Any type of accident can be traumatizing, but accidents involving large trucks are often much worse and lead to more serious injuries and even death. Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid trucks on the road, especially while on the highway or interstate, and at certain time, you may even be outnumbered by them.
Trucks are tested constantly and their drivers are trained thoroughly to prevent accidents from happening. But, just as car drivers can attest to, driving conditions can force even the most experienced driver to get into an unintended accident. To help avoid these accidents, it’s important to understand what causes them and what you can do to avoid getting into a truck accident.
Keep Your Distance
Trailing too closely behind any car is dangerous, but for trucks, if you get too close to them they may not be able to see you, which can cause serious accident. The blind spot on a truck is much larger than on a car and they may miss you if you get to close behind them or even too close next to them. To be safe, keep a healthy distance and avoid tailgating or getting too close even when getting off or on at an exit.
Pay Attention
Truck drivers are skilled at what they do, but they are also working long hours and may be tired or not paying full attention to the road. There is nothing you can do about this besides pay attention yourself. If you see a truck start to swerve or veer off the road a bit, try to get away from it as much as you can. Often, a heavy load is the only reason for the swaying, but it could also mean a driver has fallen asleep. Get to the farthest lane and slow down or speed up as safely as you can to avoid a potential crash.
Don’t Cut Them Off
It can be frustrating to get stuck behind a truck on the highway as they tend to go much slower than the average car. When a car is driving slowly, our first reaction is to switch lanes and try to get back in front of them. Avoid doing this with a truck. Truck drivers usually abide by the rules of staying out of the fast lane, so if they are in that lane, they are likely to move out of it when they are able to. Remain patient and avoid cutting them off—their ability to slow down and maneuver out of your way is much less than yours and if you do cut them off, you could be dealing with a major rear-end accident or worse.
Don’t Pass on the Right-Hand Side
This tip is a bit more specific, but it’s been proven that many truck accidents occur because a driver passed on the right-hand side, a side that is hard—and sometimes impossible—for a driver to see.
Don’t Drive Between Two Trucks
During busier commute times, you may be dealing with multiple trucks on the roadways. If you can, avoid being put in a position where you will be sandwiched between two semi-trucks. This creates a dangerous place for a car as you are essentially boxed in and unable to move out of the way should an accident occur near you or a truck swerves into your lane.
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, you are likely looking at a long road to recovery and substantial damages. Because of this, it’s important to get an experienced truck accident attorney on your side to help you fight the truck company’s insurance company and get you the compensation you deserve. To learn more about how Stewart & Stewart Attorney’s can help you, 1-800-33-33-LAW or visit our website today.