The government is aware of the dangers that an accident involving a semi truck causes and I was pleased to hear that last month they took another step in helping reduce these catastrophic accidents by banning truck drivers from being able to text message why driving.
As a personal injury lawyer I have seen too many accidents that could have been avoided. Everyday I take phone calls and emails from people that have had a family member either seriously injured or killed as a result of an accident that in most cases could have been avoided.
Recently, my truck accident division of my law firm has seen an increase in accidents involving semi trucks or commercial vehicles. The biggest challenge when dealing with individuals that have been involved in this type of accident is that trucking accidents are so much grander in destruction than your typical car accident. This is usually because the size of these 18 wheelers compared to your typical passenger car is just too big.
On my website I discuss the many different reasons that a truck accident can occur. You can visit my Truck Accident Website at http://www.garciatruckaccidentlawyer.com for more in depth information. However in this article I want to cover the two main things that you need to be aware of, which you can do something about.
Stay out of a truck drivers blind spots and keep a safe distance when driving in close proximity to one.
Blind Spots
All vehicles have blind spots. They are located around the front, back, and sides of the vehicle. Here is the main issue however, when a semi truck is in your blind spot because of the size you are still most likely able to see part of it. However when a car is in the blind spot of the truck the driver is usually unable to see the car. It is not just people in cars that get injured or killed by truck driver blind spots but motorcyclists and bicyclists as well. When a truck driver makes a right turn and collides with something this is referred to as a Right hook accident. Tractor-trailer trucks need to swing wide to the left in order to negotiate a right turn. When truck drivers make wide right turns, they are often unable to see cars, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians directly behind or beside them. When a car cuts between the truck and a curb, the car can be caught in a squeeze play, and a serious accident can occur. This type of accident is a leading cause of bicycle accident deaths across the country and even more so in coastal areas on the California highways. When riding next to a truck this is a situation where it is very helpful if you can see the truck driver and that see that the driver sees you.
Stopping Distance
Big rig trucks need a greater stopping distance (40% more space) than other vehicles. If there is not enough stopping distance for the truck then you are at risk of being involved in a rear-end collision.
It is imperative that you pay attention to your surroundings. You need to look in your rear-view mirror. If a light suddenly changes to yellow and you have a large semi-truck close behind you, this should influence your decision as to whether you should proceed through the intersection on the yellow light or stop. Stopping abruptly with a large truck behind you, especially if you are in tight traffic, such as in rush hour, can lead to a rear end collision with one of these commercial trucks and as discussed earlier this is simply no match for the car.
Additionally I wanted to let you know that the government is aware of the dangers that an accident involving a semi truck causes and I was pleased to hear that last month they took another step in helping reduce these catastrophic accidents by banning truck drivers from being able to text message why driving.
To view the story you can visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website and the article here: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/news/news-releases/2010/CMV-driver-texting-ban.aspx
