How to prevent truck accidents
Numerous metropolises in the United States have made the effort to curb the rising incidents of trucking accidents through projects like the Vision Zero Initiative. But since its inception in 2015, the efforts of this said initiative has proven itself to be quite futile.
It set out to eliminate traffic fatalities altogether by 2025. But the statistical data on trucking accidents published in recent years paints a gruesome picture surrounding the road conditions in the United States. For one, there’s been a reported 49% increase in fatal truck crashes between 2011 and 2021, per the figures reported by the National Security Council.
These figures are disturbing. We can put the blame on the car-centric cultures of these metropolises as well as the inaccessibility of sidewalks and poor urban planning. But some of the blame falls towards the individuals themselves.
Individual drivers and truckers for example can choose to not consume alcohol prior to and while driving. While meticulous lobbying can be done to promote pedestrian safety and improve urban planning, the changes that we wish to see in the world start within. This blog will deal with actionable steps towards how to avoid truck accidents altogether.
While it’s not necessarily fool proof, it may just save your life. Without further ado, here are 5 actionable and tangible ways on how to avoid being in a truck accident:
No drunk driving
For both truck and non-truck drivers alike, drunk driving is a big no-no. While this may seem intuitive to a lot of people, a lot of people have a skewed perception of how dangerous getting behind the wheel while drunk actually is. So skewed, in fact, that 6.7% of large truck accidents involve driver intoxication according to Forbes Magazine.
Looking at the overall big picture may make these figures less worrisome, but truck accidents, in particular, have a higher likelihood of incurring fatal injuries —even wrongful death. It could lead to an injury in the spine and brain which could result in drastic lifestyle changes, which may inhibit people from doing things they would normally do with no problem prior to the accident.
Don’t drive distracted
Driving while being distracted is another factor cited for trucking accidents. The more experience we get behind the wheel, the more confident we get. This is typically seen as a good thing, but complacency could also set in.
We become less anxious and less concerned with ensuring that we are actively practicing safe driving. Before we even realize, we start building bad and distracting habits like fiddling with our phones, rubbernecking, etc. As a rule of thumb, we must remain focused at all times no matter how comfortable or easy driving gets for us. Put your phone on DND while driving.
Avoid blind spots
Big vehicles like buses or trucks have huge blind spots. This is something that we must keep in mind when we are driving alongside them on the road. In the interest of keeping the likelihood of incurring a spine or brain injury and accidental deaths extremely low, we must try to avoid driving on their blind spots.
One really good way of ensuring that we remain visible in the truck driver’s sight is by making sure that we can still see their side mirrors. If we see their side mirrors, that means that they can see us. This typically means that you have to drive further behind than them.
Don’t drive past the speed limits
According to Forbes Magazine, 7.3% of fatal large truck accidents consist of speeding-related crashes, higher than the figures reported for drunk driving. One can make a case that “speeding” is high up there with drunk driving for things that people should be cognizant of when driving. This is especially true if you’re driving alongside a truck.
Speeding past the speed limit could result in you losing control of your vehicle entirely, possibly flinging you off the side of the road. It could also lead you to crash head on to a truck, which could bring about a sleuth of physical injuries that are hard to recover from.
No drowsy driving
When you’re on the road, you have to be alert at all times. It’s hard to do that if you are driving while drowsy. If you are feeling tired, you better pull over to the side of the road (or anywhere that is safe) and rest up. We understand that this is not necessarily an ideal option for many as their beds at home may be a lot more comfortable than their car seats. But a moment of discomfort is ultimately preferable than a lifetime of pain.
Call Omega Law Group
The efforts that you will make to prevent truck accidents from happening, however commendable, may be offset by other reckless truck drivers on the road. Not a lot of people are concerned about how their actions will affect others, leaving a lot of people on the road to suffer from the aftermath of an accident.
If you or a loved one got into a trucking accident, you will need a qualified personal injury attorney to help you navigate the complex ins-and-outs of the law. This way, you will get the outcome that you need to get the justice and compensation you deserve. You will need the best. You will need to call Omega Law Group.
Omega Law Group consists of highly skilled and experienced trucking accident experts that are relentless in pursuing justice for their clients. With over millions of dollars accrued in settlement since their establishment in 2016, the legal team at Omega’s shrewd negotiation and litigation skills have helped improve the lives of countless truck accident victims.
Their work has been acknowledged by industry-vetted organizations and has led them to accrue multiple accolades from Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers. Not to mention, they also got the honor of being featured in the prestigious Los Angeles Times. They also made headlines in the Los Angeles Business Journal for their innovation integration of A.I. technology in their case processes.
Omega remains true to their mission to help those with meager financial means get equitable and quality legal services by operating on a contingency fee basis. This allows them to represent clients without burdening them with upfront legal fees. Schedule a free consultation now to learn more!