Driving in close proximity to commercial trucks is nerve-racking, intimidating and downright scary at times. And even if you do your best to avoid doing so, there are times when you have no choice.
A thorough understanding of the most common causes of car-truck accidents will give you peace of mind, while helping you adjust your driving style to enhance your safety. Here are five of the most common causes:
- Distractions: Truckers have to contend with many distractions, ranging from vehicle controls to their cellphone to eating and drinking. You should always assume that a trucker isn’t paying attention to the road and their surroundings. This will keep you on your toes.
- Drowsy driving: Over the road truckers spend hours on end driving long distances. This increases the likelihood of becoming drowsy while behind the wheel. And if that happens, they lose their sense of good judgement, which increases the risk of an accident.
- Aggressive driving: Even safe drivers can become aggressive at times. This is very common among truckers. Aggressive driving takes on many forms, such as excessive speeding, failure to use turn signals and simply screaming at other drivers.
- Lack of training: As you can imagine, there’s nothing simple about driving a commercial truck. Every trucker should receive a high level of training before taking to the road. Unfortunately, some trucking companies drop the ball.
- Inclement weather: Driving in inclement weather is difficult enough, but when you’re doing so around commercial trucks it’s even more challenging. Keep in mind that these vehicles have a high profile, making them more likely to sway in strong wind. Leave more space between your vehicles when conditions are less than ideal.
Even if you understand the common causes of car-truck accidents and take steps to prevent trouble, there’s no guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen to you.
This type of accident has the potential to cause serious damage and injuries, so you should take immediate action. Move to safety, if your vehicle allows for it, and then call 911 to request an ambulance.
Your health is top priority, but once you’re stabilized you can file an insurance claim and consider other steps for obtaining compensation for your damages.