Sharing the road with big rigs often makes travelers feel uncomfortable. Horror stories abound in relation to accidents involving 18-wheelers that led to devastating and tragic outcomes. Because of the potential for this type of accident, many drivers prefer to get away from these trucks as quickly as possible and continue on their way.
Of course, if you travel long distances or for an extended period of time, you may come across many tractor-trailers on the road. Because you may not have the ability to stay out of the vicinity of every truck, you may want to heed certain precautions that may help you remain safer on the road and in proximity to these behemoth vehicles.
Safety steps
Though most people fear big trucks because they think the drivers will cause a serious accident, individuals driving smaller vehicles could just as easily cause a crash that involves an 18-wheeler at no fault of the truck driver. In hopes of avoiding causing such an incident, you may want to refrain from carrying out the following dangerous maneuvers around big rigs:
- Failing to adjust speed to accommodate trucks changing lanes
- Cutting off truck drivers when you change lanes
- Unsafely merging or pulling onto the road in front of a truck
- Driving in blind spots behind or beside trucks
- Passing a truck in an unsafe area
- Turning in front of a truck
- Stopping or leaving a disabled vehicle in a travel lane, which a truck driver may not have the ability to successfully maneuver around
By avoiding these actions, you may help yourself remain safe when traveling around 18-wheelers.
Trucker-caused accidents
Of course, even if you do your best to take safety precautions, a truck driver could cause an accident that leaves you injured. Some issues in the trucking industry overall that could contribute to these accidents include:
- Driver fatigue from working too many hours
- Drivers hurrying to meet unrealistic schedules
- Failure to receive proper training on safe driving techniques and recognizing safety concerns
Plus, the sheer size and difficulty of driving these tractor-trailers present safety risks on their own.
If you have been involved in a truck accident caused by a truck driver that left you seriously injured or if you lost a loved one in such an accident, you may have legal grounds for seeking compensation. Gaining information on personal injury or wrongful death claims could allow you to obtain insight into your rights and options.