Truck Accident - Sharing the Road

Have you or someone you care about have been injured in a truck accident? Contact a Kentucky or Indiana truck accident lawyer at Woods and Woods today.

Because the results of a truck accident can be catastrophic, and passenger vehicle drivers have no control on the actions of truck drivers, the car driver’s best course of action is to practice defensive driving. The most favorable outcome for all involved is a reduction in truck accidents, but the drivers of automobiles must do their part to make the roads a safer place for all of us.

Automobile drivers must recognize that trucks behave very differently from cars and must drive accordingly. To minimize the chances of an impact involving a truck, automobile drivers must avoid several risky driving behaviors:

Changing lanes abruptly around a truck
If a motorist abruptly moves in front of a truck and has to brake suddenly, the truck will not be able to achieve your relatively short stopping distance. Anticipate the flow of traffic before moving in front of a truck.

Speeding up
When a truck is passing you, do not speed up. Slow down slightly and stay to the right to let the truck pass you. This will allow you to get away from the truck’s dangerous side zone much quicker. Also be aware of the wind gusts created by a truck, and keep both hands on the wheel to keep your vehicle from drifting while the truck is alongside you.

Passing improperly
Allow plenty of time and space to pass a truck. At highway speeds this can take up to 30 seconds, pass the vehicle quickly and avoid pacing alongside the truck. Change lanes only when you can see the front of the truck clearly in your rearview mirror. And again, be aware of the wind gusts and drive accordingly.

Tailgating
If you are too close to the rear of a truck when a braking emergency occurs, your first clue to the situation will be the brake lights of the truck, which may or may not give you enough time to stop. And hitting the rear of a truck may result in a seriously injurious underride accident.

Driving in the “no-zones”
“No-zones” are danger areas around large, long vehicles where accidents are more likely to occur. Every truck has several blind spots or “no-zones” that passenger vehicle drivers should avoid because their vehicle disappears from view while they are driving in those areas:

• Side no-zone: If you can’t see the driver’s face in the side mirror, he can’t see you.

• Rear no-zone: The truck driver can’t see you behind the truck unless you are at least 200 feet behind them.

• Front no-zone: Look for the whole front of the truck in your rearview mirror before changing lanes in front of it, then don’t slow down.

• Backing up no-zone: Don’t cross behind a truck that is backing up; they have no rearview mirrors and can’t see you.

• Right turn no-zone: Truck drivers must swing left before turning right in most places; don’t squeeze between them and the curb, and give them plenty of room to turn.

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Have you or someone you care about have been injured in a truck accident? Contact a Kentucky or Indiana truck accident lawyer at Woods and Woods. Our main office is located in Evansville, Indiana, but we also have an office in Owensboro, Kentucky, and we have successfully advocated for clients throughout southern Indiana and northwestern Kentucky, including Jasper, Vincennes, Madisonville and Henderson, KY. Complete a Free Online Consultation Form or call us at 812-426-7200 for an immediate and confidential evaluation of your case.