Safe Driving Tips to Prevent Truck Accidents

Driving near a commercial truck is very different from driving near a passenger car, and many motorists don’t adjust their behavior. The bad news is that Michigan has some of the worst truckers in the United States driving on our roads, and as of 2009, more than 1,000 trucking companies that have received unsatisfactory safety ratings from the federal government. The good news is, you can avoid a truck accident by keeping some simple safety tips from the personal injury lawyers of Michigan Auto Law in mind.

• Do not abruptly change lanes around a truck.
• Let trucks have the right of way by slowing down.
• Drive at a safe speed.
• Adjust your speed according to weather conditions.
• Be aware of traffic signals and road conditions.
• Always use turn signals.
• Avoid driving next to a truck.
• Never cut-off a truck, especially when it may need to stop.
• Trucks have large blind spots called “no zones,” so follow the rule that if you cannot see the truck driver in his outside mirrors, than he probably can’t see your vehicle.
• Use low-beam headlights when following large trucks at night.
• Maintain at least a minimum four-second following distance from a truck.
• When passing, remember that large trucks are much longer than automobiles and take a longer time to pass.
• Maintain a constant speed when passing and make sure you can see the front of the truck in your rear-view mirror before moving in front of the truck.
• When being passed by a tractor-trailer, slow down slightly as water or dirt from its tires can spray and reduce your visibility.
• Be careful when passing a truck that is also pulling a trailer, as there are times when the trailer could swing in your lane.
• Do not try to squeeze into the space next to a semi truck when it’s making a turn, because it could hit you or even drive over the top of your car.
• When traveling on the highway, try not to position your car in between two or more trucks, as they may not see you and pull into your lane, forcing you into another vehicle.
• If you are stopped behind a commercial truck on an incline, leave space in between in case the truck drifts backward when it starts to go.

To request a free, no obligation case evaluation with one of our truck accident attorneys, please fill out our contact form and we will respond to your inquiry within one business day. Or to speak to an attorney immediately, please call (800) 777-0028.

The truck accident lawyers of Michigan Auto Law have helped enforce important truck safety regulations to make our roads safer. No other law firm in Michigan has received more jury verdicts or consistently higher settlements for truck accident cases. In fact, the vast majority of our wrongful death and personal injury cases from truck accidents are referred to us by local attorneys, based upon our record of experience and success.