When you are making the commute to work in Fort Worth, you always will see 18-whelers.These "big rig" trucks are considered to be any vehicle that weighs over 10,000 pounds. Since these tractor trailers are so big it takes them longer to brake and stop, they have wider turns, they have larger blind spots compared to cars and have higher percentages of having a rollover. These large trucks account for 3 percent of vehicles on the road, but account for an astonishing 25 percent of all automotive accident fatalities. In my nineteen years of representing people who have been injured by a semi-trucks I have seen how bad these wrecks can be.
There are a couple of things you can do to help avoid a collision with a big truck:
Ø Stay out of an 18-wheelers blind spot. A good indication to know you are visible to the tractor trailer is being able to see the driver from the truck's side mirrors.
Ø Always maintain a safe distance from the rear of the truck and drive carefully during poor weather conditions. When it rains big-rig truck tires throw up more water, making it harder to see.
Ø Allow extra room for the truck to turn
Ø When passing, make sure you can see both of of the other cars headlights in your rear view mirrorbefore changing into their lane
Sometimes truckers push it trying to get an extra mileage for economic reasons. Driver fatigue and driver hour violations are also common causes of Texas truck wrecks. One factor that is critical in some truck accident cases is a prompt investigation of the accident. Trucking companies and their insurance carriers have quick response teams that get to the scene of an accident very quickly. Fort Worth victims who do not retain a Texas Board Certified Injury Lawyer are often disadvantaged from the very start of a truck accident case.
Information and commentary provided by Fort Worth Truck Attorney Mark A. Anderson. If you or a loved have been injured in a truck accident, please call us at 817-294-1900 or fill out our contact card for a free consultation.
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