Why are commercial truck accidents often fatal?
Commercial trucks are significantly heavier in mass compared to passenger vehicles. Passenger vehicles weight 3,000 lbs., while commercial vehicles can be as large as 80,000 lbs. There are many factors to take into consideration when operating commercial trucks. Limited acceleration, braking and visibility, along with large blind spots, make commercial trucks highly dangerous to car drivers.
Accidents caused by commercial drivers usually involve:
- Inadequate company training of driving techniques, safety precautions and defensive driving
- Driver’s compensations encouraging them to operate vehicles at faster speeds and for longer hours than would normally be advised
- Unpractical schedules and expectations encourage drivers to rush, rather than follow safety guidelines
Unsafe behaviors of vehicle drivers can also cause commercial vehicle accidents. You don’t want to make a big mistake and risk the safety of you or your family.
Here are some safe-driving tips to follow when sharing the road with commercial trucks:
- Make sure you can be seen behind and beside trucks. Don’t drive in the “No-Zones” where the drivers have limited or no visibility
- When changing lanes in front of a truck, use your signal and allow time for driver to see signaling before passing safely with sufficient headway
- Try not to drive between large trucks. Give them distance and space
- Be aware of your need to slow down or speed up when trucks are changing lanes or merging
Recovering from a large vehicle accident can be an uphill battle that puts a big dent in your pocket. If you have been in an accident caused by a negligent commercial vehicle driver, you deserve justice. Contact Parvey & Cavenago for help. Let’s hold the driver and his company accountable for the lack of training and unsafe actions that resulted in your injuries.
