Commercial Truck Moves That Cause Accidents

Even the best drivers have bad accidents on the road, and this applies to commercial drivers, too. Thousands of semitruck accidents occur each year, prompting legal cases for personal injuries. When truck drivers are not as safe as they should be, everybody on the road is at risk.

When you consider the size and weight of commercial vehicles, you can see why dangerous maneuvers become all the more serious in accidents. Take a look at this list of dangerous moves that could impact the way you think about commercial vehicles.

Tailgating

Tailgating is especially dangerous when commercial drivers are trailing smaller vehicles because trucks have a more difficult time stopping. In fact, when you listen closely at traffic lights on the road, you might catch the screeching sound of brakes.

Commercial drivers should learn about proper braking distances, and other drivers should be aware of how trucks react around them. On a highway driving at 65 miles per hour, a sedan may take about 316 feet to fully brake. Meanwhile, a loaded tractor-trailer may take 525 feet to stop.

Rear-end accidents involving commercial trucks can be devastating. A semitruck can very well run right over a small sedan or even push one vehicle into another with intense force. The result could be a fatal or critical accident.

When trucks have to brake hard, they not only run the risk of rear-ending a vehicle but also of jackknifing. When a truck jackknifes, its trailer and its cab swing in such a way that they almost form a V or L shape.

Reckless Lane Changing

Lane changes always come with some risk, but changing lanes recklessly as a commercial driver is even more serious. Risky lane changes often come with distraction and speed. Many drivers may feel fatigued and simply make decisions without paying attention.

Truck drivers also have many blind spots that could prompt unsafe maneuvers. Generally speaking, if you cannot see the driver of a semitruck in their mirrors, they are not able to see you either.

Running Lights

Trucks may opt to run yellow or red lights because they do not want to stop. They may realize that they would have to stop with too much force, or perhaps they think they can make it through the light before it changes.

Often, a truck that picks up speed has difficulty braking when it gets to the other side of the intersection. The result could be an accident in which the truck rear-ends a stopped or slowed car.

Additionally, a large truck could still have its trailer in the intersection when the light changes green for other drivers, prompting an accident or forcing other cars to perform dangerous maneuvers.

Driving While Fatigued

Many truck drivers fail to realize how tired they are on the road. With many restrictions involved in the trucking industry,a driver may not have ample amount of time to sleep at night. The result? A groggy and tired feeling the next day.

Drivers may fall asleep behind the wheel, which is extremely dangerous when he or she has thousands of pounds attached to their cabs, hurling down the road at 60 miles per hour or more. Drivers in this condition may also possess poor judgment.

If you have been involved in a commercial vehicle accident, your first step should be to seek medical care. Next, you should seek the counsel of a personal injury attorney. You may be able to hold the truck driver liable for your injuries.

Do you have questions about personal injuries or car accidents? Call Terry Salerno & Associates to learn more about your options.