The American Trucking Association found that in accidents involving cars and semis, 80% of them were caused by car drivers. Because of this, you must learn how to avoid a semi accident while you are driving your car.
1 – Pass Semis Quickly – If you have to pass a semi, you want to make sure you do it as quickly as possible. While you want to avoid speeding on the highway, you also don’t want to linger in the blind spot of a semi driver. First, they may not realize that you are driving next to them and they may merge into your lane.Semis may also have tire blowouts on the freeway, which could cause them to swerve into your lane. When you pass semis quickly, you will keep yourself out of danger in these situations.
2 – Give Them Plenty of Space – You want to always give semi drivers plenty of space. This is something you need to remember when you are following a semi or even when you are passing them. Semis do not have a rearview mirror. If you are tailgating a semi, you will not have enough time to react if the semi driver suddenly stops or if another emergency occurs. Tailgaiting can result in your car getting caught under the trailer of the semi.
You also need to make sure you have plenty of space when you change lanes in front of a semi. Generally, you want to be able to see both headlights of a semi in your rearview mirror before you get into their lane. Because semis take so much longer to slow down, this can prevent you from causing an accident or getting rear-ended by a semi.
3 – Watch Out for Wide Turns – Many people do not realize that semi drivers need a lot more space to complete a turn. Most semis have a sign on the back of their semi that cautions other drivers of their wide right turns.Some semis will even have signs saying that you should not pass a turning semi. This is because a semi turning right will not be able to turn as tight as other vehicles. The long trailer following the front of the semi will need more room. Otherwise, it may hit a curb or a pedestrian.Because of this, semi drivers will generally give themselves a few extra feet on the right side of their semi when they are turning. Some cars see this opening and think that they can quickly turn before the semi. However, this often results in accidents as it puts the cars in the blind spot of a semi.To prevent accidents, make sure you give semis plenty of room, especially when they are turning!
4 – Never Try to Beat a Semi – You never want to try to beat a semi. Whether a semi is going to pass you or merge in front of you, trying to be faster than the semi can result in serious injury and even death.It is always best to let a semi pass you rather than trying to prove that you had the right of way. Rather than speeding up to avoid getting caught behind a slow driver, let the semi in front of you!
5 – Stay Out of Blind Spots – One of the most important things that you need to be aware of to avoid a vehicle accident with a semi is their blind spots. While every car has blind spots, semis have larger blindspots in several different places.Semis have a blind spot on the driver’s side of the semi that extends out one lane. They also have a 30-foot blind spot in the rear of the semi that is the width of the trailer. Finally, semi drivers are not able to see on their passenger side or the front of their cab. Because there are so many blind spots, you need to be careful driving anywhere near a semi.It is safer to assume that semi drivers cannot see you. This way, you will be more cautious as you drive near a semi driver.
If you were injured in a car accident with a semi, let us help! Call Jacobson, Schrinsky & Houck in Milwaukee today at (414) 223-4444 to have one of our caring lawyers come out to meet you and get semi accident help TODAY and money for your injuries. There is no fee until we win.
#jshlaw #milwaukeecaraccidentlawyer #semiaccidenthelptoday #nofeeuntilwewin #money4injuries