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What Can You Do to Prevent a Truck Accident?

Truck accidents can result in serious injuries to drivers and passengers alike. Since trucks are so much larger and heavier than cars, they can often inflict even more extensive harm.

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Unfortunately, truck accidents are much more common than many people assume. Whether you drive a pickup truck, a box truck, or a semi-trailer truck, it’s important for you to do your part to reduce the risk of a truck accident. So, what can you do to keep yourself and your passengers safe?

Truck accidents can result in serious injuries to drivers and passengers alike. Since trucks are so much larger and heavier than cars, they can often inflict even more extensive harm. Unfortunately, truck accidents are much more common than many people assume.

Whether you drive a pickup truck, a box truck, or a semi-trailer truck, it’s important for you to do your part to minimize the risk of a truck accident. So, what can you do to keep yourself and your passengers safe?

Here are some important tips that truck drivers should follow in order to prevent truck accidents:

Keep a safe distance from other vehicles.

Because your vehicle is larger than other vehicles, it takes longer to come to a halt. That means that if you need to brake abruptly, then you run the risk of hitting the vehicle in front of you.

To avoid this potential issue, make sure that you’re always maintaining a proper stopping distance whenever you’re on the road. If you keep that distance between yourself and other drivers, then you’ll be protecting yourself from rear-end collisions.

Avoid all distractions.

It’s important for all drivers to avoid distractions, of course, but it’s especially critical for truck drivers. Never use your cell phone or look away from the road while you’re driving, and do not allow yourself to become distracted by anger over other drivers’ behavior.

You should also avoid driving when you’re fatigued. In order to drive your truck safely, you need to be as alert as possible at all times.

Obey the speed limit.

If you’re driving on the highway, then it can be tempting to exceed the speed limit. However, violating this law doesn’t just risk a traffic ticket—it can also raise your risk of getting into an accident.

The faster your vehicle is going, the more deadly an accident is likely to be. To keep yourself and other vehicles safe, always obey the posted speed limit and drive in the proper lane for trucks.

So, what should other drivers do to drive safely around trucks? Here are some valuable tips to follow:

Stay out of trucks’ blind spots.

When you’re driving near a truck, make sure that the driver is able to see your vehicle. That means that you should avoid all possible blind spots for the driver.

Here’s a rule to keep in mind: If you can’t see the truck driver, it means that they most likely can’t see you. If you stay within a truck driver’s view, then you’ll be less likely to collide with them.

Don’t follow trucks too closely.

Just as truck drivers should keep a safe distance from other vehicles, so you should keep a safe distance from them. If you’re driving behind a truck, make sure that you’re leaving yourself enough space to come to a complete stop if they suddenly hit the brakes.

If you see that a truck needs to make a turn, then make sure that you’re giving them plenty of space to complete the maneuver.

Be cautious when passing trucks.

While passing trucks can be done perfectly safely, it’s still important to exercise caution. Make sure that you pass on the left and that you signal that you are changing lanes first.

Once you’ve passed the truck, do not move back into their lane until you see the truck in your rear-view mirror. Finally, avoid passing trucks when you’re going either uphill or downhill—wait until you’re both driving on flat ground.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, then you need to act immediately to protect your rights. That means contacting an attorney as soon as possible. When you need an experienced truck accident attorney in Ontario, it’s time to call The Baum Law Firm.

Our team can provide you with the legal services you need, including representation. We’ll also make sure that you fully understand what your rights are, and we’ll explain the merits of your claim to you. If you’re ready to learn more, then contact us today for a free phone consultation!