Driving a semi-truck is not an easy task because of the extra precaution to prevent accidents. Most semi-truck accidents lead to severe injuries or fatalities, especially if a smaller vehicle is involved in the collision.
Furthermore, preventing these accidents helps avoid unnecessary legal ramifications that ensue after an accident. Therefore, besides following all the road rules, semi-truck drivers have to go the extra mile to prevent accidents. Here are some vital road safety tips for semi-truck drivers.
Implement defensive driving tactics
Defensive driving tactics help prevent car accidents because they promote safety first. For example, implementing defensive driving when driving a semi-truck can prevent gruesome accidents. Some of the most important defensive driving tactics to implement is maintaining a safe following distance.
Spatial awareness is also a critical aspect of defensive driving. Consider taking a defensive driving course to anticipate unexpected accidents. If you are involved in a car crash, the defensive driving experience you’ve got will add a lot of weight to your testimony. Also, always get legal assistance after an accident. You can contact Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys to get professional advice and representation.
Be extra cautious around road maintenance
Road maintenance projects are the breeding ground for a lot of car accidents. Unfortunately, some involve semi-trucks, which can be fatal or result in serious injury. Therefore, semi-truck drivers should be extra cautious when approaching and driving around a road maintenance project.
Accidents near road maintenance projects are generally car pileups caused by one driver’s mistake. Implement defensive driving tactics such as maintaining a safe following distance around road maintenance projects. Semi-truck drivers can approach a Fort Lauderdale Accident Lawyer to get legal representation and advice after being involved in a car pileup accident.
Exercise extra caution when transporting a load
When a semi-truck is all loaded up, the weight increases by the measure added onto the axles. Even though a load might be well within the recommended axle weights, it adds extra momentum to the truck. It is harder to stop a loaded truck when compared with a semi-truck that is not load-bearing.
Therefore, exercise extra caution when transporting a load. If you are driving downhill, ensure there is enough following distance to avoid an accident. If the brakes fail and you cause an accident, search for Attorneys Near Me on USAttorneys.com immediately. An attorney can prove that you were not overloaded or driving recklessly.
Avoid dangerous driving conditions
As a semi-truck driver, it is more dangerous to drive at night, in austere weather conditions, and when you are sleeping. Avoid driving under these circumstances at all costs. A semi-truck is not as maneuverable as a smaller vehicle. Running into some trouble, such as slipping due to wet weather conditions, can be more catastrophic.
Driving under low visibility circumstances at night or in foggy conditions bears more significant risks. Also, avoid driving under any other conditions that could impair the ability to brake and steer a semi-truck. If you feel the braking and steering system is spotty, safely stop the vehicle and drive once it is safe again.
Handling a semi-truck accident
If you are a driver-owner of the semi-truck, the legal responsibility of an accident is mostly on you. This is more true if the accident was caused by negligence or unsafe driving habits. But if you did not cause the accident, the claim should be directed to that specific at-fault party. Getting legal representation will help expedite this process.
Drivers that work for larger companies should also get legal representation because management might blame the accident on them. As a result, they might lose their jobs or pay because of an accident that was not their fault.