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Hills, Mountains & Truck Accidents: West Virginia Attorneys Discuss

West Virginia truck accident attorneysThe area surrounding Charleston comprises hilly terrain, mountains, and winding rural roads. Navigating these areas can be challenging for any road user.  

It’s not impossible for trucks to safely travel the rural roads in greater Charleston. However, doing so requires truck drivers to be experienced, attentive, and cautious. Additionally, the truck should be well maintained and the trailer properly loaded. 

Furthermore, hilly and mountainous roads can put a lot of strain on a truck’s braking system. That’s why it’s important for truck drivers to maintain a safe speed.  

Why are mountainous areas so dangerous?

In far too many cases, truck drivers overestimate the roads they travel on. When truckers drive aggressively in order to meet their companies’ expectations, they may not be able to come to a complete stop when it comes time to apply the brakes, especially on steep hills.  

According to Crash Forensics, the continual heating of truck brakes while rolling down a hill is due to kinetic energy. In order for truck drivers to prevent their vehicles from rolling out of control, they must steadily and consistently apply the brakes. By doing so, the brakes can generate more heat than they can release, causing them to eventually fade.  

Other factors that can make rural, mountainous areas susceptible to truck accidents include slippery road conditions caused by snow, ice, and rain, as well as limited visibility. 

Injured in a truck accident? Contact us today! 

When a big rig comes rolling down a steep hill, unable to stop, a head-on collision can occur. A stopped vehicle could be rear-ended. A vehicle proceeding through an intersection can be T-boned. Pedestrians and residential occupants can be struck. A rollover can occur, affecting multiple road users. 

Unlike smaller passenger vehicles, large commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. Just think about the devastation a single crash can cause. The experienced truck accident attorneys at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC have seen it many times. Lives turned upside down because of someone else’s negligence.  

The truck driver who caused your crash could have been inattentive, inexperienced, or driving too fast for the conditions. The trucking company could have failed to maintain the vehicle’s brakes, wheels, or tires, causing it to careen out of control. 

No matter what the cause may be, our legal team knows how to look for answers. If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident, contact us today for a free consultation.

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Charleston, WV

Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC
10 Hale St Suite 501
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 720-1000

Columbus, OH

Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC
20 E Broad St Suite 1000
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 587-8423