Truck accidents can happen for various reasons, such as driver error, mechanical failure, poor road conditions, overloading, etc. It is important for trucking companies to ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained and that their drivers are well-trained and fit to operate the vehicles. Further, governments and law enforcement agencies play a critical role in enforcing traffic safety laws and regulations to reduce the number of truck accidents on the roads. If you are involved in a truck accident, contact a LA truck accident lawyer.
Risks of reckless semi-truck drivers taking wide turns
Semi-truck collisions can be dangerous due to poor visibility and their immense size. The car driver and truck driver sharing the road need to be highly alerted when a truck makes a wide turn, as it is one of the main causes of accidents involving semi-trucks.
Semi-trucks have a wide radius for turning, which means they can not make a proper turn like ordinary cars. To turn right, the truck needs to swing left first. It often confuses the cards nearby, thinking that the truck is turning left, and truck drivers sometimes forget to use the signal. Due to this, the driver might attempt to turn on a different direction to pass the truck, and surprisingly, the truck turns in that direction too. This is known as “squeeze play.” It can even force the car underneath the truck, causing extreme injuries.
There are several steps truck drivers and companies can take to avoid any form of collision, like,
- Making turns slowly
- Looking out for oncoming vehicles
- Turning wide when the turn is completed
- Keeping the rear of the vehicle near the curb
- Using turn signals if available
- Not backing up except when it is absolutely necessary
The steps truck companies should take to avoid any form of collision–
- Checking if all the equipment is working properly
- Installing proper mirrors
- Regularly checking for drug and alcohol test
- Training the drivers and confirming that they are qualified
- Making the shifts reasonable enough to avoid driver fatigue.
Steps to take if you are hurt from a truck accident
If you managed to avoid catastrophic injury but got into a truck accident, you should take the following steps.
First, call the police and never leave the accident site. Wait until the police arrive and prepare a report of the accident. Next, seek medical help. Even if you feel you are not injured, it is important to get medical attention.