New hampshire Truck Accident Attorneys

New Hampshire Truck Accident Attorneys

According to the most recent data, it was found that large truck accidents cause approximately 30% of fatal crashes in work zones. Although New Hampshire has a relatively low large truck fatality rate as compared to the rest of the nation, it has implemented specific regulations to protect workmen from potentially fatal truck and tractor-trailer accidents.

New Hampshire Trucking Safety Regulations

New Hampshire policy addressed the necessity of providing a safe work zone through the use of either (1) a flagger, (2) uniformed police office, or (3) dynamic traffic control system to reduce the likelihood of injuries and fatalities in New Hampshire work zones. Specifically, on high-speed roads with high volume traffic, where large trucks, semi-trucks, and eighteen-wheelers are sometimes limited to operating, a uniformed police presence may be necessary under the following conditions:

• A work zone is located in an area with a high crash rate;
• A work zone is located in an area with vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed;
• A work zone with poor highway design and geometrics, and
• A work zone with excessive sun glare.

Importantly, New Hampshire recognizes that poor highway geometrics, i.e., the shape and curvature of the highway itself, are especially likely to result in large truck accidents.

Tractor-Trailer Crashes can Differ from Traditional Motor Vehicle Accidents

One of the major types of large truck accidents is called a “rollover,” and one of the main causes of rollovers is a truck driver’s failure to adjust his or her speed to curves in the road. Based upon the weight and nature of the load being carried, as well as road curvature through New Hampshire’s mountainous regions, a truck traveling at an inappropriate speed around a curved path will begin to lean away from the direction of the curve and may rollover. While traditional motor vehicles such as sedans and small SUVs have a low center of gravity that helps keep the vehicles grounded during curves, trucks, semi-trucks, and tractor-trailers have a higher center of gravity, which is more likely to cause the truck to flip onto its side or roof.

New Hampshire Truck Accident Checklist

If you are involved in a truck related accident, it is important to take the following steps at the scene:

• Assess the scene for immediate safety. Be aware of any gas leaks and check for a truck’s hazardous materials placard;
• If you are concerned about a potential fire or hazardous materials leak, move your vehicle and/or yourself to the nearest safe location;
• Call 911 when you are in a safe location and inform the dispatcher of any hazards or concerns, and
• Follow police instruction without admitting fault.

After a truck accident, your safety and the safety of your passengers should be your top priority, especially if you are unsure of a truck’s cargo.

Why to Contact a Law Firm that Understands the Intricacies of Truck Related Accidents

Taking into consideration New Hampshire’s mountainous roads, if you are involved in a truck accident it is important to contact an attorney who understands the unique mathematical calculations necessary to determine whether a truck driver acted negligently to cause an accident. Such calculations include the degree of road curvature, the truck’s weight differential, the speed of the truck, and the vehicle’s center of gravity. Be sure to contact an experienced truck accident attorney if you have been involved in a rollover accident.