Three Tips For Preventing An Accident With A Commercial Truck
You would be hard pressed these days to take a drive and not see at least one commercial truck on the road. In fact, there are about 2 million trucks operating in the United States. Because of their heavy stature, getting into an accident with a commercial truck can be more life threatening than with a typical car. Unfortunately, there are over 200,000 collisions involving a large truck and one car each year in the United States. These accidents can sometimes be unavoidable, but many times there is something you can do to prevent them. Here are some safety tips to help you prevent getting in an accident with a commercial truck.
Administer Defensive Driving
One of the best ways to avoid an accident is to become a defensive driver. In order to do this, you need to keep a safe distance between your vehicle and a commercial truck. This provides you an escape route if the truck swerves or slams on breaks all of a sudden. The amount of space you need between your vehicle and a commercial truck depends on the weather conditions. In dry conditions, a 2 second distance is the minimum, while a distance of 4 seconds between you and the truck is recommended for wet conditions.
Give the Truck Room
Commercial trucks have large blind spots. Chances are if you cannot see the driver, then the driver probably cannot see you either. You should see an extra set of mirrors on the side of the truck allowing the driver to view what is around them. If you can stay in sight of the mirror, this will help the driver see that you are nearby. It is always a good idea not to drive beside a truck for a long period of time. Slowing down or speeding up to get around them is best in case they have to change lanes or swing out to turn.
Be Patient with Trucks
Because of the size of a commercial truck, they take a longer amount of time to stop, turn, and get moving. Rushing past them as they try and maneuver the truck can make it dangerous for everyone. Instead, the best thing you can do is be patient and avoid rushing during this time until the truck is out of the way. Be especially clear of trucks when they are making a right turn. While a truck driver is educated to swing out, they may not have a lot of room and could end up colliding with your vehicle instead.
If you do find yourself in an auto accident with a commercial truck, it is important to contact a truck accident attorney. Because they are driving on behalf of their employer, they have different requirements they are bounded to. You may have to work with the lawyer to go after their employer instead of the truck driver. This is crucial in getting reimbursed for medical expenses and auto damage expenses.