consultation.
David W. Craig sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families, written to help people navigate a terrible situation by answering questions that come after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow Indiana law safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.
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