When driving near commercial trucks, it’s critical to take a variety of safety precautions to prevent an accident.
While there’s no way of knowing what a trucker will do next, here are some of the steps you can take to reduce the risk of an accident:
- Don’t drive in blind spots: Commercial trucks have blind spots on both sides, as well as behind their vehicle. Don’t drive in these areas for too long, as a trucker may lose track of your location.
- Be careful when changing lanes: For example, changing lanes abruptly in front of a truck can cause a rear-end collision.
- Avoid unsafe passing: The most common form of unsafe passing is doing so in the right lane. If you’re going to pass a truck, use the left lane. And as noted above, leave enough space when you decide to change lanes in front of the truck.
- Don’t drive between large trucks: This puts you in a compromising position, as you’re unable to see the what’s going on around you. If you find yourself driving between two commercial trucks, remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible.
By taking these steps, you’re less likely to suffer an injury in an accident with a commercial truck.
If you do find yourself in this position, move to safety and call 911 for help. You’ll then want to receive medical treatment, learn more about your prognosis, file an insurance claim and take steps to hold the negligent driver responsible for your injuries and other damages.
