Large trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when carrying a full load. While traveling along interstates and highways at speeds of 60 to 70 miles per hour, you can understand how catastrophic and deadly a crash with one of these trucks can be to someone driving a passenger car.
Semi-truck drivers go through a much more rigorous process to obtain a license than the general public. During this training, truck drivers are taught about the limitations and dangers of the large rigs they will operate. However, drivers of passenger cars may not have this same knowledge since studies show that 81 percent of accidents between trucks and cars are due to negligence from the driver of the car.
Common causes of truck accidents
What do you need to know to safely share the road with large trucks? Here are the most common reasons why passenger vehicles get into accidents with large trucks:
- Moving around a truck and believing it has the stopping power and maneuverability to handle it
- Misjudging the speed of an oncoming truck and turning left in front of it
- Merging into traffic in front of a truck
- Being in one of the truck’s blind spots
- Passing on the right side of a truck when it is making a wide right turn
- Failing to give proper space to a truck merging into traffic
- Driving in-between large trucks
- Driving recklessly during inclement weather around a truck that is not able to react due to the poor conditions
The truck driver may be at-fault
Commercial truck drivers can also be responsible for causing a horrific crash, though sometimes the crash was caused by other reasons besides driver negligence. Long distance drivers can easily become distracted or severely fatigued. They can also be dangerous if their load is excessive or if there is a malfunction such a blown tire.
If you have been in an accident with a large truck, you or your family could be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries due to the negligence or poor maintenance practices of a truck driver. You should speak with a personal injury attorney right away to discuss the details of what happened and how you may be able to be compensated for medical bills, lost income and from your pain and suffering.
