Reducing Chances of Being in a Truck Crash
No matter what you call them: semi trucks, tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, or big rigs-large commercial trucks are just that, large. Their sheer size alone presents dangers to motorists sharing the road with them. For this reason, our truck accident lawyers would like to share some important tips with you to reduce your chances of being involved and injured in a truck accident.
To begin, there are two things that are critical to understand about a truck’s size:
- Semi trucks have many blind spots because of their large size. These blind spots on a truck we like to call “No-Zones.” If you’re riding in one of these areas, truck driver may not be able to you. These No-Zones are located in the rear of the truck and on the side of the truck. The rule of thumb is if you cannot see the truck driver, he can’t see you.
- Because trucks are large in size, they need more time to come to a stop. This means that you shouldn’t wedge your car in front of a large truck or merge in front of them when there are stop-and-go conditions. Remembering this may prevent being rear-ended.
Learning about semi trucks will help you while sharing the road with them. And, following these safety tips will help to reduce your chances of being injured in a truck wreck in Georgia.
Our safety tips include the following:
- Do not travel in a truck’s blind spots. Remember the No-Zones and avoid driving there.
- Do not pass a truck and immediately cut the truck off. Give the truck plenty of space before switching lanes in front of the truck or else you may get rear-ended.
- When approaching an intersection, do not try and pass a truck on the right. Trucks swing out wide when making a right-hand turn and can squish your vehicle.
- When traveling behind a truck, maintain a good distance. This will help prevent rock chips to your car, and it will allow the truck driver to see your vehicle.
If you follow these tips on the road, you are doing your part to help prevent a truck crash from occurring. However, there are still negligent truck drivers on the road who may be driving drowsy, driving distracted, or driving aggressively. By driving safely around tractor-trailers, you may be doing your part to reduce a potential crash, but truck drivers have to do their parts as well.
If a truck driver failed to signal before changing lanes, was driving recklessly, or made a negligent maneuver on the road that led to your crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages from a Georgia truck wreck.
Please call a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer at Kalka & Baer LLC to discuss your potential case at (404) 907-1594.
