Philadelphia Truck Accident Injury Tips For Sharing The Road With Large Trucks By Rand Spear
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck accident, get in touch with a Philadelphia truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
If you drive on the highway regularly, you have probably had the harrowing experience of being sandwiched between a semi-truck and a concrete median. Or maybe you have had a semi come barreling up behind you, its grill filling up your entire back window. Neither scenario is pleasant. In some cases, sharing the road with semis can be downright terrifying.
Semis can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. They are massive vehicles that are incredibly dangerous in a crash. As a motorist, it’s important to do everything you can to stay safe around semis and other large trucks and buses. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has some excellent tips and advice for safely sharing the road with large vehicles.
Know the Blind Spots
Chances are, your vehicle has at least one blind spot. It’s that area outside your vehicle—usually when you’re backing up—that you just can’t see no matter how you twist and turn your body.
For a semi, blind spots are especially troublesome. Semis have a large blind spot on all sides: the front, each side, and the rear of the semi-truck. These blind spots are sometimes referred to as “no zones,” because driving in them as a regular motorist is a big no-no. The front blind spot can extend up to 20 feet in front of the truck, and the rear blind spot can be up to 30 feet behind the truck’s bumper. If you drive in these areas, you should assume that the truck’s driver can’t see you.
Don’t Cut in Front of a Semi or Bus
Semi-trucks and buses take up to 40 percent longer to stop than a typical car. When a car cuts sharply in front of them, they can’t always hit their brakes in time to keep from smashing into the rear of the vehicle. This problem is exacerbated in bad weather, such as ice or snow. If you need to get in front of a semi or other large vehicle, give yourself plenty of room before you move over.
Give Them Extra Space
You should never get cozy with a semi-truck. Keep them at arm’s length whenever possible. Many semi-trucks have signs on their trailers that say something like “caution, wide turns” for a reason. Due to their length, they can’t make sharp turns. Instead, their trailer swings out in a big arc as the truck turns. Most semis have a turning radius of about 55 feet.
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Call a Philadelphia Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck accident, get in touch with a Philadelphia truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer can help you protect your rights and explore the options available to you in your case.
Call Rand Spear today at 888-373-4LAW today to speak to a Philadelphia truck accident injury lawyer about your case.
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