Semi-Truck Safety
A lot goes into safe driving, but when semi trucks are involved, it can take more than defensive driving techniques to avoid catastrophic truck accidents. There are many factors leading to accidents involving large trucks, but here are some of the most common truck accident causes:
- Driving in the blind spots of a truck.
- Changing lanes too quickly in front of a truck.
- Passing or driving on the right of a truck while it is turning right – large trucks’ rear wheels turn in a smaller arc than their front ones.
- Merging improperly into traffic.
- Failing to slow down or speed up when a truck merges lanes.
Avoiding these common mistakes when driving near large trucks is not as easy as it sounds since many trucks operate differently than passenger cars.
There are several ways to take extra care around trucks towing tractor trailers:
- Avoid blind spots – as long as you can see a truck’s side mirrors, your car should be in their vision field.
- Never pass a truck on the right while it is turning right.
- Never cut in front of a truck.
- Give trucks an extra four to six seconds of space at highway speeds and in wet conditions.
- Watch for truck’s turn signals.
- Report unsafe driving.
A mistake that does not normally result in an accident when it involves only passenger vehicles can be much more dangerous when there are large trucks involved. More than half of accidents involving large trucks are attributed to the driver of the passenger vehicle. By observing these basic safety rules, the chance of being involved in a trucking accident is significantly reduced.
If you have been injured in an acciden, whocanisue.com offers a list of experienced
truck accident attorneys in your area. A personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and determine liability. Most states have a statute of limitationsthat may prohibit you from filing a lawsuit if too much time has passed.