North Carolina residents encounter more than their fair share of large trucks on the roads, so they should keep the following tips in mind if they want to drive safely around them. The first thing to remember is to never take chances. When trucks move into drivers’ lanes, the drivers should never speed up and cut in front of the truck.
When it comes to passing trucks, it’s vital to give them extra space so that truckers do not have to engage in sudden braking. Drivers can return to the lane when the truck is visible in the rear-view mirror. When trucks turn, they often need to swing wide in the opposite direction, so drivers are encouraged to keep their distance and not ride so closely behind or beside them.
Unsafe driving around trucks can lead to serious accidents. Trucks pose the greatest danger on the road because of their size and weight. Their stopping distance is much longer than other vehicles’. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 68 percent of all truck accident fatalities in 2014 were car occupants.
Additionally, trucks have blind spots all around them. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says that one third of all accidents between trucks and cars occur in these blind spots. They can also splash and spray vehicles with snow, water and mud.
There are cases when negligence on the trucker’s part causes an accident. Victims may want to consult with a lawyer who deals in commercial truck accidents so that they can find out if they have good grounds for an injury claim. The lawyer might have the crash investigated and have important evidence obtained, such as the trucker’s work log and truck maintenance records. Victims may have their lawyer negotiate with the trucking company for a settlement, litigating if one isn’t achieved.