Most drivers give a tractor-trailer a wide berth without thinking much about it. When that rig is pulling two trailers instead of one, the caution is even more warranted. Double-trailer trucks, sometimes called doubles or twin trailers, are longer, harder to maneuver, and slower to stop than a standard 18-wheeler, and the data shows they crash more often. If you were injured in a collision with one of these vehicles on Interstate 64, Interstate 264, or any other road in the region, understanding what makes them so hazardous is an important first step. A Norfolk truck accident lawyer will examine whether the truck’s configuration and the carrier’s handling played a role in the crash.
The Numbers Behind Double-Trailer Trucks
Federal studies have repeatedly flagged double-trailer configurations as a heightened safety concern. In its Final Report to Congress on truck size and weight, the U.S. Department of Transportation found that double-trailer trucks had 58 percent higher out-of-service violation rates than single-trailer trucks, meaning inspectors pulled them from service for safety defects far more frequently. Separate federal crash data show that double-trailer trucks have a notably higher fatal crash rate than their single-trailer counterparts.
Part of the problem is simple physics. A standard trailer is about 28 feet long. A set of doubles pairs either a 40-foot trailer with a 28-foot trailer or joins two 28-foot trailers, producing a vehicle considerably longer than a conventional rig. That added length makes ordinary maneuvers, like changing lanes on an interstate, much harder to do safely.
How Double-Trailer Crashes Happen
The dangers of a second trailer appear in several recurring ways. Common causes of double-trailer truck crashes include:
- Larger blind spots created by the extra length of the vehicle
- The additional weight the second trailer adds, which lengthens stopping distance
- Wind catching the trailers and throwing the truck off balance
- General difficulty controlling a longer, heavier combination
- The extended time and distance the truck needs to slow or stop
- Driver inexperience or inadequate training with doubles
- The rear trailer tipping during a sharp turn
- A shift in the load or an improperly secured cargo
- Sudden maneuvers or hard braking that the trailers cannot absorb smoothly
A unique issue with doubles is that the rear trailer tends to swing wider and amplify the front of the truck’s motion, an effect engineers call rearward amplification. A small steering correction up front can become a violent sway at the back, which is a leading reason the second trailer is so prone to tipping.
The Compounding Effect of a Second Trailer
Everything that makes a single-trailer big rig dangerous makes a double-trailer version more so. These trucks are harder to drive, take longer to stop, and have larger blind spots than a conventional tractor-trailer. On top of that, drivers frequently move from operating a single trailer to hauling doubles with little or no additional training, despite the meaningfully different handling the configuration demands. Because the second trailer is far more likely to tip during transit, a routine trip can turn into a serious crash with little warning.
Establishing Liability in a Double-Trailer Crash
When a double-trailer truck causes a wreck, responsibility often extends beyond the driver. A carrier that puts an undertrained operator behind the wheel of a double, that fails to maintain the trailers or their coupling, or that permits an improperly balanced load can share liability for the resulting harm. Sorting this out requires prompt investigation of the driver’s qualifications and training records, the carrier’s maintenance and inspection logs, the cargo loading documentation, and the physical evidence from the scene.
That investigative work is central to how we approach these claims. In one matter involving a fatal lane-change collision, we secured a $2.4 million wrongful death settlement for the family of a man killed when a tractor-trailer operator misjudged a pass and struck the vehicle in which he was riding. Results depend on the facts of each case, but an outcome of that kind reflects the detailed development of evidence a serious truck accident claim requires.
Hurt by a Double-Trailer Truck? Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash involving a double-trailer truck or any other commercial vehicle, a Norfolk truck accident lawyer at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp can review the circumstances, determine who is responsible, and pursue the full compensation you may be owed. Contact us at 833-997-1774 for a free consultation with one of our dedicated Norfolk truck accident lawyers. We have offices in Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Norfolk, and Chesapeake, and we are ready to put our experience to work for you and your family.