To drive safely near big rigs, never. . .

cartwrightlaw - April 11, 2023 -

As you can tell from just looking around you, there are a lot of trucks on American roads. In fact, there are about 15 million of them on most days, with at least two million of those being tractor trailers or big-rig trucks. So, like it or not, you will be sharing the road with a truck almost any time you’re on the road. Since you’re about 4,000 pounds and they’re around 80,000, it’s best to learn to avoid trouble with them. Otherwise, it’s possible to become one of those individuals killed or injured every 16 minutes in an accident with a commercial truck. 

You can’t control how the truck driver drives their vehicle. You can, however, control how you drive yours and take proactive steps to avoid unnecessary and unpleasant encounters with a truck. Some things you can do – and not do – to keep yourself and your passengers safe are below. If you are in a crash, seek help from a truck accident lawyer immediately. 

Blind Spots

A trucker’s blind spots are possibly the biggest risk to others on the road. Most drivers are unfamiliar with the relatively large number of blind spots that a large truck driver has to cope with when driving. These are areas where others aren’t visible when you use your rearview or side-view mirrors. Blind spots, unlike a standard car, are very large in a big-rig truck. Some of the most important and riskiest blind spots for a truck are:

• The area immediately behind the truck
• The right door of the cap
• The fronts sides of the truck
• The front of the truck is in the lane the truck is driving in and in the lane directly to the right of the truck. 

It sounds like a cliché, but remember, if you can’t see the truck driver in the truck’s mirror, then the driver can’t see you. The driver is supposed to monitor the blind spots merging, turning, or changing lanes, but not all do. Some suggest that the blind spots extend 10 feet in front of the vehicle, 40 feet behind the truck, and two feet to either side. It’s best to avoid ending up in this space. If you’re there and the driver can’t see you, the driver can’t avoid you.

The Right Side of the Truck

As it turns out, the right side of the truck is the wrong side of the truck. There is virtually no chance the truck driver will see you in that position. If he or she then makes a right turn, it can easily be a right turn right into you. Large trucks need a lot of space to turn. Pedestrians, motorcyclists, bike riders, and even standard-sized vehicles should avoid this area at all costs. 

Caught in the Middle

When you drive between two big rigs, there are several challenges. First, you’re in one and probably two blindspots, so the truck drivers don’t even know you are there. If you get stuck between two trucks or have to pass them, do so as far to the left as you can and as quickly as you legally can.

Tailgating Is Bad for Everyone

As we said above, trucks have a huge size advantage over the average car, so you don’t want to drive too close behind a truck, and you certainly don’t want one behind you. A truck takes a great deal longer to stop than you do, so if one is too close behind and you stop suddenly, odds are the truck will slam into you. If you are driving too close behind a truck and it stops suddenly, you can be subject to driving under the truck. This ride under is one of the worst possible accidents, potentially shearing off the top of the car and killing or badly injuring the passengers. The recommendation is to stay at least 20 car lengths behind a truck. 

If a trucker is as close to you as two to three car lengths, the driver is tailgating and putting you both in danger. If a truck is tailgating you, you can be driving below the limit or traveling at an inconsistent speed. Remember, time is literally money to a trucker and they may be urging you to move aside. On the other hand, they may be moving close in preparation for passing you. If you think that’s happening, just move as far to the right as you can.  

Don’t Change Lanes Too Fast

Remember that, as we showed above, trucks find it almost impossible to see vehicles that are in their blind spots. If you go quickly from the far left to the far right in front of a truck, the odds are good that the truck driver won’t even see you, making a collision highly likely. Similarly, it’s best to avoid passing a truck on the right since that is one of the driver’s biggest blind spots. If you are passing a truck, maintain your speed and pass it quickly. Further, don’t slow down right after you get in front of it. The driver can’t slow down as slowly as you do, and you run the risk of being hit from behind. 

Stay Aware of Your Surroundings

You need to maintain awareness of the road, the weather, and other drivers, including the truckers. Rain, fog, and mist can make the road slippery, affecting everyone’s braking times. Very bright sunshine can blind everyone driving as well. Other road conditions that can impact safety include:

• Blind curves;
• Poorly banked turns;
• Construction areas
• A missing or not working traffic signal;
• Landscaping and other visual obstructions;
• Damaged, missing, or unclear road signs;
• Uneven shoulders on the sides of the road
• Extreme light or darkness. 

Contact a Truck Accident Attorney Today

If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in a truck accident, you should contact an attorney with lots of experience in your kind of accident. You are entitled to compensation for the emotional, physical, and financial injuries you have suffered. This is no time for you to spend your precious energy fighting with insurance companies and their adjusters and attorneys. Let us help you recover by calling us for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. 

As you can tell from just looking around you, there are a lot of trucks on American roads. In fact, there are about 15 million of them on most days, with at least two million of those being tractor trailers or big-rig trucks. So, like it or not, you will be sharing the road with a truck almost any time you’re on the road. Since you’re about 4,000 pounds and they’re around 80,000, it’s best to learn to avoid trouble with them. Otherwise, it’s possible to become one of those individuals killed or injured every 16 minutes in an accident with a commercial truck. 

You can’t control how the truck driver drives their vehicle. You can, however, control how you drive yours and take proactive steps to avoid unnecessary and unpleasant encounters with a truck. Some things you can do – and not do – to keep yourself and your passengers safe are below. If you are in a crash, seek help from a truck accident lawyer immediately. 

Blind Spots

A trucker’s blind spots are possibly the biggest risk to others on the road. Most drivers are unfamiliar with the relatively large number of blind spots that a large truck driver has to cope with when driving. These are areas where others aren’t visible when you use your rearview or side-view mirrors. Blind spots, unlike a standard car, are very large in a big-rig truck. Some of the most important and riskiest blind spots for a truck are:

• The area immediately behind the truck
• The right door of the cap
• The fronts sides of the truck
• The front of the truck is in the lane the truck is driving in and in the lane directly to the right of the truck. 

It sounds like a cliché, but remember, if you can’t see the truck driver in the truck’s mirror, then the driver can’t see you. The driver is supposed to monitor the blind spots merging, turning, or changing lanes, but not all do. Some suggest that the blind spots extend 10 feet in front of the vehicle, 40 feet behind the truck, and two feet to either side. It’s best to avoid ending up in this space. If you’re there and the driver can’t see you, the driver can’t avoid you.

The Right Side of the Truck

As it turns out, the right side of the truck is the wrong side of the truck. There is virtually no chance the truck driver will see you in that position. If he or she then makes a right turn, it can easily be a right turn right into you. Large trucks need a lot of space to turn. Pedestrians, motorcyclists, bike riders, and even standard-sized vehicles should avoid this area at all costs. 

Caught in the Middle

When you drive between two big rigs, there are several challenges. First, you’re in one and probably two blindspots, so the truck drivers don’t even know you are there. If you get stuck between two trucks or have to pass them, do so as far to the left as you can and as quickly as you legally can.

Tailgating Is Bad for Everyone

As we said above, trucks have a huge size advantage over the average car, so you don’t want to drive too close behind a truck, and you certainly don’t want one behind you. A truck takes a great deal longer to stop than you do, so if one is too close behind and you stop suddenly, odds are the truck will slam into you. If you are driving too close behind a truck and it stops suddenly, you can be subject to driving under the truck. This ride under is one of the worst possible accidents, potentially shearing off the top of the car and killing or badly injuring the passengers. The recommendation is to stay at least 20 car lengths behind a truck. 

If a trucker is as close to you as two to three car lengths, the driver is tailgating and putting you both in danger. If a truck is tailgating you, you can be driving below the limit or traveling at an inconsistent speed. Remember, time is literally money to a trucker and they may be urging you to move aside. On the other hand, they may be moving close in preparation for passing you. If you think that’s happening, just move as far to the right as you can.  

Don’t Change Lanes Too Fast

Remember that, as we showed above, trucks find it almost impossible to see vehicles that are in their blind spots. If you go quickly from the far left to the far right in front of a truck, the odds are good that the truck driver won’t even see you, making a collision highly likely. Similarly, it’s best to avoid passing a truck on the right since that is one of the driver’s biggest blind spots. If you are passing a truck, maintain your speed and pass it quickly. Further, don’t slow down right after you get in front of it. The driver can’t slow down as slowly as you do, and you run the risk of being hit from behind. 

Stay Aware of Your Surroundings

You need to maintain awareness of the road, the weather, and other drivers, including the truckers. Rain, fog, and mist can make the road slippery, affecting everyone’s braking times. Very bright sunshine can blind everyone driving as well. Other road conditions that can impact safety include:

• Blind curves;
• Poorly banked turns;
• Construction areas
• A missing or not working traffic signal;
• Landscaping and other visual obstructions;
• Damaged, missing, or unclear road signs;
• Uneven shoulders on the sides of the road
• Extreme light or darkness. 

Contact a Truck Accident Attorney Today

If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in a truck accident, you should contact an attorney with lots of experience in your kind of accident. You are entitled to compensation for the emotional, physical, and financial injuries you have suffered. This is no time for you to spend your precious energy fighting with insurance companies and their adjusters and attorneys. Let us help you recover by calling us for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. 

Our successful case results are a reflection of the values and virtues we believe in and uphold at Cartwright Law Firm. Nothing stops us from pursuing justice on behalf of those who need it.

Robert E. Cartwright Jr.
Founder and Managing Partner