Commercial trucks are enormous, powerful vehicles with operational constraints that endanger other drivers on the road, such as large blind areas, long stopping distances, and difficulties performing fast moves in an emergency. Because of these constraints, other drivers must take precautions to reduce the likelihood of a truck accident. Talk to an experienced truck accident attorney to learn more today.
- Know the blind spots.
Large vehicles have several blind spots at the front, back, and sides. You must be aware of these blind areas and avoid driving in them. If you remain in a truck driver’s blind area, they will not notice you, which might result in a terrible disaster.
- No tailgating
It is never a good idea to tailgate a heavy vehicle. The driver cannot see you if you are too near the truck. The wheels may kick up debris, or the vehicle may halt, forcing you to collide with them from behind. Most of the time, the damages and injuries will be to you and your car rather than the truck or driver.
- Pass them carefully
If you must pass a commercial truck, proceed with caution. Make certain that you pass swiftly and do not loiter near the vehicle. Do not merge in front of the truck until you can see the vehicle’s front and driver in your mirror.
- Give them space
Give trucks more room than you would normally give a passenger car. Because trucks are larger and heavier, they may not come to a complete stop in time to escape a hazard. If this occurs, you do not want to be near or in front of them.
Avoid utilizing an inner turn lane adjacent to a truck when making a turn. Because trucks sometimes take up to 55 feet to perform a turn, this might increase your chance of an accident. Right turns should be done with extreme caution. Do not squeeze into the area between the truck and the curb right before the vehicle turns. You should also avoid stopping beyond the white line at a junction since vehicles require this extra room to turn safely.
- Avoid cutting them off.
Cutting off drivers is always risky. Cutting off a truck driver, however, can be fatal. If you swipe in front of a truck driver, he or she may not see you, increasing your chances of being hit from behind. Even if the driver sees you, he or she may be unable to stop in time to prevent crashing with you.
Get the help of an attorney.
Do not waste time if you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident. Contact an experienced attorney immediately and get the compensation you are entitled to.