In 2015, 3,852 people died in truck accidents. 69% of these victims were drivers and passengers in cars and other passenger vehicles. When you are in a small vehicle, you are much more vulnerable to suffering severe, life-threatening injuries in truck crashes than truck drivers.
Sharing the road with large trucks can be intimidating. To protect yourself from being injured in a collision with one, take safety precautions when sharing the road. If you are injured in a collision, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim.
Stay Out of Trucks’ Blind Spots
A tractor-trailer has much larger blind spots than your car has. Its blind spots are to its immediate front, rear, and directly to the right and left of its side mirrors. One way to make sure you are not in a truck’s blind spot is to look to its mirrors to see its driver’s face. If you cannot see the driver, the driver cannot see you.
Give Trucks the Room They Need to Brake and Turn
Tractor-trailers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. A vehicle this large needs considerably more space to come to a full stop when braking. It also needs a much wider space to make turns. Give these trucks a larger following distance than you give other passenger vehicles, and when you see one turning, keep your distance.
Know How Trucks Operate
Large trucks do not operate like your car. In addition to needing greater braking and turning distance, trucks have a different center of balance than smaller vehicles and can flip over or become detached when they are overloaded. They also must be accelerated more slowly than smaller vehicles in order for drivers to maintain control. Never cut off a tractor-trailer or stop short in front of one. When switching lanes in front of a large truck, be sure to do so far enough in front of the truck that you do not enter its blind spot.
Be Vigilant
You can reduce your chances of being involved in a collision with a truck or any other type of vehicle simply by being a vigilant driver. Put the phone down and pay attention to the roadway at all times. Adjust your driving style to the conditions present, such as driving more slowly on ice- and snow-covered roadways and using your headlights and high beams as appropriate when driving at night.
Work with an Experienced La Crosse Personal Injury Lawyer
If you are injured in a collision with a commercial truck, you could be entitled to monetary compensation for your damages. This includes your medical bills, your lost wages, and any other damages related to the injury, known as pain and suffering damages. To learn more about seeking the compensation you deserve, contact our team of personal injury lawyers at Moen Sheehan Meyer, Ltd. today to set up your initial consultation with a member of our team.