![]() When the trailer swings out of control, it can take the rest of the truck with it, leading to rollovers or crashes. The heavy loads flatbeds often carry can contribute substantially to this momentum, making it difficult or impossible for the driver to get the trailer back under control. As the cargo shifts during a turn or abrupt stop, the trailer may swing forward, causing it to move separately from the body of the truck. Like falling cargo accidents, jackknife accidents often occur due to improperly secured cargo. Any type of mechanical failure, from a tire blowout to windshield wiper failure in bad weather, can substantially increase the driver’s risk of becoming involved in an accident. Like other big trucks, flatbed trucks require a large number of parts to keep the truck running smoothly. Blind spot accidents can include right-turn accidents and sideswipe collisions. Entering a loaded flatbed truck’s blind spot can substantially increase accident risk, since the truck driver may have no idea you are there. ![]() But when the bed carries a heavy load, visibility depends on the load on the truck. When unloaded, flatbed trucks have smaller blind spots than other big trucks, since the bed does not prevent the driver from seeing using their mirrors or looking out the back of the truck. In some cases, cargo that hangs over the side of the truck can increase the risk of a sideswipe accident. Despite these precautions, overhanging cargo, especially if it shifts, can still cause accidents. Flatbeds with wide loads may also have escort vehicles that help prevent other passenger vehicles from getting in the way of the truck. Flatbed trucks carrying wide loads must also have special wide load signs indicating that the truck’s load extends outside the parameters of the lane the truck travels in. When cargo hangs over the edge of a truck’s bed more than four inches on the sides or four feet in the back, truck drivers must use triangular flags to indicate the extended size of the load and help notify drivers of the location of the load, which drivers may struggle to discern as they approach. Smaller cargo can also fall off of the back of the truck, causing drivers to have to swerve out of the way, slamming into the front of vehicles behind the flatbed, or increasing the risk of tire blowouts for other vehicles on the road. When heavy cargo, like construction equipment, falls off the back of the flatbed truck, it can lead to substantial injury for other drivers on the road. If one of those straps breaks or the cargo was loaded improperly, heavy items can fall from the flatbed truck, resulting in an accident. Flatbed trucks have only a flatbed to support the cargo, with just straps to hold it in place. On a flatbed truck, loaders and operators typically secure cargo with straps. In addition, flatbed trucks have some unique attributes that can increase the danger you face when sharing the road with one. ![]() What Causes Flatbed Truck Accidents?įlatbed trucks, like other big trucks, have disadvantages that can quickly lead to accidents. Read on to learn more about the concerns and hazards of flatbed trucks from our Fort Myers truck accident lawyers. Unfortunately, the cargo carried by flatbed trucks can also increase the risk that those trucks and their drivers will cause serious accidents. Flatbed trucks help carry heavy loads that usually do not fit on traditional trucks, like construction equipment, sheds, even parts of houses. Flatbed trucks serve a vital purpose in transporting many items across the United States every day.
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