A three-truck crash on a highway in Florida was so fiery that it burned a hole in the road recently. The driver of a concrete pumping truck pulled back onto the road after working at a construction site, but pulled in front of a U-Haul and cement truck. Both drivers tried to avoid catastrophe, but all three ended up colliding and bursting into flame. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, which is a rare outcome in accidents involving large trucks. The concrete pumping truck driver was cited with careless driving.
Any accident involving large trucks, such as semis, tractor-trailers or 18-wheelers, immediately brings a higher risk of injury or death because of the vehicle’s size. These types of trucks often weigh about 80,000 pounds, which is no match for the passenger cars that often travel next to them on highways. Knowing some basic safety tips for being on the road with large trucks can help save lives and prevent accidents.
No-zones
No-zones are areas in proximity to a truck where crashes are more likely to occur because of a lack of visibility. They can be actual blind spots or areas where a car disappears from view. There is a side, rear and front no-zone for each truck that should be avoided if possible and driven in with heightened awareness. The right-side no-zone is especially dangerous because trucks make wide right turns, and cars have the possibility of being crushed during a turn.
Other tips for drivers
When sharing the road with large trucks, follow these basic safety tips to avoid a collision:
- Pass a truck on its left side to avoid getting stuck in its right-side no-zone.
- Don’t cut a truck off because it takes longer to stop than regular cars.
- Give a truck space when driving behind it.
- Allow a truck enough space to make turns, including allowing it to enter the left lane when making a right turn.
- Keep your brights off so they don’t shine into the truck’s mirrors and lessen the driver’s ability to see.
Crashes can happen even if all safety precautions are taken. You can be the safest driver and still be injured in an accident because of someone else’s recklessness. If this is the case, you have the right to receive compensation for your losses, and a Florida truck accident attorney can help you bring those at fault to justice.