When Sharing The Road With Large Trucks
Driving in Los Angeles is a daunting task as it is. Imagine doing so alongside large trucks on the road.
While the latest data produced by the National Safety Council indicates that there has been a 4% decrease in truck-related casualties in 2020, it would be wrong to conclude that Los Angeles has been doing well when it comes to lowering truck accidents.
On the contrary, a measly 4% decrease in 2020 is actually alarming, considering that there were a lot less vehicles on the road that year because of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Most people were confined in their homes, so truck accidents should have decreased significantly. But instead, the figures seen in the year 2020 are still 33% higher than those in 2011.
This is symptomatic of a deep-seated problem that cannot be solved through individual action alone. Reform in a systemic-level (ie: refining Los Angeles’ urban planning) should be implemented.
The path to safer roads involves a lot of bureaucratic compromise. It’s anything but easy. That’s why we have to look out for ourselves despite the cards we’re dealt with. Change or no change, we still have to deal with the reality that we are all susceptible to getting involved in large truck accidents.
The stark reality of truck accidents are recorded by the National Safety Council, who says that 9% of large trucks are involved in fatal crashes.
As we wait for certain governmental bodies to take action in optimizing road safety, we should do the following to minimize the likelihood of colliding with a large truck:
Have working headlights
It’s illegal for people to drive in the state of California without working headlights, and for a reason. Headlights give you increased visibility when your surroundings are dark, foggy, or when it’s raining. This enables vehicles around you, particularly large trucks, to spot you, which decreases the chances of you getting an accident.
Don’t drive on the blind spot
Compared to regular-sized vehicles, the blind spots of large trucks are much bigger. So when driving near a truck, make sure they can at least see you. One way to ensure that is by driving in a spot where the truck driver can see you. If you’re driving behind a truck, make sure you drive in a spot where you can see the truck’s rear view mirror.
Minimize distractions
While this is good advice to heed in general, this is especially important when driving alongside a truck. Engaging in manual, visual, and cognitive distractions will endanger your life, especially if you’re in a close vicinity to large trucks. It could lead you to unwittingly collide with big-rigs and cause you to acquire various personal injuries.
Safe driving distance
One way you can ensure you’re not involved in a truck-related collision, make sure that you’re within safe driving distance from the truck. Make sure you’re not driving too close to them. If you are, make sure that you’re not in their blind spots.
Don’t cut trucks off
Trucks significantly outweigh regular-sized vehicles, so when you cut them off a catastrophic accident is bound to happen. When you’re merging lanes in front of a truck, make sure you’re far enough for the truck to hit the brakes and let you in. Make sure you’re also using your signal lights when doing so just so the truck driver knows what you’re trying to do and act accordingly.
The Effects Of Getting Hit By A Large Truck
Getting “squished” by a large truck poses a significant risk for fatal, catastrophic, and life-altering injuries. Worse, wrongful deaths. In spite of all your efforts to avoid getting into a truck accident, there may still be a chance that you will have to bear the physical and mental repercussions of someone’s recklessness.
It’s entirely possible, for example, that the truck driver who hit you may not be paying as much attention as they need to in ensuring everyone’s safety on the road. This is a relatively common occurrence as they work long hours driving around. Some of them (not all) watch movies presumably as “background noise.”
And if their eyes wander on the screen and linger too long, they may hit other people on the road. If you just so happen to be a victim of a truck driver’s recklessness, here are some physical repercussions you may have to endure.
Spinal Cord Injury
Since trucks are big and heavy, getting involved in a collision with one drastically increases your chances of getting a spine injury. Such an injury is life-altering for numerous reasons. One, it may cut off your access to certain body parts, possibly rendering you paraplegic for the rest of your life. This could also result in a host of mental health issues and a decrease in self-esteem.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Due to the truck’s heavy weight, there would be an extremely high likelihood of you getting a traumatic brain injury if you get hit by a truck. Symptoms include: erratic and dramatic changes in behavior, forgetfulness, as well as the occasional migraines. In dire cases, it may leave you in a vegetative state.
Wrongful Death
Is death from a truck accident mercy compared to the lifelong world of pain a TBI or SCI could get you? Either way, dying from a truck accident is devastating for all parties involved, including the loved ones of the victims. If you or a loved one have died due to a truck driver’s recklessness, you’ll need a qualified personal injury lawyer to help you acquire the compensation you deserve.
Call Omega Law Group
We have represented clients who have been affected by various personal injuries, including Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, Soft Tissue Injury, and many more. Our awards and excellent testimonials are a result of our ability to empathize and attend to the needs of our clients. Here at Omega Law Group, you will come first.
If you or a loved one is suffering due to an accident, reach out to our team. Visit our Contact Us page or call us at (310) 504-1852.