Car drivers that find themselves next to a commercial truck, may respond with a little bit of panic at the idea of being involved in an accident, as a truck accident lawyer knows well. When a crash arises between a standard vehicle and a commercial truck, it is often the car driver who suffers the worst of the injuries. This is due to the drastic size difference between these two very difficult vehicles. On the one hand, a commercial truck may weigh at least 10,000 pounds and at most around 80,000 pounds when fully loaded with cargo. Understandably, car drivers may wonder what they can do to ward off being in a commercial truck collision.
Please on below for a list of tips on how to keep yourself safer while sharing the road with these truly hefty vehicles.
Keep a Safe Distance
As with any other vehicle, always maintain a safe distance between you and the commercial truck. Keep in mind that such a large vehicle may need more time to slow down to a complete halt, accelerate or move out of the way of danger. If you are following too closely and do not see that a truck has start to come to a complete stop, you may end up being in a rear-end accident.
Do Not Break Traffic Laws
As the majority of car drivers understand, abiding by the rules of the road can decrease your chances of being involved in a vehicle accident. Accidents between a commercial truck and standard passenger vehicle can be even more tragic than compared to wrecks between two average sized cars. This is because commercial trucks may be carrying thousands of pounds of cargo or hazardous materials. So, this adds another element of damage if a crash were to ensue.
Be Aware of Truck Blind Spots
Truck blind spots are located on the back rear left and right side. Car drivers who are within range of the blind spot may not be noticed if a trucker decides to make lane changes, yield or stop suddenly.
Do Not Pass a Turning Truck
A commercial truck may take longer than the average car to make turns left or right at street lights or stop signs. Due to how long the entire truck is, it can take a few extra seconds to make a complete safe turn. If a car were to try and turn in the next lane at the very same time, they could end up being squashed or hit.
Call the Police if Needed
If you witness a truck driver operating the commercial vehicle in an unsafe manner, it may be to call the police. The trucker may be sleep-deprived, distracted or just plain careless. When it comes to these gigantic vehicles, the safety of others should come first. Examples of dangerous truck driving behavior are listed as follows:
