Rear-End Collisions Result In Fatal Truck Accident Injuries: How They Can Be Prevented

The large size and bulk of tanker trucks, tractor-trailers, and other big rigs make truck accidents in Portland particularly dangerous for motorists. Rear-end collisions can result in serious and potentially life-threatening personal injuries.  Find out more about these crashes and how to prevent them. 

Vehicle Crushed In Portland Rear-End Truck Accident 

A November 2021 rear-end truck accident in Portland that folded a vehicle completely in half but left the driver with only minor personal injuries left first responders shocked. According to a KOIN News report, the accident happened on Interstate 5 over the Skagit River. Police reports indicate that a semi-truck came up behind a motorist and rear-ended them. The force of the collision caused an underride. The car to buckled, folded in half, and became lodged completely underneath the truck. Miraculously, the vehicle driver was not seriously injured. A Washington State trooper posted photos of the truck sitting on top of the car and said he had never seen anything like it in his 14-year career. 

Unfortunately, rear-end truck accidents are a common type of crash and typically do not end as well for motorists involved. They are a leading cause of fatal truck accident injuries and often happen due to speeding, tailgating, and other reckless behaviors on the part of the truck driver or due to trucking company negligence in not properly maintaining rigs. Precautions motorists can take to help reduce their risks include: 

• Give truckers plenty of room when passing them on highways;
• Avoid pulling out in front of them in parking lots and at intersections or side streets;
• If you notice a trucker driving behind you, flash your brake lights and avoid making sudden stops;
• If you are in a situation where a trucker is following too closely, pull over or move into the other lane and let them pass. 

What Safety Officials Are Doing To Prevent Rear-End Truck Accidents

Semi-trucks and other big rigs weigh 20 to 30 times more than motor vehicles. This makes rear-end truck accidents potentially deadly for other drivers involved. The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIIHS) states that forward collision warning systems can help prevent these crashes and is working with other public safety officials in encouraging them to be installed on all commercial vehicles.  

According to the IIHS, devices such as front-end cameras, radar, or sensors can help drivers in monitoring the road in front of truckers, alerting them to potential obstacles and preventing collisions. If these fail to work, automatic emergency braking systems could help bring the truck to a stop or at least slow the speed, reducing the risk of fatalities. 

Contact an Attorney for Help

At the Johnston Law Firm P.C., we help injured victims and their families get the compensation they deserve when truck accidents happen.  Call (503) 546-3167 or contact our Oregon truck accident attorneys online to request a consultation today.