Semi-trucks are vital for delivering goods to our homes, stores, and much more; without these trucks, we wouldn’t be able to transport as much as we do in such high volumes and short periods of time. Unfortunately, this requires large trucks that weigh thousands of pounds to occupy the same Albuquerque streets and freeways that we use everyday. We’re all familiar with that uncomfortable feeling of when we’re stuck driving next to a semi-truck, afraid of making the wrong move, but there are several precautions you can take to avoid a trucking accident for you and those around you.

Avoid Blind Spots: The number one rule to preventing a trucking accident is avoiding spending too much time in its blind spots, and it’s important to know just where these blind spots lie on such a large truck. Since commercial trucks are massively bigger than most cars, there are a lot of areas that they can’t see, leaving plenty of room for error if they decide to change lanes or make a turn. Remember the rule: if you can’t see the driver’s face in their side mirror, it is most likely that they can’t see you either.

Pass Quickly: When driving near a semi-truck, it is imperative to always pass trucks on their left side, or the driver’s side, so that they can see you best and watch out for you. Remember to pass quickly to minimize the amount of time that you’re in the semi-truck’s range to eliminate the possibility of an accident.

Give the truck space: If you want to minimize the risk of an accident, give a semi-truck as much space as you can. Respecting the trucker’s space and giving them 20-30 feet in front of and behind them can give everyone the space they need while not jeopardizing anyone’s safety. Commercial trucks take up a lot of space while turning, even up to 2 or 3 lanes, so stay back and take it slow as they make a wide turn. If a truck is trying to merge, don’t take any chances. When you see their signal, do not try to speed up and pass them as that can result in error. Try to avoid driving in between multiple trucks as much as possible so that they can see where you are at all times.

The following are a few things that can happen to semi-trucks while driving, and why it’s smart to stay as far away as
possible:

• Sudden braking – If there’s a lot of traffic, a truck might be subject to brake quickly, which can lead to cars sliding under or the truck tipping over.
• Strong winds – Strong winds are dangerous for large semi-trucks because of their balance. Being very top heavy, they are more susceptible to roll-overs if the winds are too high.
• Tire blowouts – Tire blowouts are more common than not, and if a tire explodes, the remnants can fly off and strike your car causing you to lose control, which is why it’s so important to stay back!

It is important to keep these helpful tips in mind to practice safe driving and not put yourself or anyone else in danger. Be patient, take your time, and give plenty of space to big trucks that need it. If you follow all these rules, you can significantly lower your chances of getting caught in a serious trucking accident. However, if you still find yourself a victim due to another driver’s or the truck driver’s negligence, call the Albuquerque trucking accident lawyers at The Dinelli Law Firm for representation you can count on!