Trucks are a common sight on the roads, and semi-trucks are particularly widespread. Unfortunately, truck accidents happen every day in various ways, and you may be at risk of these accidents if you use roads often as a driver, pedestrian, cyclist or motorcyclist. To stay prepared, here’s what you need to know.
The common types of truck accidents
The first type is rear-end collisions, in which a truck slams into the back of another vehicle that has stopped or slowed down in front of it. This happens frequently because semi-trucks are so much bigger than other vehicles on the road, making it difficult for them to stop in time.
Another kind of accident happens when a truck crosses over lanes and slices through other vehicles on its way. This often causes a multiple-vehicle accident.
It’s also common to see trucks flipping over at high speeds as they may be unable to correct themselves quickly enough. In this case, the semitrailer may detach and collide with other vehicles, injuring or killing people in the process.
Because of their size and weight, semi-truck accidents can cause fatal injuries if people aren’t careful around them.
Is it possible to avoid semi-truck accidents?
While semi-trucks can be difficult to maneuver, drivers of all vehicles need to remember that these large vehicles are often behind them. If you’re a pedestrian, cyclist or motorcyclist, stay up front, where the driver has better visibility. Remember that trucks have large blind spots on both sides, so allow more space between yourself and trucks than other vehicles.
If you’re a semi-truck driver, keep your speed down and be extra cautious on the roads. Look out for pedestrians and cyclists, especially as they may be unable to see or hear you coming because trucks are so quiet compared to smaller cars.
There’s no doubt that truck accidents can be worrisome. But if you know what to look out for and how to act around semi-trucks on the road, you can prevent them from happening.