Semi-trucks are very heavy and extremely large vehicles. The trailers alone can span 53 feet, which is a considerable length. When they’re fully loaded, these rigs can weigh thousands of pounds. These factors can mean that personal vehicles sustain considerable damage, and the occupants of those can suffer catastrophic injuries.
While the onus isn’t solely on drivers to remain safe, it can help them to make it to their destination without incident. Consider these tips as you’re on the road with semi-trucks.
Avoid Their Blind Spots
There are blind spots that surround the entire tractor-trailer. Vehicles should always pass them as quickly as possible and do this on the left when possible. A good rule of thumb is that if you can’t see the trucker, they can’t see you, so you’re in a blind spot and need to quickly and safely get out of it.
Drivers shouldn’t ever brake check a semi-truck or cut them off because these can lead to crashes. As you can imagine, being rear-ended by a semi-truck can be fatal, especially at higher speeds. It’s always a better option to continue down the road and turn around if you miss an exit or turn than it is to cut off a semi-truck to try to make your turnoff.
Give Truckers Space on the Road
Truckers need space to maneuver on the roads, especially if the roads are wet, snowy, or icy. It takes these rigs longer to stop than other vehicles. Truckers need to have that room on the road to maneuver safely. They often have a slower speed limit than others on the road, which means that you may have to slow down a bit to provide them with the room they need to remain safe.
Semi-trucks Make Wide Turns
One of the most challenging things for other drivers to remember is that truckers need a lot of room to turn. They may swing into the left lane when they need to make a right turn, which can make it dangerous if someone tries to pass the big rig on the right when the trucker is going to turn right.
Catastrophic Injuries Can Come from a Semi-truck Crash
Semi truck crashes can lead to very serious injuries. One of the most important things to do is ensure that you get the medical care you need. This helps to ensure that you don’t end up with injuries that are more serious than they have to be.
It’s possible that a person who’s struck by a semi-truck may suffer from a spinal cord or brain injury. Internal injuries, fractures boned, amputations, and soft tissue damage can all occur. In some cases, these are fatal.
Some semi-truck accidents result from truck driver errors, but that’s not always the case. If you’re seeking compensation, you need to determine who to name as the defendants in the personal injury claim. Working with someone who’s familiar with these cases can help you to set your case up properly so you can get the compensation you deserve.
