Truck accidents in Salt Lake City are very dangerous. Many of these crashes happen on I-15 or busy city streets. These car and truck collisions can involve jackknifing, rollover, or underride accidents. Often, these happen because of driver fatigue, mechanical failure, or distracted driving. Because a commercial truck is so heavy, the crash can cause catastrophic injuries. This includes spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injuries. Under Utah Code § 78B-2-307, you have a set amount of time to ask for help with medical bills. The team at Lance Bingham Law helps victims hold trucking companies and truck drivers accountable for the harm they cause on Utah roads.
Salt Lake City is a major hub for shipping. This means our roads are full of heavy trucks every day. Driving next to a commercial truck requires extra care. Because these vehicles are so large, even a small mistake can lead to semi-truck accidents.
A semi-truck crash is much different than a crash between two cars. The truck's weight makes it harder to steer and stop. In Salt Lake City, narrow lanes and steep grades near the canyons add more danger. If a driver is dealing with drowsy driving or aggressive driving, the risk of a crash goes up quickly.
Rear-end collisions involving trucks are very common on I-15. These happen when a truck hits the back of a smaller car. Because trucks are so heavy, these crashes often cause catastrophic injuries.
A truck needs a lot of room to stop. This is known as the stopping distance. At highway speeds, a truck may need the length of two football fields to come to a full stop. If truck drivers follow too closely, they cannot stop in time to avoid a crash with a semi-truck.
Many things can cause these crashes in our city. Distracted driving, such as using a cell phone, is a top cause. Mechanical problems, like worn-out brakes, also play a part. Sometimes, poor road conditions or snow make it impossible for a truck to stop safely.
The force of a truck hitting a car is massive. Victims often suffer from whiplash or a head injury. In the worst cases, the impact causes internal organ damage or spinal cord damage. These injuries lead to high medical bills and long recovery times.
A jackknife accident happens when a truck's trailer swings out to the side. The truck ends up looking like a folding knife. This is one of the most feared types of truck accidents.
Jackknifing usually happens when the wheels lock up during braking. If the road is slick, the trailer keeps moving forward while the cab stops. This causes the trailer to slide sideways. This can sweep across multiple lanes, hitting many cars at once.
Utah winters create perfect conditions for jackknifing. Ice and slush make the roads very slippery. Reckless driving or going too fast for the weather makes it even more likely. Trucking companies must ensure their drivers are trained for these weather-related issues.
When a truck jackknifes, it blocks the entire road. This often leads to chain reaction crashes. Drivers in these accidents may face traumatic brain injuries or even wrongful death. Ramrock injury lawyers often see these cases when multiple people are hurt at once.
A rollover collision is one of the most dangerous types of truck accidents. This happens when a truck tips over onto its side or roof. Because trucks are top-heavy, they can roll over more easily than a car.
Most rollovers occur due to high speeds or cargo loaded incorrectly. If the weight inside the trailer shifts during a turn, the truck can lose its balance. Cargo loaders must be very careful to ensure the load is balanced. If they don't, the truck becomes a ticking time bomb on the highway.
Salt Lake City has many sharp off-ramps and mountain curves. If a driver takes wide turns too fast, the truck can tip. Weather-related issues like high winds in the canyons also push trucks over. Truck drivers must watch their speed to stay upright.
When a truck rolls, it can crush nearby smaller vehicles. This leads to catastrophic injuries. Victims often suffer from crush injuries, spinal injuries, or internal organ damage. Many people also suffer from severe burn injuries if the truck was carrying fuel or chemicals.
Every commercial truck has large blind spots. These are called blind spots. If you are driving in these spots, the truck driver might hit you while changing lanes.
The No-Zone is the area around a truck where cars disappear. These spots are in the front, the back, and on both sides of the trailer. The right side has the largest blind spot. If you cannot see the driver's face in their side mirror, they cannot see you.
Traffic in Salt Lake City moves fast, especially near the spaghetti bowl. When a truck tries to change lanes, blind spot crashes can happen in a split second. These are often sideswipe accidents. The truck may push a car off the road or into a concrete barrier.
Drivers should try to pass trucks quickly on the left side. Never linger in a truck's blind spot. Trucking companies can also help by installing cameras. If a driver hits you because they didn't check their spot, they may be guilty of reckless driving.
An underride accident is a very scary type of semi-truck crash. This happens when a smaller car slides underneath the back or side of a truck trailer.
In an underride crash, the trailer is so high that the car goes under it. This often shears off the top of the car. An override crash is the opposite. This is when a truck's front end rolls over a smaller car. Both are usually head-on crashes or rear-end collisions.
These accidents almost always lead to wrongful death or permanent head injury. Because the car's safety features (like airbags) might not work when the car goes under a truck, the passengers have no protection. Victims often face traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damage.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has rules for underride guards. These are the metal bars on the back of trailers. If these bars are broken or missing, the trucking companies are at fault. Auto accident lawyer teams inspect these guards after a crash to determine whether they comply with safety regulations.
A t-bone accident occurs when the front of a truck hits the side of a car. These are also called side-impact collisions or angle crashes. They are very dangerous because the side of a car has very little protection.
In downtown Salt Lake City, these crashes often happen at traffic lights. A truck might run a red light due to distracted driving or brake failure. Because heavy trucks are so large, they cannot stop quickly if the light changes. This leads to angle crashes at the intersection.
When a commercial truck hits a car from the side, the car is often crushed. The force is much higher than a car-on-car crash. The truck's bumper is usually at the same height as the car windows. This makes head-on crashes or side hits very deadly.
Victims in these angle crashes often have internal organ damage or spinal cord injuries. A personal injury lawyer will look for traffic camera footage to see who had the green light. They will also check cell phone records to see if the driver was texting.
Sometimes a crash isn't caused by a driver's choice, but by a mechanical failure. If a part breaks while the truck is moving, the driver can lose all control.
The most common problem is tire blowouts. If a tire is old or overinflated, it can pop. Faulty truck parts, such as faulty brakes or steering, also cause many truck accidents. Trucking companies must keep truck maintenance records to show they took care of their fleet.
If a front tire pops, the truck will pull hard to one side. This can lead to sideswipe accidents or rollover collisions. The driver may also hit a parked vehicle or collide with the side of the road. These mechanical problems turn a safe drive into a nightmare.
After a semi-truck crash, an auto accident lawyer will demand to see inspection records and brake records. If the company skipped a repair, they are at fault. Ramrock injury lawyers often look for these paper trails to prove the company was being cheap with safety.
A chain reaction crash happens when one crash leads to many more. On busy roads like I-15, these can involve dozens of cars.
Because trucks are so big, they can block all lanes of traffic. If a truck is involved in a rear-end collision, the cars behind it might not have enough room to stop. This leads to a pileup of passenger-vehicle collisions.
Aggressive driving and drowsy driving make these pileups worse. In the winter, weather-related issues like black ice make it impossible for anyone to stop. These crashes often involve many insurance claims from different drivers.
It is very hard to figure out who started a chain reaction crash. A personal injury lawyer will use an accident reconstruction expert to find the truth. They will review dashcam footage and eyewitness statements to determine which driver made the first mistake.
Every case is different. Your settlement depends on your medical bills, lost wages, and how much your life has changed. Severe injuries often lead to much higher payouts.
Under Utah Code § 78B-2-307, you usually have four years for personal injury. However, for wrongful death, the limit is only two years. It is best to act fast.
The truck drivers might be at fault, but the trucking companies often share the blame. Sometimes, the people who loaded the cargo or the truck’s mechanic are also liable.
No. An insurance company may try to trick you into saying something that hurts your case. Let your personal injury lawyer handle all the talking for you.
A black box is a device that records data about the truck. It shows the speed, when the driver used the brakes and if they followed safety regulations.
Yes. Utah uses a comparative fault rule. As long as you are less than 50% at fault, you can still collect money, but your total will be reduced.
A semi-truck crash is a life-changing event. You should not have to face the legal system alone while you are trying to heal. Between the insurance company, the trucking companies, and complex legal proceedings, there is a lot to handle.
The best way to protect your future is to get professional help. A skilled auto accident lawyer knows how to collect the right evidence. They will look at dashcam footage, truck driver logbooks, and inspection records to build a strong case. They also understand how to push for the full insurance policy limits so you aren't left with unpaid bills.
At Lance Bingham Law, we focus on getting you the justice you deserve. We will handle the paperwork and the hard conversations so you can focus on your recovery. Whether your case goes to jury trials or settles out of court, we are here for you every step of the way.
Contact Lance Bingham Law today to request free consultation. Let us help you hold the right people accountable and secure your financial future.
Dustin specializes in serious accident and injury cases in Utah and Idaho, practicing in State and Federal Courts. He's recognized as "Utah's Legal Elite," a "Mountain States Rising Star," and a member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100. He holds an Avvo Superb Rating and is actively involved in legal associations, serving as a judge pro tempore for the Utah Supreme Court. A Utah native, Dustin earned his degrees from the University of Utah. He lives in Farmington with his wife and three children, enjoying family time, flying, and various outdoor activities.
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