How to Prevent Truck Accidents

Large trucks are a very common sight on the highways in and around the Dallas-Fort Worth area. While semis are essential to the economy, they also pose an inherent risk to other drivers. Unfortunately, nearly 4,000 people die in large truck accidents every single year in the United States. While accidents do happen, many are preventable with a little bit of care and thought. Every single time you get into a vehicle, you face the possibility of being involved in an accident. When an accident involves a large truck or semi, there is a much higher chance of fatalities among both passengers and drivers.

One of the first ways you can stay same on the roads is to learn what factors can contribute to accidents. Driving defensively and paying attention to your surroundings will also save you and your passengers. Driving a semi-truck is much different than maneuvering a passenger vehicle, which is why it is important these individuals are properly trained and know how to navigate the dangerous highways. Before we look at ways to prevent truck accidents from taking place, let’s go over some common contributing factors to tractor-trailer accidents:

• Inclement weather
• Malfunctioning or defective equipment
• Driver inexperience
• Driver fatigue
• Improperly secured loads
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Load Shifts
• Poor road conditions
• Poor truck maintenance
• Reckless driving
• Distracted driving
• Road rage

Having a better idea of what some of the common causes of truck accidents are should help you steer clear of being involved in such an incident. In addition to taking the above into consideration, here are some safety tips for other drivers designed to prevent truck accidents from taking place:

• Always give trucks at least four to six seconds of space when traveling on the highway or in bad weather conditions
• Pay attention to a large truck’s turn signal before passing
• Avoid blind spots by always making sure you can see a large truck’s mirrors
• Be very alert whenever approaching a semi-truck
• Never cut in front of a large truck
• Never pass a large truck when it is making a right turn
• Contact your local authorities if you witness any unsafe driving by truck drivers
• If you need to pass a truck, wait until you can see the entire cabin your rearview mirror before getting back in front of it

Here are a handful of safety tips for truck drivers:

• Drive defensively
• Never drive tired
• Make sure all maintenance concerns have been addressed
• Wear your seatbelt
• Make sure you alert
• Keep your distance from other vehicles
• Adhere to speed limits and traffic signals

Here at Rad Law Firm, we understand how devastating an accident involving a large truck can be. If you have been involved in this type of accident, please contact the Fort Worth and Dallas truck accident lawyers at Rad Law Firm today. We have extensive experience representing victims of these types of accidents and are here to do the same for you today.