18-wheeler crashes are life-threatening road hazards. In the most direct terms, if a semi plows into your car, you have little chance of surviving. To avoid being in an accident with a big rig in the first place, you have to use some common sense about road and weather conditions. Though they may seem like they could overpower anything, semis are subject to the same road hazards as are passenger cars. In some cases, these road hazards may be even more pronounced for the trucker.
In icy and rainy conditions, you have to give trucks plenty of room to brake. Like a passenger car, their braking distance is affected by the road conditions. Their weight does not offer them much advantage in this regard. If a truck is bearing down on you and you’re headed down an incline, pull over a bit, if you can do so safely, and let them get buy. Downhill grades are particularly dangerous for semis when the conditions are bad.
Keep an eye out for windy conditions. Trucks that are heavily buffeted by the wind sometimes have trouble with keeping their trailers in line. If the trailer on a vehicle seems to be swaying a bit, either stay back or get by quickly, whichever is quicker. You don’t want to be anywhere near a trailer if it starts to cross lanes. This is particularly true of trucks that pull multiple trailers.
The other hazard with wind comes from the truck itself. Trucks create a powerful blast of air around them as they move. In some cases, they may temporarily block the ambient wind from blowing your car around while you pass them. When you get buy, you’ll be driving at passing speeds, which means that your car will be more sensitive to the wind. Be careful as you clear their trailer when the winds are high. If you see a strong cross-draft warning posted ahead, make sure you’re not alongside a semi when you hit the marked area.
A big rig collision can be a deadly occurrence. If you’ve been injured or had your property destroyed because of such a collision, you may do well to speak with an attorney. They can help you to determine if you have a case. If you do, the trucking company may offer to settle out of court. If you go to trial, the outcome will be up to a jury.
RASANSKY LAW FIRM
2525 McKinnon Street
Dallas, Texas 75201
CALL US AT 1-877-331-4156
