Truck Accidents & Incidents to Watch For
Common Reasons for Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can happen for a myriad of reasons. It could be due to weather, other drivers or even poor maintenance. Due to the nature of long hours worked for truck drivers, they also can be prone to exhaustion and fatigue causing them to be distracted while driving. Rushing to drop off a load and other timetable concerns are other reasons to keep in mind regarding truck accidents. It is always important if you are planning to go on a long trip using interstates to keep in mind that trucks will be around you. The United States has around 2 million tractor trailer trucks operating around the country. While most of them will never give you any trouble, there is a chance that an incident could arise.
Other Reasons & Prevention
Tractor Trailers operate with many wheels and tires that from to time can blowout. If you see smoke coming from the wheel area of a truck, this means that a tire may be about to blowout. Tire tread could kickback and make contact with your car causing damage or may even cause you to try and swerve around it causing a single or multiple vehicle accident. It is not a matter of if for a truck driver to lose a tire, but when.
Some other things to watch out for are due to weather. In windy weather a tractor trailer truck has the possibility to sway or even overturn. If the weather is quite windy, you must exercise caution when passing a truck or being around them. It’s possible the wind could blow the trailer right into your car causing damage or severe injuries.
How to Stay Safe
Keeping enough distance between you and a truck should always be observed and in your mind. Other actions to take include only passing a truck when it’s safe to do so and looking for any obvious signs of equipment malfunctions. In times of bad weather stay as far away from trucks or other vehicles as best as you can. Adhering to these steps can help to prevent accidents. Unfortunately, though, accidents still do happen and can cause injuries or damage. If the truck driver is found to be at fault, you should be entitled to compensation for damages and bodily injury. Legal counsel can help to establish a strong claim.