Most drivers want to actively limit their chances of a serious collision. They may purchase vehicles because they have certain safety features and may avoid common traffic hazards, such as distraction and intoxication.
Unfortunately, drivers do not have any control over what others do in traffic or what vehicles they may encounter. Other drivers can cause collisions that have life-altering consequences for the people who are not at fault. If the vehicle that causes a collision is a semi-truck, the occupants of the affected vehicle are at significant risk of permanent or fatal injuries.
According to semi-truck crash statistics, commercial vehicles or their operators are at fault for a majority of collisions between semi-trucks and passenger vehicles. How can people driving smaller vehicles reduce their risk of these devastating crashes?
Big trucks need more space
There are many safety rules that can help people limit their risk of a semi-truck collision, but giving them more space is the most important. Commercial trucks have large blind spots. Even with extra mirrors, commercial drivers may not be able to see vehicles in the lane to the left of the semi-truck or the two lanes to the right of the vehicle.
They also struggle to see vehicles immediately behind them in traffic because of the size of the trailer. Motorists who avoid those blind spots as much as possible can limit their risk of ending up in a crash caused by a semi-truck merging or turning without realizing they are there.
Drivers may also want to leave extra space at intersections if there is a semi-truck stopped at the intersection or approaching it. Commercial trucks make wide turns that can easily cause intersection collisions.
When someone in a passenger vehicle tries to pass a semi-truck or merge into the 18-wheeler’s lane of traffic in front of it, they should leave extra space between the rear of their vehicle and the front of the truck.
They should also make a point of meeting or exceeding the speed of the semi-truck. Drivers who remember these rules and consistently follow them in traffic can significantly reduce their chances of preventable collisions involving semi-trucks.
If an 18-wheeler crash does occur, those affected may need help seeking compensation and justice afterward. Negotiating insurance claims or developing a personal injury lawsuit can be difficult for those dealing with serious injuries or grief. Securing the right support can help people limit the financial aftermath of a major collision.