Regardless of how safely you operate your vehicle, you cannot control the way other passenger vehicle or truck drivers behave on the road. The difference in size, weight, and height can leave you seriously injured if a collision occurs. The safety tips for driving around semi-trucks in this article can help you safely navigate roads and highways.
If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a collision with a semi-truck, you could file a personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit. A truck accident lawyer will investigate your accident, collect evidence, and build a solid case for financial recovery. They will also negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurer to recover your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
How to Avoid an Accident With a Semi-Truck
Sharing the road with large trucks requires extra vigilance and focus on the part of both drivers. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) guidelines offer tips for driving a truck around smaller passenger vehicles. FMCSA data also offers safety tips for driving passenger vehicles. These precautions can help keep you and others safe, especially around large vehicles like big rigs and semi-trucks.
Maintain a Safe Distance Between Your Car and a Large Truck
Always give truck drivers plenty of room whether your car is the front or rear vehicle. In general, keep the length of two football fields between you and the much larger vehicle. Doing so can ensure you and the trucker have time to avoid a collision.
Leave Plenty of Time and Space for a Semi-Truck to Stop
Truckers require significantly greater time and stopping distance to bring that massive vehicle to a halt. Failure to allow enough stopping distance could result in low-riding vehicles becoming caught in the truck’s undercarriage in a collision.
Be Aware of the Semi-Truck Driver’s Blind Spots
To avoid being invisible to semi-truck drivers, remember that if you cannot see the trucker’s face in their side mirror, they cannot see your vehicle. Stay visible to truck drivers–don’t linger on the truck’s sides where its largest blindspots are.
Do Not Attempt to Pass a Semi-Truck on the Right
To drive safely near big rigs you should not attempt to pass a truck on its right side. Note that passing on the right is not even advised when passing a smaller vehicle. Be sure to signal your intent to turn and avoid passing on slopes, hills, or highway on-ramps.
Watch Out for Semi-Trucks Making Wide Turns
Pay attention to the semi-truck’s lights and signals so that when they are making a turn, you can give them the extra time and space they need. Allow the truck to fully complete its turn before moving and allow extra time and space for trucks making right-hand turns.
Maintain Your Own Vehicle in Its Best Working Order
Another way to ensure your safety when driving around semi-trucks is to ensure your own vehicle is always roadworthy. In addition, you should always wear your seat belt, use lights and signals appropriately, and have your brakes and windshield wipers serviced regularly.
What to Do If You Are in an Accident
If you are in a truck accident, you should call the police to file an accident report and get medical care.
Here are some additional steps to protect yourself after a collision:
- Exchange information with the truck driver
- Collect contact details from any witnesses
- Avoid posting social media comments and photos
- Contact a local personal injury attorney
You may need to inform your insurance company of the accident. Avoid contacting the truck driver’s insurer or employer without first consulting a local attorney.
Do Not Wait to Pursue Financial Compensation
If you suffer injuries in a truck accident, do not hesitate to seek compensation from the at-fault party. In addition to pursuing your financial recovery, a truck accident lawyer will often:
- Investigate the cause of your truck accident
- Interview witnesses while memories are vivid
- Compile, organize, and present evidence
- Obtain your accident report and medical records and
- Draft and file your truck accident case
- Handle all case-related communication
- Negotiate a favorable monetary settlement
You do not have to handle these details on your own. While your lawyer builds the strongest possible truck accident case, you can focus your time and attention on your physical and emotional recovery.
Contact Our Team If You Are in an Accident Through no Fault of Your Own
Driving with semis and other large trucks on roads and highways can be intimidating. If you were or if someone you love was in a collision caused by a negligent trucker, trucking company, or another third party, we will fight for financial compensation on your behalf.
Contact our case review team at Domingo Garcia to get your no-cost, no-obligation semi-truck accident case consultation now.
