While we should never neglect the dangers that come with car crashes, truck accidents are usually much worse. Due to the sheer size of these vehicles and their impact power, an accident can easily cause loss of life and massive inventory and property damage.
As a professional truck driver, you must learn to act during these mishaps. First, you should minimize any risk that might cause an accident and go through proper training. And if you still incur an accident, you need to learn how to file a claim and get the insurance money.
In this guide, we’ll discuss all the issues you might encounter while on a busy road. Hopefully, some of these tricks will help save lives if you ever find yourself in a hazardous situation.
The Most Common Reasons Behind Truck Accidents
While professional truck drivers are cautious, they might still suffer an accident while transporting goods. Perhaps the most common reason behind these crashes is improper spacing. Since trucks are notoriously hard to control, you must make a proper distance from other vehicles.
Some truckers suffer accidents because they haven’t adjusted their speed to their current traffic conditions. For example, they might rush to deliver goods to the recipient, so they drive extra aggressively.
Unfortunately, there are also situations where people simply aren’t capable of driving. Due to the strenuous nature of the business, some drivers like to take an edge off by drinking or using other substances. Even if they’re generally a slow driver, this might affect their ability to react in certain situations.
The best way to avoid accidents is to pay close attention to all the factors in your surroundings. Not only should you be aware of other drivers’ positions, but you also need to keep an eye on their signalization. Whenever trying to make a maneuver, you need to make sure there’s enough room and that the environmental and road conditions allow so.
Adjusting to Road Conditions
Truth be told, most crashes occur due to bad road situation assessments. Because of that, professionals need to improve these skills:
· Understanding Hazards
Drivers usually need a certain level of experience to fully comprehend the road risks. They need to keep track of other drivers but also to take into account the current road condition. This is especially vital for truckers who tend to drive too aggressively.
· Crisis Management
In case of vehicle malfunction, a driver needs to behave properly and make an emergency stop. If you experience, for example, a flat tire while driving, you need to know how to perform basic evasive maneuvering to avoid a crash. Similarly, you need to learn more about brake failure, blowouts, and off-road recovery.
· Fatigue Management
The trucking job is grueling, sometimes requiring that you drive several days straight. In these situations, getting a good night’s sleep is hard, especially if you have a habit of sleeping in your vehicle. Because of that, veterans often have special measures to keep themselves fresh and capable of performing.
Tricks for Critical Situations
If you check the web, you can easily find lots of public sources that teach us how to reach in critical situations. One of the most popular methods in the world is the Smith System, which recommends the following practices:
- Always calculate where you’ll be 10 seconds from now
- Try to move your eyes around as much as possible. Don’t focus on the same spot for more than two seconds
- Look around yourself and use a rearview mirror as much as possible
- Think from other drivers’ perspective. Can they see your truck properly, and can they react on time to your maneuvers
These tricks are especially valuable if you’re tired or have driven for several hours without rest. Use them to stay fresh and focused, thus avoiding nasty crashes.
Handling Claims and Legal Proceedings
Despite your best efforts, you might still suffer a truck crash sooner rather than later. When that happens, you need to establish culpability as soon as possible, especially if it’s not your fault. By gathering witnesses and evidence, you can prove that the crash wasn’t your fault, which will save you a lot of money.
Another critical measure is having a reputable trucking accident lawyer on a speed dial. Even if you’ve been in the business for several decades, you need a quality professional in your corner that will protect your rights if the worst happens. By having a good lawyer, not only will you address charges against you, but you’ll handle the insurance claim in a better way.
Conclusion
While trucking accidents aren’t that dangerous for truck drivers, they can be lethal for other participants. This means that the responsibility for other people’s safety is primarily on your hands.
To avoid the worst-case scenario, you must get proper professional training. Learn more about the precautionary measures that will help you perform on the highest level and implement them during every job.
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