Around 500,000 Trucking Accidents Occur Annually in the U.S., Read These Truck Accident Prevention Tips

Truck accidents are a very common road disaster affecting thousands of people annually. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests that an estimated 159,000 people were injured in truck accidents in 2019. 

Of those crashes, 69% of the injured people were occupants of other vehicles, 29% of them were occupants of truck vehicles, while 3% were nonoccupants, meaning they were pedestrians, cyclists, etc. This is a clear sign that truck accidents don’t just affect truck drivers but also put other traffic participants in danger. More relevant stats show that the number of truck accidents has increased by 52% since 2009. 

Truck accidents can lead to hazardous and severe injuries. Some of the most common injuries resulting from road accidents involving large trucks include traumatic brain injury, broken or fractured bones, spinal cord injury, paralysis, collar bone injury, back injuries, and contusion or bruising.

Addressing the truck accidents problem- prevention tips 

Truck accidents are typically more severe than accidents that occur between passenger vehicles because of the trucks’ size, high speeds on highways, and the type of cargo they are hauling. So, it is essential to address this problem and learn specific prevention best practices to avoid causing or being involved in a truck accident. 

Here are a few tips to know: 

Allow more space when following a truck than you usually do with a passenger car

Trucks are larger vehicles that limit your visibility of what’s ahead and tend to react slower to a specific command. If you need to make a sudden stop or swerve, it’s best to have more space and time to react. 

Leave more space when passing in front of a truck 

Due to their size, trucks tend to be slower vehicles on the road, which is why most passenger cars’ drivers are tempted to pass them. If you do so, remember that the truck needs more distance to stop due to being heavy and leave more space to make sure you don’t cut in front of a large truck. 

Stay away from a truck’s blind spot 

Due to their large sizes, trucks tend to give their drivers quite a few blind spots where they don’t have good visibility. These blind spots can lead to an accident if the truck driver doesn’t see you. Here’s a trick to know where the blind spots are; if you can’t see the truck driver’s face, be it in the mirror, the truck driver can’t see you either. 

What to do if you’re injured in a truck accident? 

Being involved in a truck accident caused by the truck driver’s negligence gives you the right to claim personal injury compensation for your injuries. Here are the steps to follow after a truck accident: 

1. Get immediate medical help 

Injuries that result from truck accidents are usually serious and even life-threatening. The first step is to get medical help to ensure your overall health isn’t a risk. Getting medical assistance will also provide you with the medical records necessary for an injury claim. 

2. Talk to a specialist

Once your health condition is stable, make sure to reach out to a personal injury attorney who has experience with truck accident claims, such as the experts from Ehline Law Firm Truck Accident Attorneys, APLC. A professional attorney will be able to understand your case and determine if you are entitled to make an injury claim. 

3. Be mindful of what you say 

According to Blumenshine Law Group, immediately after the accident and during your claim process, you need to make sure that you don’t say anything that can come back to haunt you. For example, don’t make statements such as “It’s not that serious” or “It was my fault as well.” Such remarks can seriously affect your claim’s credibility.

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