Tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers come with public threats and accident risks that do not exist with standard motor vehicles. One is off-tracking, which is when a semi’s front wheels and rear wheels do not align with each other. Off-tracking creates an extremely dangerous situation that can cause a truck driver to lose control of the truck and result in an accident.
If you have been involved in a truck accident due to the cause of off-tracking, contact our Wilmington truck accident lawyer to file claim and seek compensation. Schedule your free consultation today.
What Does Off-Tracking Mean in Trucking?
Off-tracking describes when the rear wheels of a semi-truck do not follow the same path as the front wheels. It is particularly common when a large truck is making a turn. If a truck driver miscalculates a turn and the trailer being towed swings out too wide or not wide enough, the tires can misalign. The longer the truck and trailer, the more likely off-tracking is to occur.
The Dangers of Off-Tracking
Off-tracking can make it impossible for a truck driver to keep a big rig completely within one lane. If the rear wheels follow a tighter or wider path than the front wheels, the trailer of the truck can swing outward into adjacent lanes or sidewalks. The trailer may strike other vehicles, pedestrians or bicyclists – potentially causing severe accidents and injuries.
Common trucking accidents caused by off-tracking include wide-turn accidents, lane-drift accidents, sideswipes, bicycle and pedestrian collisions, parked car collisions, fixed-object collisions, jackknife accidents, and truck rollovers. These accidents can inflict catastrophic and fatal injuries, especially for those outside of the truck.
Types of Off-Tracking
There are two types of off-tracking: low speed and high speed. Low-speed off-tracking occurs during a slow or tight turn, such as at an intersection. At low speeds, the rear wheels of a semi-truck will track inside the path of the front wheels.
High-speed off-tracking occurs when a truck is traveling faster, such as on a North Carolina highway. If the truck driver takes a turn too sharply, the trailer may drift outside of the path of the front wheels. High-speed off-tracking comes with higher odds of jackknife and rollover accidents.
Trailer off-tracking, even at a low speed, can cause truck path deviations that lead to serious collisions. At higher truck speeds, greater lateral shifts can occur. This can lead to a larger sweep path involving many other vehicles or people, and the potential for multi-vehicle pileups.
What Causes Off-Tracking?
Large trucks such as 18-wheelers and box trucks have multiple axles, which alters the way they make turns. If a truck driver does not adjust to these differences, off-tracking can take place. Truck drivers in North Carolina must go through specific training and must adhere to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) standards to legally operate commercial trucks. During this training, they should learn how to prevent off-tracking and make turns safely.
Truckers must use special wide-turn techniques and avoid sudden or abrupt turns. They should signal their intent to turn early so that surrounding drivers are forewarned and can get out of the danger zone. When appropriate, lanes should be blocked off with cones to allow a big rig to safely complete a turn.
Victim Rights After an Off-Tracking Truck Accident in North Carolina
If a truck driver fails to safely operate a large truck, the driver or trucking company may be held accountable for a related truck accident in North Carolina. A truck accident lawyer can investigate to determine if the truck driver failed to properly navigate a turn or violated a traffic law. If so, the driver or the trucking company can potentially be held liable, or financially responsible for the victim’s medical bills, property repairs and other losses.