Truck accidents can cause devastating injuries because of the size and weight of commercial vehicles. While not every collision can be avoided, many crashes can be prevented when truck drivers, trucking companies, and other motorists follow basic safety practices and traffic laws.
Understanding how truck accidents happen is an important part of preventing them. Keep reading to learn about practical steps that can reduce the risk of serious truck accidents.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents?
Understanding the most common causes of truck accidents is the first step toward preventing those accidents. There are many things that can lead to an accident, but some causes are much more common than others.
Some of the most common causes of truck accidents in Florida include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
- Judgment errors, like following too closely
- Equipment failure
- Improper cargo loading
- Lack of proper training
Semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and stopping these large vehicles is not easy. Additionally, maneuvering them in traffic is challenging and requires special skills and training. One small error could easily result in a devastating accident.
Tips for Preventing Truck Accidents
There are many things that can be done to help prevent truck accidents. Some accidents can be prevented by truck drivers, while other vehicle drivers also play a role in preventing these serious accidents.
Tips for Truck Drivers
Truck drivers often spend long hours on the road, but they should never become careless behind the wheel. Operating one of these large trucks comes with significant responsibility, and safety should always remain a priority.
Some things that truck drivers can do to help prevent truck accidents are:
- Reduce fatigue: Drowsiness contributes to many accidents, so drivers should always take all required breaks and never drive when sleepy.
- Perform inspections: Regular and required inspections help identify worn or faulty equipment that could malfunction and lead to an accident.
- Watch your speed: Speeding causes many accidents, so drivers should obey posted speed limits and slow down when road, traffic, or weather conditions require it.
- Eliminate distractions: Cell phones, GPS devices, and cargo or delivery instructions can cause major distractions, and eliminating them can help reduce accidents.
When drivers follow these tips, they can keep their focus on the road and drive safely. Additionally, there are things that other drivers can also do to help prevent truck accidents.
Tips for Other Drivers
Other motorists often do not realize how difficult it is to drive a big truck. These large vehicles require long stopping distances and ample space.
Following the tips below can help prevent getting into an accident with a big truck:
- Stay out of blind spots: Big trucks have large blind spots, and blind spot accidents are quite common. If you cannot see the truck’s mirrors, then the driver likely can’t see your vehicle.
- Leave plenty of room: Avoid cutting in front of big trucks, especially when coming to a stop. The truck may not be able to stop in time and could hit your vehicle.
- Watch for wide turns: Trucks require a lot of room, especially when making a right turn. Never try to slip past a truck that is turning or has its signal on.
- Pass safely: When passing a big truck, avoid lingering beside it longer than necessary. Maintain a safe and legal speed, and make sure you have enough room before returning to the lane.
Both truck drivers and other motorists play a role in reducing truck accidents. Following these tips can help keep everyone on the road safe.
What to Do if You Are Involved in a Truck Accident
Even with the best precautions, accidents still happen. If you have been involved in an 18-wheeler accident, knowing what to do after the accident can help protect your legal rights and preserve your ability to recover compensation for your injuries.
After a truck accident, you should:
- Call the police to report the accident right away
- Get immediate medical attention for any injuries
- Take photos of the scene, including both the truck and your vehicle
- Obtain names and contact information from any witnesses
- Avoid giving a statement to the trucking company or their insurance company
- Get help from an experienced lawyer who can help with your claim
The insurance company may use the things you say against you during the claims process. This is why you should never give them a statement until you have gotten help from a lawyer.
Contact the Florida Truck Accident Lawyers at Shaked Law Firm, P.A. for Help Today
If you have been hurt in a truck accident in Florida, the experienced team at Shaked Law Firm, P.A. can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. We have 100 years of combined experience fighting to protect the rights of injury victims, and we are dedicated to helping victims of truck accidents get the justice they deserve.
Call us now at (305) 937-0191 to schedule a free consultation with a Florida truck accident attorney and let us help you.
Visit our Truck Accident Law Firm in Aventura, Florida
Shaked Law Firm, P.A.
20900 NE 30th Ave STE 705, Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 937-0191
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