What is a Bobtail Truck Accident?

A semi truck without a trailer attached is called a “bobtail.” Truckers bobtail after they have made a delivery and are either headed home or toward another loading dock to pick up a new trailer. Although trucks are lighter when they bobtail, they can still get into collisions. And motorists can suffer horrifying injuries even when a semi without a trailer is involved.

Reasons Why Drivers Get into Accidents

To many lay people, a semi should be easier to handle without a heavy trailer attached at the back. But truckers can still get into collisions when they bobtail. Indeed, trucks might even be harder to handle when bobtailing:

• Reduced braking power. Without a trailer, the weight shifts toward the tractor’s front wheels. That results in diminished braking power and more time needed to bring the rig to a complete stop. We still see many override and head-on collisions when truckers are driving bobtail.
• Diminished traction. Because the back wheels have reduced load, they do not grip the road as much as they would with a trailer attached. Consequently, the truck has reduced traction and can have a harder time in inclement weather, including when there is ice or snow on the road.
• Trucker inexperience. Some truckers are not familiar with driving bobtail, especially for long distances. Because the handling is different, they could get into an accident because they inadvertently rode into oncoming traffic.
• Loss of attention. Some truckers pay less attention when they don’t have a load attached. They could let their guard down and perhaps driver while distracted by using a cell phone. They might even call family to tell them they are headed home.

We also need to mention that some motorists end up causing a crash with a bobtail truck. They might follow too closely, believing the truck poses less of a danger because there is no trailer. In these situations, a motorists will be partially at fault for a collision and likely receive less compensation.

If you are hurt, a key consideration is liability. If the trucker is employed, then the employer is usually on the hook for compensation when their employee negligently causes a crash. However, more truckers today are independent contractors. They might be driving bobtail because they are going to a new client to pick up a trailer. In this situation, obtaining compensation is sometimes harder because the employer is not automatically liable, and the independent contractor could lack insurance.

Contact Hoy Law After a Truck Accident

Bobtail accidents still cause many of the worst injuries involved with truck collisions. A motorist could end up in the hospital with concussions, back injuries, broken bones, and paralysis. You need an experienced legal team in your corner during the claims process. Call Hoy Law to speak with a Sioux Falls truck accident lawyer in a free, no risk consultation. We have secured many favorable settlements for motorists hurt in collisions, and we are happy to check if you have a strong legal claim.

Source:

freightcourse.com/bobtailing/