On Monday afternoon, April 24, 2017, four Langston Hughes High School students got killed and one got injured in a collision between two vehicles in south Fulton County, GA. The five students were in a Lincoln Navigator when it crashed into a semi tractor-trailer.
During the preliminary investigation, police said the driver of the Navigator ran a red light at the intersection just as the tractor trailer was about to enter the intersection. According to further investigation, it was a blind spot for the tractor driver and he did not notice the car on the intersection.
Driving near a commercial truck or tractor-trailer is very different from driving near a regular passenger car. Because of the vehicle's size, there are lots of blind spots where a driving car might be unnoticed. It is necessary to know all the safety tips to prevent tractor trailer accidents. Below are just quick guidelines to help avoid an accident when driving around near a truck. If you have been involved in a car accident in Illinois, accident lawyers of illinois can help you get the claim and compensation you deserve.
- Drive at a safe speed.
- Don’t change lanes abruptly around a truck.
- Pay attention to road conditions and traffic signals.
- Let trucks have their right of way by slowing down.
- Avoid driving next to a truck or tractor trailer.
- Always use turning signals.
- Never try to fit into space next to a tractor trailer when it is making its turn because it might just hit the car.
- When passing, put in mind that large commercial trucks are much longer than standard vehicles and it takes longer to pass.
- Never cut-off a large truck, most especially if it needs to stop.
- Maintain a consistent speed when passing and ensure that the front of the truck can be visible in the rear-view mirror before shifting in front of the truck.
- Tractor-trailers and Trucks have huge blind spots which are the “no zone,” so it is important to follow the rule. If the truck driver is not within the vicinity of his outside mirrors, then he can’t see your vehicle as well.
Here’s a run through some of the most important things you’ll need to know about when driving near big vehicles:
Drive at a safe speed
If you drive above the designated speed limit, the chances you’ll be involved in a car accident is high. Speed limits or restrictions are placed not just because the government wanted to, but there have been various case studies conducted of the safe speed allowable on that designated place. If you are driving too fast, it can lead to severe consequences for other cars and road users, most especially if you are driving near a trailer truck or tractors.
Speeding can make it more likely that a crash will happen, and often means that injuries are more severe than they would have been if the driver was obeying the speed limit or at a speed that is suitable for the conditions.
It can be difficult to make drivers stop speeding because some drivers find speeding enjoyable or do it to save time. They might underestimate the risk from driving too fast and might be unconcerned about the potential consequences, believing that their driving skill is such that speeding is acceptable. Drivers can be deterred from breaking the speed limit through police enforcement and the use of technology such as speed cameras.
Pay attention to road conditions and traffic signals.
A Traffic sign provides vital information not only to drivers but other road users. Traffic signals represent certain rules for people’s safety. They are placed to relay a message to the pedestrians and driver in order to prevent or reduce any possibility of an accident. Taking road conditions and traffic signals for granted is extremely dangerous.
Most signs make use of pictures, rather than words, so that they are easy to understand and can be interpreted by people who speak a variety of languages. For this reason, it’s important that you know what each picture represents, and that you use them to inform your driving. Failing to do so could result in a serious accident or a fine.
Takeaway
For the driver and passenger of an automobile, a crash with a truck can lead to severe and even fatal consequences. Accident lawyers of illinois will be your reliable partner in any event of road accidents. Fortunately, car drivers and other motorists can use a lot of driving measures to keep them safe which will decrease the risk of crashing with a tractor trailer.
About the Author Patrick Halliday
Patrick Halliday is a partner of Halliday McCall Accident Lawyers of Illinois. The opening of his own office in central Illinois was a process that started at the end of 2017 after having been a partner in a major Chicago based litigation law firm. He has been practicing law for over 15 years in the Chicago area working on high profile cases and multi-million dollar claims. Mr. Halliday has helped clients win cases on both the prosecution and defense sides of legal claims. Having experience on both sides of matters has allowed him to maximize the results for his clients’ cases. Attorney Halliday obtained his undergraduate degree at Northern Illinois University and his J.D. at DePaul University College of Law.
