Preventing Collisions with a Large Truck or Bus

With more than 12 million large trucks and buses on U.S. roads, it’s no wonder the number of fatal crashes involving large trucks has increased in recent years. In the vast majority of those crashes, the fatalities were not the drivers of the trucks but someone in the passenger vehicle involved in the collision. Accidents can be caused by either driver. So here are some tips to help you avoid truck collisions when you’re on the road.

• Stay out of a truck’s “blind spots” or “no-zones” (you can see them here: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ourroads/large-blind-spots). Remember, if you can’t see the truck’s side mirrors, the driver can’t see you.
• When passing a truck, pass quickly and make sure there’s plenty of room in front of the truck (because a heavy truck requires a greater distance to stop).
• Allow more space when following a truck than you would behind a passenger car.
• Be extra cautious when you see a truck near you merging onto the road, changing lanes, or turning. A big truck always needs more room, and assume the driver may not be able to see you.
• If you are faced with a choice between a head-on collision with a truck and running off the road, run off the road, even if it means hitting a stationary object. Hopefully, you’ll never face this choice. But if you do, remember that it’s better to hit something that is not moving.

What should you do if you’re ever involved in a car-truck accident? Sometimes the circumstances around an accident can be confusing or unclear. You may need legal help, and you may be entitled to compensation if the truck driver was a fault.  Call The Cochran Firm Mid-South at 901-523-1222 for a free case consultation.