Anyone who has been in a motor vehicle accident, whether it occurred in Louisiana or somewhere else, knows that they can happen in the blink of an eye. In the most fortunate of cases, the accident might result in little more than a dent and cause no physical harm. But if a large truck is involved, the chances are good that you’ll be dealing with an accident with serious or fatal injury.
Law enforcement and insurance officials will confirm that the larger the truck, the greater the risk of debilitating injury. At the same time, it’s also a fact that light personal cars and trucks outnumber the larger vehicles. That places a high level of responsibility on all parties to make sure that they stay properly focused and attentive to following the rules of the road. For example, something as seemingly minor as failing to signal intentions can be catastrophic.
Following are some of the most common types of practices by average passenger vehicle driver that can result in serious accidents with trucks.
- Lingering in blind spots
- Changing lanes too quickly in front of a big rig
- Failing to give a truck its space in merging traffic
- Passing on a two-lane highway without a clear road ahead
- Following behind so closely that you can’t be seen
For their part, truckers have a duty of special responsibility that is reinforced by the fact most of them require special licensing. That implies that they have gotten adequate training for the rigs they are steering. But cheating has been known to occur.
And just because they may know the various state and federal laws that apply to them doesn’t mean they are always followed. Truck drivers are as susceptible driver distraction or sleep deprivation as any driver on the road.
If you’ve been in a collision involving a commercial truck of any size, it may be important to consult with experienced legal counsel to be sure you understand your rights or possible obligations.
Source: FindLaw, “Common Causes of Truck Accidents,” accessed Oct. 23, 2015
