Any vehicle accident has the potential to cause severe injury, but none present a greater danger as an accident with a big rig. Because of the sheer power that is packed behind these vehicles, collisions with them often result in serious injury or fatality.
As the driver of a vehicle, one of the best ways to prevent an accident is to know what may cause one. We all share the roads with semi trucks, so we should focus on sharing those roads appropriately and with safety in mind. Here are the most common causes of truck accidents created by drivers of passenger vehicles.
1. Driving in Blind Spots
Semi trucks have blind spots that effectively surround the vehicle. This is a good rule of thumb: if you can’t see the driver’s eyes in the side mirror, they can’t see you. When a driver can’t see you, you are in danger of being involved in an accident. Stay out of blind spots.
2. Changing Lanes
It takes a semi truck a much greater distance to stop than a typical passenger vehicle. If you need to change lanes and get in front of a truck, do so with at least a few car lengths of distance in between your rear end and the front of the truck. If you have to slam on your brakes, you don’t want to have a semi on your tail.
3. Sticking to the Right
Another common cause of accidents between semi trucks and passenger vehicles is a passenger vehicle hanging to the right of a truck while the truck makes a right turn. If you see a trucker activate the vehicle’s blinkers, get out of the way.
4. Turning In Front of a Truck
If you see a truck coming at you from the opposite direction, be careful that you don’t misjudge its speed before you turn in front of it. If you are making a left hand turn and a semi is heading your way, your safest option is to wait.
5. Getting Sandwiched
You know that nervous feeling you get when you are caught in a lane between two semi trucks? You have good reason to be nervous. This is one of the most common causes of accidents on highways between trucks and passenger vehicles. If you find yourself sandwiched in between two large trucks, do what you can to get behind or ahead of them.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a semi-truck accident in San Luis Obispo, you are facing serious medical costs. The injuries sustained in these accidents can be severe and require months of medical care. We are here to help you hold the at-fault driver accountable. Reach out to our semi-truck accident lawyers today to schedule a free case evaluation. You have the legal right to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages and more. Call now or reach out to us online to arrange your consultation.
