Truck driving is a dangerous occupation, especially for drivers exposed to prolonged hours on the road. Besides the health risks of sitting for long hours, such as obesity and hypertension, truck drivers are also prone to falls, slips and trips.
However, trucks are most dangerous to other road users because any small mistake can lead to a direct collision. Unfortunately, these accidents are caused by distracted driving, speeding or poorly maintained vehicles. In some cases, accidents are also the consequence of careless driving from other road participants, which is why it’s important to learn how to protect yourself and your vehicle from such collisions. If you become involved in an accident, you should consider talking to a truck accident lawyer, who will be able to guide you through an injury case if you wanted to try for compensation.
Focused driving
Although it’s common sense to drive focused on the road, sometimes it might be easy to let yourself be distracted. For example, checking your phone messages, making a call or scrolling through your playlist seems doable on straight roads or highways where pedestrians or other elements are not around.
Therefore, it would be best to minimize these distractions and settle on everything that needs to be done before getting on the road. Special apps and programs will allow you to answer calls and communicate without getting your eyes off your route, and if you’re feeling tired, it would be advisable to pull over and get some sleep.
Predictable movements
As mentioned, many factors lead to truck collisions. But improper driving behavior is among them, such as sudden lane changes or tailgating. The best way to avoid an accident with a truck is to drive cautiously and always signal when changing lanes or taking another road so truck drivers can adapt their driving.
Unfortunately, many of these situations can’t be avoided, so you should have a Fort Worth Truck Accident Lawyer if you get injured. The lawyer will gather evidence and build a solid case to help you focus on recovery. For compensation, the following injuries are eligible:
- Internal injuries
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Burns
Enough space provided
Another common cause of accidents is insufficient space between vehicles on the road. Plus, since trucks are more prominent and require more space on the road, you’d need to allow enough space in-between the cars. This gives you enough reassurance that you can react and prevent an accident if something happens.
At the same time, such a large vehicle hinders your visibility at traffic stops, for example, or other hazards on the road, so if you need to make a sudden stop or swerve behind them, a collision might occur if you’re not careful. Moreover, you need to be even more cautious when a truck turns as it requires more room than a regular car, meaning you must stay far from it.
Final thoughts
Driving can be dangerous as vehicles on the road have increased. And between cars, trucks also participate in traffic, which usually leads to more accidents. Therefore, if you want to stay safe on the road, it’s best to drive carefully, know what to predict and provide enough space for the truck to conduct its activities properly.
