According to TruckInfo.net, there are over 3.5 million truck drivers in the United States, operating more than 15 million trucks. These drivers are responsible for hauling product back and forth across the country, very much acting as the central nervous system for the entire U.S. economy.
Unfortunately, because of long hours, hard to control machinery, and poor driving habits of non-commercial drivers on the road, trucking accidents are among the most common of all the accidents car accident attorneys, hospitals, and morgues have to experience. As a matter of fact, according to NOLO.com, trucking accidents have increased by 20% in the last 20 years alone.
As any truck accident lawyer worth their salt can tell you, just because trucking accidents are ubiquitous, that doesn’t mean they’re unavoidable. By avoiding some of the most common behaviors that lead to truck accidents and paying attention while you’re on the road, you can avoid the hospital, having to hire lawyers to help you find justice for car accident injuries, or worse.
Three of the Most Common Causes of Trucking Accidents in the United States
- Driving in Blind Spots
- Making a Poorly Timed Turn in Front of a Truck
- Exhausted Drivers
Many of the accident claims truck accident lawyers see could have been avoided if drivers wouldn’t have driven in truckers’ blind spots. As FindLaw.com writes, by driving directly behind a truck or beside it — both areas where truck drivers will have a hard time seeing you — you put yourself directly into harm’s way, raising your chances of injury or accidental death.
We’ve all done it: you’re peeking the front of your car out of the parking lot, trying to decide whether or not you have time to squeak out before that semi meets with the side of your car. While you may have gotten away with it many times before, it’s one of the number one causes of truck crashes in the country. Ask yourself, does it cost more to be patient or have to defend yourself with a truck accident lawyer after you cause an accident?
Did you know that, according to The Chicago Sun-Times, approximately 28% of truck drivers admit to falling asleep behind the wheel? While there isn’t anything you can do to make them less tired, you can be on the look out for common signs of exhaustion. If you’re approaching a truck that is swerving all over the road, it’s best to give it space. Of course, if you decide to pass the truck, paying attention to how the driver is sitting — whether his face is laying on the steering wheel or otherwise — can help you avoid a driver that is a danger to himself and everyone else on the road.
Do you drive a truck for a living? What advice would you give other truckers and other drivers on the road for avoiding trucking accidents and the auto accident settlements that follow? Share your words of wisdom with us in the comment section below! Read more about this topic at this link.
