Getting involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler is exceedingly dangerous, seeing as how it may weigh 80,000 pounds and be twice as tall as your vehicle. If that truck hits your car, the odds of serious injury are much higher than if you were hit by a similarly-sized vehicle.
Now, nothing can fully prevent these crashes, at least on your end. But there are ways you can try to keep yourself safe, and that starts by understanding what factors tend to lead to these accidents. Let’s take a look at a few of them below so that you can know when the risks are greatest.
Blind spots
Trucks have many blind spots, and there are large ones on every side of the vehicle. Perhaps the greatest danger is when a car is near the back of the truck and in a lane next to that vehicle. If the truck merges and the driver doesn’t know the car is in the blind spot, the truck can slam into the vehicle and/or run it off the road.
Driver distraction
Truck drivers are not supposed to use their phones while behind the wheel and they should avoid distraction, but this is simply not always the case. Remember that these individuals may be on the road for many hours in a row and many days of the week. They may seek to alleviate some of their boredom or keep in touch with their family through tactics that lead to serious distraction and cause accidents.
Driver fatigue
Another major issue caused by these long hours is driver fatigue. Think of how tired you sometimes feel after driving for a few hours. Now imagine that you drive for a full workday, every single day. Plus, many drivers have to drive at night or try to push through long hours to make a deadline. They may be even more exhausted than a normal driver, but they feel like they can’t pull over and take a nap because they’re being paid by the mile.
Have you been injured in an accident?
It may help you to stay out of a truck’s blind spots or to try to keep your distance from a driver who seems distracted or tired, but you can’t always avoid these accidents. If you get injured, then it is very important to know how to seek compensation.