You should know that if you are going to be hit by a truck, regardless of who caused the accident, you are going to suffer the most damage. Every car driver must take a lot of safety precautions to avoid truck accidents.
Do not expect truck drivers and trucking companies to uphold the duty of care they owe to you, because they will not.
You should know that even after following safety precautions, you might get into a truck accident because of someone else’s negligence. In such cases, hire a truck accident lawyer and file a truck accident claim.
This blog post discusses the things you need to do to avoid truck accidents. Read on.
Understand that trucks need more stopping distance
Trucks weigh around 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. That is almost 20 times more than a car.
These humongous vehicles cannot be stopped as the driver wishes. It requires twice the stopping distance of a car. You need to keep this in mind. Do not assume the truck will stop when you slow down in front of it.
Even if the drivers want to stop, they can’t.
Stay away from the truck’s blind spots
It is necessary to learn about the blind spots of a truck. Truck drivers won’t be able to see in some areas, even with all the mirrors. These spots are known as blind spots.
If you are driving in a blind spot, the truck driver will not consider you when making a decision.
You can avoid these blind spots by learning about them.
Avoid distracted driving
It is easy to get distracted while driving. Checking emails, scrolling through Instagram, eating, etc., are some of the common ways one might get distracted while driving.
Not looking at the roads is not the only form of distraction. Distraction is of three types:
- Visual distractions
- Manual distraction
- Cognitive distraction
It is important to focus on the road when driving.
Be careful when merging
Again, trucks need more space to stop. You need to be very careful when overtaking a truck and merging. Change lanes only after you see the truck in your rearview mirror.
If you merge too quickly, the truck won’t be able to stop and rear-end you.
Pass it quickly
When passing a truck, do it quickly. Do not wait for an eternity.
Pass only on the left side of the truck. Do not merge immediately after passing the truck. As already mentioned, merge only after you see the truck fully in your rearview mirror.
Consider the weather
You need to consider the weather when driving. In rainy and snowy weather, the stopping distance will be longer. Vision will also be affected because of the weather.
Bad weather is a common reason for accidents. Trucks can swerve when brakes are applied on slippery roads. Jackknife accidents are highly likely in these weather conditions.
Do not tailgate
Always leave ample space between the truck and yourself. It is best to leave a 6-foot distance to be safe.
Give even more space if the truck is turning. Trucks will take up more space when turning, so it is necessary to give them more space.
You should also know that the immediate area behind the truck is a blind spot. So avoid tailgating.
Wrapping up
It is possible to get into an accident, even after following all the safety precautions. If you have been hit by a truck, hire a lawyer immediately after getting medical attention.
Your lawyer will determine who is liable for the accident and sue them. They will make the liable party pay for the losses you incurred due to the accident. It is the best way to get your life back on track after an accident.
Discover more from Don't Stop Living
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.