As the driver of a car, a motorcyclist, a bicyclist, or a pedestrian, you cannot avoid all truck accidents. Many accidents are the fault of the trucker or the trucking company and there is little, if anything, that you can do to prevent those crashes from occurring. However, since you regularly share the road with trucks ranging from big rigs to box trucks, it is important to know what is within your power to do to avoid a crash and what to do if you are hurt by someone else’s negligence.
Four Tips for Preventing a Truck Accident
You can avoid dangerous truck collisions by:
- Being aware of—and avoiding—blind spots. There are some spots that truckers just cannot see, even with mirrors, due to the large size of the vehicle. Thus, if you are traveling on either side of or immediately behind a truck, you should be aware that a trucker may be unaware of your presence.
- Keeping a safe distance from trucks. Because of their size, trucks take longer than other vehicles to stop. Thus, it is important to keep a safe distance away from a truck that you are traveling behind to avoid being part of a collision if the trucker can’t stop in time to avoid a crash.
- Being patient and following the rules of the road. Do not let anger or impatience escalate into a dangerous crash.
- Be careful around trucks that are turning. Trucks often make wide turns and may be unable to avoid hitting you if you are in the way.
As always, it is also important that you are not distracted, drowsy, drunk, or otherwise negligent while you are on the road.
What to Do If You’ve Been Hurt in a Truck Accident
If the trucker’s or trucking company’s negligence left you injured, then you have the right to protect yourself by making a fair recovery. An experienced truck accident lawyer can help you investigate what happened and get the financial damages that you deserve. Your damages could include compensation for past, current, and future medical expenses, lost income, out-of-pocket costs, and pain and suffering. For more information, or for tips on how to protect your truck accident recovery, please contact us online or call us directly at 800.800.5678 to schedule a free consultation.
