How To Avoid Truck Accidents
Drive on any highway, interstate, or freeway, and you will see semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and other large commercial vehicles. Due to the desert nature of Nevada, most of the roadways are highways and interstates. They are used to regular passenger vehicles but often see heavy truck traffic as well. In 2017, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recorded 4,455 fatal crashes involving large trucks and over 5,000 fatalities within those crashes. As the statistics show, accidents that involve trucks prove dangerous to more than just their drivers. Often times, the crashes can close down entire highways and cause large pileups that can injure countless people.
Stay Focused And Avoid Distractions
As mentioned above, most truck accidents that occur happen on larger roadways. It is common that these roadways are used for longer commutes. These large vehicles traveled over three million total miles in 2017. When driving a further distance, it is easy to become distracted or lose focus of the road. Longer trips on the road are now accompanied by loud music, food, and cell phone use. When sharing the road with semi-trucks, it is important to pay close attention to the traffic flow and stay alert at all times.
Avoid Driving In Poor Weather Or At Night
Changes in weather are something that cannot always be predicted and can oftentimes be unavoidable, but if there is a high chance of storms it may be best to postpone driving until after. Poor weather conditions can make vision difficult and roads slippery and dangerous, especially for trucks. In 2017, Nevada saw 35 total fatal crashes involving large trucks, which was almost ten more than occurred the previous year.
Similar to driving in poor weather conditions, driving at night can affect vision and driving conditions. Commonly, semi-truck traffic picks up at night when there is less normal traffic on the road. Federal regulations allow truck drivers to drive for up to eleven hours at a time, which can increase the possibility of accidents when it is late and drivers become drowsy and unfocused.
Follow Normal Traffic Laws And Patterns
When driving on larger roads with higher speed limits, it can be easy to lose focus and end up driving over the limit. Though cars can have quality safety features and braking systems, semi-trucks can take anywhere between 20-40{88e349d5decac9e367401df59c8a5daea38c8be20f3485723a835d333268b5d9} percent more distance to stop. That gives these larger vehicles less of a margin for error and can put smaller motor vehicles in danger if they are not giving the trucks proper space. Driving at high speeds and frequently changing lanes also can cause issues when trucks are present. With the natural blind spots that trucks possess, it is easy for truck drivers to miss other cars on the road and subsequently cause an accident.
What To Do If You Do Get In An Accident
Even with the tips above, it is still possible to get into an accident with a larger vehicle, like a semi-truck or tractor-trailer. Proper precautions should be taken but human error will occur nonetheless. The Cottle Firm understands this information and offers legal support for those involved in trucking accidents. Our personal injury law firm has decades of legal experience and thousands of satisfied clients. We are proud of the loyal relationships we have with our clients, as well as with attorneys and judges. These relationships help us to be a successful law firm. If you or someone you love was injured in a trucking accident in Nevada, contact our firm offices at 702-722-6111 for help today.
