How to Avoid Truck Accidents in California
Commercial trucks are necessary to keep commerce, trade, and construction in this country operating at full capacity. These vehicles are used to move goods and equipment either locally or across the country. However, semis and tractor trailers number close to two million in the U.S., which creates a specific hazard on the road.
When there are large trucks in the same vicinity as passenger cars and even pedestrians, severe and deadly accidents can occur. Unfortunately, the victims of these accidents are often severely injured, and usually they aren’t the truck drivers. Truck crash victims are left to deal with mounting medical care costs, missed time from work, pain and suffering, and even wrongful death when lives are lost.
Why Commercial Trucks Pose a Danger
Big rigs, semi-trucks, and other commercial vehicles are so dangerous because of their weight and size. If several two-ton sedans get into a crash, it could be serious, but if one of these smaller vehicles is hit by a 40-ton truck, the results could be deadly.
When people do come away from these accidents with injuries, they are often severe. Injuries in big truck accidents can include broken and fractured bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, amputations, and serious burns.
How to Avoid Truck Accidents
The types of commercial truck accidents can vary from jackknife accidents to rollovers to underride and override accidents. All of these are incredibly dangerous because trucks create a driving force when moving on the road. The best way to avoid injury and possible death in one of these crashes is to know how to properly share the road with commercial vehicles.
Truck drivers may often be at fault when these accidents take place, but you can’t control what another driver is thinking or doing behind the wheel. Instead, you should take these precautions to avoid truck accidents.
- Maintain visibility. Trucks have numerous blind spots, meaning the truck driver can’t see your vehicle in several areas around their truck. There are blind spots on each side of a truck, but the largest is on its passenger side. Keep these areas clear to reduce the chance of an accident.
- Respect following distance. You should never tailgate a truck. Not only will the truck driver probably not know that you are back there, but you also risk a serious crash. Your view will be obstructed, so you won’t be prepared for sudden stops. Trucks also take much longer to come to a stop than other vehicles.
- Keep the roadway clear. If you must pull over on any roadway, make sure that there is plenty of space so that trucks can pass. If there is not, you risk a collision.
- Anticipate turns. When approaching any intersection, look for trucks because these vehicles must swing wide to make a turn and may not see you in the process.
- Stay vigilant. Trucks are built and operate differently than passenger vehicles. For this reason alone, you should treat them as unique vehicles and drive defensively in their presence.
- Stay alert. The chance of a truck crash increases when there are severe weather conditions or in areas of roadway construction. Use extra caution when these conditions are present.
- Report unsafe operation. If you notice that a truck that is speeding, driving recklessly, or that it is unsafely loaded, report your concerns to authorities to help prevent an accident.
Speak with an Experienced California Truck Accident Lawyer Now
Truck crashes can be serious matters that threaten the financial and emotional welfare of victims and their families. If you or a loved one have been involved in a trucking accident, there are legal remedies if there was negligence or reckless behavior involved.
At Garmo & Garmo, Attorneys at Law, LLP, our San Diego truck accident attorneys have experience fighting for the rights of truck crash victims and their families. We understand what a struggle it can be to recover from one of these events and our goal is to secure you the compensation you need and deserve so that you can move forward with your life.
Contact our office now at 619-441-2500 or reach out to us online to schedule a free consultation. We don’t charge for our legal services unless we are successful in recovering damages on your behalf.
