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Omaha Runaway Trailer Accident Lawyer

Did a Runaway Trailer Cause Your Crash in Omaha? You May Be Owed Compensation

Tractor-trailers pose a risk to all other vehicles on the road, even when their drivers follow federal regulations. One particular hazard is runaway trailers - when the rear part of the truck becomes detached from the cab and goes hurtling out of control.

Nebraska has a reputation for being extremely flat. But our state has some amazing landscapes, including hills and mountains. And because our urban centers are spread out around the state, they’re connected by interstates and highways filled with big rigs and other commercial traffic. This means the threat of truck accidents is very real.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a runaway trailer, you need a qualified Omaha personal injury attorney who can advocate on your behalf. At Bottlinger Law L.L.C., our goal is to secure the best possible settlement for our clients, even if we have to take the matter to court. Call us today at (402) 505-8234 to schedule a free consultation.

Tractor-Trailers Are Prone to Accidents

While large trucks may be at their most dangerous on steep inclines, even on relatively level ground they’re risky to be around. These trucks can easily weigh as much as 40 tons (80,000 pounds) and tend to be hard to maneuver. When traveling at highway speeds, they can have great difficulty coming to a stop suddenly, and it’s not unheard of for the driver to completely lose control of the vehicle.

It’s also dangerous to drive next to or behind a semi. They take up a lot of room, and their drivers don’t have the best visibility. If you get into one of the driver’s blind spots, they might turn right into you without knowing you were there. And when a large truck collides with a car, the truck might come out of the exchange unscathed while the car is totaled.

On top of everything, 18-wheelers are complicated machines, with many moving parts. It just takes one problem for a serious accident to occur, such as a blown tire at 70 miles per hour on I-680. One of the most essential parts is the trailer hitch, which is responsible for keeping the trailer connected to the cab.

How Do Runaway Trailers Happen?

If there’s a defective part or the truck hasn’t been maintained properly, then the connector can break without warning. On the other hand, when a driver tries to turn or stop too suddenly, the trailer can jackknife - get turned in the wrong direction. When this happens with enough force, the hitch can break, sending the trailer hurtling away from the cab. The result is a multi-ton trailer rolling down a hill, crossing lanes, or flipping over, and other drivers getting seriously hurt by it.

Don’t Let Trucking Insurance Companies Take Advantage of You

When a commercial vehicle crashes, the case will be difficult to litigate. First of all, there may be several companies involved, and determining who was ultimately responsible takes a great deal of investigation. For instance, there’s the driver, the trucking company, the maintenance company that inspected or repaired the vehicle, the company that trained the driver, and more. Each one of them will have their own insurance, and none of them will want to be responsible for paying for your injuries.

That’s where we come in. Our Omaha truck accident lawyer at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. will make sure these large corporations are held accountable and you get every penny you deserve. To schedule a free case evaluation, call us today at (402) 505-8234.

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