For many drivers, navigating around and beside enormous tractor trailers can be nerve wracking. Their size, speed, weight, and power make them intimidating to drivers in smaller passenger cars and vans.

When a car collides with a large truck, the results can be devastating. Truck accidents leave victims with broken bones; head, neck, and spinal injuries; and may even prove to be fatal.

Safely Sharing the Road with Trucks

Traveling alongside these colossal trucks takes a bit of caution and patience, but it can be done safely.

Here are some things to remember when sharing the road with 18-wheelers and the like:

• Give trucks their space: Tractor trailers require more time and space for every maneuver: accelerating, braking, passing, and turning. Be mindful of this when traveling near or around trucks. Experts recommend a following distance of around four seconds behind trucks.
• Merge with care: Give truck drivers enough room to slow down when merging in front of them. Do not merge in front of a truck when traffic is slowing to a stop. This will force the truck driver to slam on the brakes, which could be disastrous for you or someone too close behind them.
• Pay attention: Distracted driving is as dangerous as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. When your eyes are off the road and your hands are off the wheel, you lose control of your vehicle and are unable to avoid a crash.
• Use your signals: Alert nearby trucks when you are going to merge or turn. Engage your turning signal earlier than you usually would to give truck drivers enough notice to stop or pass you.
• Stay out of their blind spots: Many truck accidents occur because truck drivers cannot see vehicles in their blind spots. Avoid traveling around 20 feet in front of the truck and 30 feet behind the truck, in order to remain as visible as possible. A good rule of thumb to remember is if you cannot see the truck driver’s side mirrors, they probably cannot see you.

Trucks and Cars Must Share the Roads

Commercial trucking is big business. Nearly 12.5 million commercial trucks and busses racked up nearly 300 million miles across the United States in 2016 alone. That same year, more than 10 percent of fatal motor vehicle crashes on U.S. highways involved a tractor trailer or bus. And most of these fatalities were passengers in the other vehicles.

While these statistics may be daunting, they are just another reason why all drivers need to take extra caution when driving near tractor trailers. With care and common sense, we can all travel safely and avoid car accidents with trucks.

Bear Truck Accident Lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow Are Truck Accident Victim Advocates

A collision with a commercial truck is rarely just a fender bender. Truck accidents can leave victims with devastating injuries. Bear truck accident lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow hold negligent parties responsible for truck accidents. This may include the truck owner, operator, manufacturer, loader, or shipper. We collect the crucial evidence and documentation essential to prove liability for your injuries, so you can receive the compensation you deserve.

Before you talk to any insurance companies, call 302-834-8484 or contact us online to schedule your appointment today. With offices in Bear, Milford, and Wilmington, we represent clients in Elsmere and Seaford, and throughout the great state of Delaware.