Large trucks, also known as tractor-trailers, are an important part of the economy. They shuttle goods to and from manufacturers and retailers. Despite this, they also pose quite a lot of danger to other vehicles on the roads of California because of their size, length, speed, and blind spots. Our Los Angeles truck crash lawyer would like to share four reasons why trucks pose so much danger in today’s post.
Blind Spots
Trucks are so large that they have a slew of blind spots on all sides. These blind spots prevent the driver of the truck from being able to see the other vehicles around them on the road. If a vehicle is traveling in the blind spot of a truck it is in quite a bit of danger to be involved in an accident.
A truck’s blind spots are on either side, in the rear, and sometimes in the front of the truck. That’s why it’s never a good idea to drive directly alongside a tractor-trailer. If you cannot see the driver of the truck in the side-view mirror, the driver cannot see you.
Acceleration and Braking
A tractor-trailer, because of its weight and size will need a lot more room than a traditional car or van to accelerate and brake. Aside from space, these trucks require a lot more time to accelerate and brake than a car. Most cars need 300 feet of space to come to a complete stop. A truck might require twice this distance to stop.
If traffic is stop-and-go, a truck might not have enough room to stop without hitting a vehicle in front of it. As a tip, try to change lanes and avoid being directly in front of a truck when in stop-and-go traffic.
Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers are typically on the road for anywhere from 11 to 14 consecutive hours at a time without a break. There are hours of service regulations in place by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that require drivers to take breaks lasting 10 consecutive hours or more when driving for the hours mentioned earlier.
Driver fatigue is a big problem when it comes to driving tractor-trailers. Drowsy driving can be just as bad as drunk driving. A drowsy truck driver will not be as alert as one who has gotten plenty of rest recently. This can lead to accidents because the truck driver won’t have the proper judgment to gauge the traffic and speed patterns of other vehicles.
Weight, Size, and Length of the Truck
The weight, size, and length of the truck pose a big danger to other vehicles. When a large truck collides with a small vehicle there will be more damage to the smaller vehicle because of the size differential. The weight of a truck, which can reach 80,000 pounds, can crush a smaller vehicle, which weighs roughly 3,500 pounds.
Being injured in an accident with a truck can change your life. If you have been injured in such an accident it’s best to contact our skilled lawyer at 310-997-0904 to schedule a consultation regarding your case.
Prev
