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Truck Accident Prevention Tips
18 wheeler truck accidents are some of the most catastrophic traffic accidents. It is crucial to travel safely and cautiously around these large vehicles. They need much more time to slow down and maneuver around hazardous conditions that increases the risk of accidents.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a semi-truck accident that resulted from negligence, you could greatly benefit from seeking legal representation. Isaacs & Isaacs law firm offers a free, no-obligation legal consultation to truck accident victims.
The law firm of Isaacs & Isaacs understands that your life has been severely disrupted and will protect your rights after a truck accident. Set up your free case evaluation now by calling us at 800-444-8888 or filling out our contact form.
How to Drive Safely Near Semi Trucks
1. Have respect for a Trucks Blind Spots
Big Rigs have much larger blind spots than the average car. Take Heed of the following blind spots on a Large truck:
- One lane wide on the driver’s side, extending back to about half the length of the trailer
- Two lanes wide on the right side, extending back slightly behind the trailer
- 20 feet in front of the truck
- 30 feet behind the truck
2.Practice Safe Passing
This should be common practice with ANY vehicle but even more so with a truck, because the large, heavy vehicle cannot stop as quickly as a passenger vehicle. Truck drivers need time to react and adjust their speed and brake accordingly.
When passing a large truck, always approach from the left side, because it is easier for the driver to see you. Keep a consistent speed while passing and always signal clearly and in advance. Before you merge back into the lane in front of the truck, make sure you can see it in your rearview mirror to ensure a safe distance. Make sure not to pass while you are going around a turn or you could possibly move into one of its blind spots.
When a truck passes you, slow down to allow plenty of space in front of you for the driver to maneuver react efficiently and safely.
3.Anticipate Wide Turns
Semi-trucks and larger vehicles have enormous wheelbases that require space and wide areas to turn. If you are near a truck when it is attempting to make a turn, there are a few things to remember:
4. Signal Your Intentions
If you intend to turn near a truck or pass in front of one, you should always use your turn signals. Make sure you turn on your signal while you are still visible to the truck driver. Make sure the signal is on at least three seconds before you make the turn or pass the truck.
5.Stay Focused
Distracted drivers put everyone in danger. Avoid using GPS systems, cellphones, and other devices while driving. Do not eat, groom yourself, adjust the radio or perform other actions that will take your eyes and concentration off the road.
By staying focused on your own driving, you will be better able to estimate the speed of trucks around you as they merge, turn, or change lanes, allowing you to respond appropriately.
6. Drive Patiently
Be patient when sharing the road with semi-trucks. Truck drivers have strict operating rules to follow and often use regulating devices, such as a speed limiter which restricts vehicle speed. Taking road rage out on a truck driver by Honking, aggressive driving, or maneuvering through traffic will not encourage a commercial driver to speed up. Instead, it could put you in danger of causing an accident.
7. Do Not Drive Drowsy
Driving while drowsy and fatigued is a recipe for disaster. If you are tired, pull off the road and rest. When on long trips, allow time for rest breaks or have another driver who can relieve you when you become tired.
8. Increase Following Distance
Always keep a driving distance of at least four seconds between your vehicle and a commercial truck. If you are tailgating an 18 wheeler, the driver cannot see you. If you cannot stop in time or are rear-ended while traveling closely behind a large truck, your car may be pushed underneath the trailer — a type of collision that tends to be catastrophic and cause loss of life.
Keeping a safe distance will also give you more time to react to rollovers, jackknifing, and tire blowouts. If you are in stopped traffic behind a truck, leave ample space between your vehicle and the truck, in case the truck begins to roll backward.
9. Wear Your Seat Belt
Not only is wearing your seat belt the law, but it can also keep you safer should you be involved in an accident. Always buckle kids in the back seat, in approved car seats if applicable.
If I’m driving my car and a truck is in my way, should I speed up and pass the truck to get ahead of it?
This is about the most dangerous thing a car (passenger vehicle) can do on the highway. The public needs to respect the limitations of big trucks. They do NOT have the same maneuverability and stopping abilities of a car. This practice is actually called ‘brake checking’. It’s an extremely unsafe practice and illegal. Don’t do it.
What to do if you are in a Truck Accident:
1. Stop and Call 911
By law-All parties involved in a truck accident must remain at the scene of the crash. Firstly, make sure you are safe, and remove your car from the road, if possible. If you can turn on your hazards lights to make sure others can see the accident, and put flares and cones around the vehicle. This will help prevent another accident.
If there are any injuries or someone has died in the accident, call 911 immediately. In most circumstances, this will also dispatch the police who can help with gathering eyewitness accounts and creating a crash report. Once an officer arrives, he or she will assess the situation, fill out an accident report, and instruct you on what your next actions should be. Request a copy of the accident report to keep for your records and to present as evidence if you need to go to court over the accident.
2. Seek Medical Attention
Even if you don’t think you’re hurt, get a medical evaluation for yourself and your passengers because you might have suffered injuries that don’t show immediate symptoms. If you end up requiring medical attention later for an injury, it might be hard to demonstrate that it was related to the accident if you don’t get checked out by a professional. You also might have an injury like internal bleeding, which could be hard for you to know but a doctor will be able to diagnose.
Even if you’ve been examined by an emergency medical technician at the scene, request a full medical evaluation at a hospital or your doctor’s office.
Give attention to your own immediate needs, but also keep in mind that injuries and damage to other vehicles, or even to pedestrians, could exist, and may require assistance as well.
3. Identify Other Parties Involved
Look for any identifying marks or signs on the truck and other vehicles involved in the accident. While the truck driver may be at fault, the company he or she is driving for may also be liable for your injuries and damage to your vehicle. This information is important for making sure all potentially liable parties are held responsible for their role in causing the accident.
4. Exchange Information with the Other Parties
It is imperative to exchange information with the other parties while at the scene of the wreck. Once the other parties leave the scene of the accident, it can be impossible to track them down. Even if you have their name or the truck’s company name, contacting them can be difficult. They may refuse to speak to you at a later date. Getting their contact information from the start will make things easier if you choose to seek compensation.
Make sure to document the:
- Driver’s name, address, phone number, and email address
- Driver’s insurance company and policy information
- Driver’s license number for the driver of the truck
- Name and contact information for the truck driver’s employer
- The truck license plate number and other identifying information
5. Take Video, Photo, & Audio Evidence
The immediate crash scene in the moments after the accident provides the best opportunity to capture the all-important evidence to prove that you were injured due to someone else’s negligence. It also can show you are in a position to sue someone for wrongdoing.
Take photos of the accident with your phone or camera. Also of the intersections, skid marks, significant landmarks, and any other details that tell the story of what happened. A video may be your best form of evidence available since you provide still images from this footage. These photos can be used as evidence to prove who was at fault for the accident, the severity of your injuries, the amount of damage to your vehicle, and any other necessary information. It is hard to argue with photographic proof and photos can be used to make sense of an accident and determine exactly how it happened.
It might be dark and you may not have a pen. Audio recordings or video narration can offer a very helpful detailed option. As soon as possible, record an audio account of everything you remember.
Having this fresh record of the facts can be critical, as details can become blurred or can be forgotten with the passage of time. In some cases, truck crash lawsuits can take months or years to reach their conclusion. Keep these items safe for your records, and make backups. You may need to refer to them as you move forward with legal action.
6. Be Careful what you Say
You’ve probably heard the advice, “Whatever you do, don’t say it was your fault.” There’s some wisdom to this. You might feel angry that the truck driver caused an accident, but being rude to the other parties in the accident to the other drivers won’t get you anywhere. On the contrary, most of us tend to say things that we regret once we get agitated.
It’s far more effective to keep a cool head after an accident so that you can measure your words and avoid saying something that might hurt your case down the road. Don’t admit fault or liability. Even if you know you were at fault, keep it to yourself. Don’t lie, there is a time to disclose details. Save that conversation for your lawyer. You might be partially responsible, but there might be other factors that could reduce your liability and it’s your lawyer’s job to seek those factors.
7. Do Not Post On Social Media
If your truck accident was a major one, it could be newsworthy. You might see news articles on it, but resist the urge to comment.
Especially important, don’t post anything to your own social media networks that might indicate how you think the accident happened. Social media can cause legal issues later.
Even an innocent post like, “I was just in a wreck — I’m shaken but ok!” can be detrimental to your case in court.
Remember that anything you post online can appear in court or depositions. Even if you delete it, screenshots might exist, or someone might be called to testify if they are on your social media network. It’s always best to be discreet on social media if you’re potentially involved in any legal proceeding.
8. Call a Truck Accident Lawyer
Whether you were in the truck accident or you’re a family member of someone who was, getting a truck accident lawyer involved as soon as possible could be the key to your legal case.Truck Driver negligence the single most common reason for a truck accident. The attorneys at Isaacs & Isaacs are dedicated to helping victims of truck accidents get the compensation they deserve. Reaching that goal requires a focused strategy.
It’s important to have an experienced truck accident attorney on your side who knows and fights big trucking conglomerates and insurance companies. These companies often pour huge sums of money into protecting their truckers. Going it alone is definitely not recommended in dealing with injuries from a serious truck accident where justice and thousands or even millions of dollars may be on the line.
Do not miss the deadline for filing a truck accident lawsuit called the Statute of Limitations.
9. Follow Medical Orders
You really need to take care of your health and follow all doctor’s protocols in the aftermath of a truck accident. This is important not just for you, but for the defense attorneys on the other side that are watching to make sure you actually attend these appointments and are genuinely injured. Not following the advice of doctors might make it look like you’re not really that hurt. Keep records of all medical visits and payments. You will need to include these with the evidence for your case.
Ask The Hammer Podcast Message to Truckers
In this clip from Ask The Hammer – you’ll hear a positive message for the work truckers engage in everyday on our roads. National truck accident lawyer Darryl Isaacs – The Hammer – shares in this 1-min podcast clip below.
Get started on your Truck accident claim today.
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident with a Truck, the Truck accident lawyers at TruckAccidents.Law are dedicated to protecting your rights. We understand the stress you’re facing as the victim of a Trucking accident, and we can help you deal with all parties involved. We want to relieve your burden so you can focus on recovering.
Call us today at (855) 777-7777 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
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ACCIDENT PREVENTION TIPS FOR CDL DRIVERS
- Whatever you are doing, do it slowly and carefully. No matter what you are doing in your daily routine as a professional truck driver, The importance of moving slowly and thinking through what you are doing is essential.
- Be Thorough. Cover all your bases, check your blind spots at all times and conduct a complete pre-trip inspection.
- Plan Your Trip. Driving is stressful enough- make sure you have your delivery destination plugged into GPS ahead of time.
- Call the customer for Directions if lost. Rather than driving around aimlessly, pull over and call the customer if you can’t find your way. Sometimes GPS systems make mistakes.
- When you get to the Delivery point-Study it. When you do find your customer, park on the street, and take a look to ascertain where you’ll be backing the trailer in. Study the layout of the area. Look for obstacles that might be in your way and may end up in your blind spots when you’re backing in.
- Don’t Trust Your Spotter. You are ultimately responsible for the positioning and maneuvering of your vehicle.
Count the number of trucks, buses, and large commercial vehicles that pass on a highway in just 30 seconds. You might be surprised at the final number! Ready? Set. Go! At Isaacs and Isaacs we take trucking safety seriously.
ISAACS & ISAACS: The Trucking Company Law Firm that Gets Results
Darryl Isaacs aka “The Hammer”co-founded the firm of Isaacs & Isaacs with his late father, Sheldon N. Isaacs in 1993. Over the past 20+ years, the firm has recovered more than a billion in damages and helped literally thousands of clients including truck accident clients in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio.
DARRYL ISAACS, "THE HAMMER" -
MORE THAN 28 YEARS' EXPERIENCE GETTING YOU THE SETTLEMENT YOU DESERVE.
If you have been hit by a Truck, you should immediately contact an experienced law firm familiar with insurance law and federal trucking safety laws to make sure all bases are covered and all defendants who may have contributed to your injuries are identified and claims are made to see that you receive full compensation for your injuries and losses.
Isaacs & Isaacs - Truck Accident Lawyers
Darryl Isaacs — The Hammer — and the team of 18 wheeler accident attorneys at TruckAccidents.Law has a collective 346 years of legal experience, which includes taking on the conglomerate trucking companies. We win or settle 99% of our cases and have already recovered over $1 billion for clients in KY, IN, and OH.
SATISFIED CLIENT STORIES
“Isaacs and Isaacs made going through my accident stress free from start to finish. I knew I was in the right hands. The outcome was more then I imagined. If I had known how good of a job they did I would have went to them for past accidents. I learned really quick that Isaacs and Isaacs were not all talk. They sincerely care and work hard for you. They are the heavy hitters..”
“Being in an accident is already a traumatic experience to begin with and not knowing what to do next can also cause stress. The team there made the process smooth and painless. I live in another state and was visiting Kentucky when the accident occurred, even with the distance the process went smoothly. Thanks for all the help.”
A truck driver and trucking company that are negligent and cause a truck accident crash can be made to compensate you for all of your losses if they are found liable. This includes medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering damages, and payment for damages arising from emotional distress. If death results from the accident, then the family members of the deceased may file a lawsuit for wrongful death damages.
If you or a loved one were hurt in a truck accident, our experienced team at Isaacs & Isaacs can help you to file a case and seek the compensation you deserve. To learn more about how we can assist you in taking legal action after a Truck crash, give us a call today or use our free evaluation form.