A recent big rig accident shows the seriousness of sharing the road with a big truck. State Highway 360 was recently closed in the Arlington area when a tractor trailer overturned and two other vehicles were found underneath it. Apparently the trailer had detached and hit the two automobiles. The automobile drivers had to be taken to the hospital, but the big rig driver sustained no serious injuries.
When a truck accident occurs, serious and deadly results are an unfortunate consequence. Every month, news headlines are filled with accidents involving drivers who are distracted, DUI, did not get adequate rest, or were not driving vehicles that were properly maintained or inspected. Car drivers must also be mindful of how to share the road with a semi truck. As these big rigs have blind spots where it can make driving too close to them a deadly occurrence, drivers need to be extra careful. The right side “no zone” is especially dangerous as these vehicles make wide right turns and are unable to see you if your vehicle is in this blind spot.
Tractor trailers also take a lot longer to stop than a normal vehicle. You do not want to dart around them, pass in front of the truck, or try to squeeze in just to get to your destination faster. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) advises that drivers should check that the entire front part of the big rig is in the rear-view mirror before you pull in front of them.
As the commercial vehicle safety standards are increasing in the big rig industry, there is still more to be done to protect auto drivers from the harm that can be caused by them. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) recently finished its Brake Safety Week. From the CVSA’s weeklong inspection it found that brakes are still the number one defect. Proper adjustment and brake maintenance is crucial to having a safe vehicle.
The CVSA also sponsors the Operation Safe Driver campaign. This involves discouraging distracted driving. Use of cellphones for chatting or texting, messing with a GPS system, or even eating while driving a big rig can have deadly consequences. “We will not rest until all drivers are thinking safety first, every trip, every time,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro.
For automobile drivers and passengers who are dealing with the aftermath of a serious big rig accident, it is critically important to seek legal advice to take care of medical and financial concerns.
John Hale is a Waxahachie personal injury attorney and Ellis County personal injury lawyer helping injury victims near Dallas, Texas. Learn more at http://www.hale911.com/.
