Tips for Avoiding a Truck Accident
While there is no guarantee that you will never be involved in a trucking accident, there are steps you can take to lessen your risk. Most trucking crashes result from the driver negligence or poor maintenance of the vehicle. By keeping a safe distance and staying aware of your surroundings, you may be able to protect yourself and your passengers from a potentially deadly truck accident.
How to stay safe while sharing the roadway with trucks
Tractor trailers are constantly present on the roadways of Chicago. If you find yourself riding in the vicinity of one of these large trucks, use the following tips to promote your safety:
- Avoid the blind spots. Truck drivers have substantial blind spots in relation to vehicles traveling in adjacent lanes. This means that, even when using their rear view mirrors, there are areas of the roadway that they are unable to clearly see. If you happen to be driving in that blind spot, and the operator decides to change lanes, he may not see you before moving over. This type of situation can result in a serious side collision or vehicle-crushing rollover.
- Careful passing. If you need to pass a truck on the highway, do so in a safe and expedient manner, but avoid riding in the trucker’s blind spot. Leave more room than you normally would by waiting for the person in front of you to completely clear the truck before you move forward.
- Keep your distance. Traveling too closely behind a truck also creates a high risk for harm. As experienced Chicago truck accident attorneys know, a significant number of fatal trucking accidents occur when a car becomes wedged underneath the bottom the truck. This can occur when the truck stops quickly and the driver does not have enough time to adequately react. Traveling too closely also places you at risk of injury in the case of a jackknifing incident, where the truck’s trailer continues moving after the cab comes to a stop. This type of incident often causes the truck to spin out of control. Traveling too closely places you and your passengers in the line of a potential tractor trailer collision.
- Watch out for turns. The size of a tractor trailer requires a substantial amount of room for turns. Pay attention to trucks traveling around you. If it appears that they will be making a turn, stay back and give the operator a significant amount of room to navigate. Trying to pass a truck while it is making a turn can result in the trailer striking your vehicle.
A tractor trailer crash is a traumatic and challenging to overcome. At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, our Chicago truck accident lawyers listen to your concerns and calmly guide you through each phase of the claims process. For help with your case, please call us at 312-600-9585 or complete our contact form to schedule an appointment and speak directly with an attorney.
Attorney Neal Gainsberg has spent the last 20+ years fighting to protect the rights of the injured in Chicago and throughout Illinois. For dedicated legal help with a personal injury, car accident, or wrongful death matter, contact Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers in Chicago for a free consultation.