3 Tips For Sharing The Road With Commercial Trucks
While any type of car accident is dangerous for the parties involved, collisions between passenger sized vehicles and commercial trucks tend to have particularly devastating consequences for the occupants of smaller cars. For this reason, knowing how to drive safely when sharing the road with a semi-truck or other large commercial vehicle is critical to driver safety. Unfortunately, even the most careful of drivers could end up in a collision through no fault of their own. In these cases, seeking compensation from the at-fault party is often an accident victim’s best chance of paying off mounting medical debt and other costs, so if you were involved in a collision with a semi-truck, you should consider reaching out to an experienced Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer who can help you file a claim.
Watch for Blind Spots
There are a number of things that drivers can do to help lower their chances of being involved in a truck accident, but one of the most important is keeping an eye out for blind spots. Blind spots on commercial vehicles are notoriously large and so pose a very real risk of danger to nearby motorists. These blind spots are located:
- Up to 20 feet directly in front of the truck;
- Up to 30 feet behind the truck;
- In the left lane between the front of the truck and the first half of the trailer; and
- In the two lanes to the right of the truck between the cab and the first half of the length of the trailer.
One good rule of thumb is that if a driver cannot see him or herself in a semi-truck’s side-view mirror, then there’s a good chance that the truck driver can’t see that person either.
Maintain a Safe Following Distance
If following a semi-truck, drivers should be sure to keep a safe distance between the vehicles. While always important, doing so with trucks is particularly crucial, as these large vehicles generally need a lot more room before they can come to a stop. By increasing the distance between a truck, other drivers will give themselves more time to respond to a dangerous situation. Most experts agree that a distance of at least a four second window is ideal.
Anticipate Wide Turns
Another thing that drivers can do to help protect themselves while sharing the road with commercial vehicles is to anticipate wide turns. Most semi-trucks have a wide turning radius and so could end up blocking multiple lanes of traffic while turning. To avoid collisions, drivers should be sure to leave plenty of space between themselves while a truck is turning and to refrain from passing trucks until the turn has been completed.
Contact a Lawyer After a Truck Accident
By exercising caution around semi-trucks, you may be able to reduce your chances of being involved in a truck accident. There is, however, no guarantee of safety, so if you were hurt in a collision with a commercial vehicle, please reach out to the dedicated Florida truck accident lawyers at Boone & Davis. Call us at 954-566-9919 today to set up a meeting.
Resource:
fmcsa.dot.gov/ourroads/large-blind-spots
