Visibility issues are a major contributor to truck crashes in Miami and other South Florida communities. When drivers of big rigs, 18-wheelers, tankers, and other large commercial vehicles can’t see motorists around them, they can easily cause an accident, especially since large vehicles take longer to come to a complete stop.
Everyone sharing the road has a responsibility to avoid collisions. If you’re a passenger car driver, there are several things you can do to ensure truckers can see you:
- Use your headlights: Make sure your headlights are bright and well-maintained and use them consistently, especially in bad weather, so other users of the road can see you.
- Stay out of blind spots: Commercial trucks have many blind spots, including behind them and all along the sides of the tractor trailer or tanker sides. If you can’t see the driver in his or her mirror, assume the trucker cannot see you.
- Make eye contact: Make eye contact with truck drivers on the road—it’s the best way to ensure they really see you.
- Beep if you need to: If a truck starts to turn and is in danger of crushing you or makes a sudden lane change, use your horn to alert the driver you’re there.
- Use signals: Always signal when turning or changing lanes. It takes trucks longer to maneuver and stop, so they can better prevent collisions if they can predict your movements.
- Slow down, especially in bad weather: Slowing down gives both you and truckers on the road more time to maneuver to prevent any collisions.
Truck drivers also have an obligation to maintain good visibility so they can prevent truck collisions. There are many things truck drivers can do to ensure they can operate their vehicles safely and see other motorists on the road:
- Maintain their trucks and fix any issues with lights, wipers, and other systems
- Obey Hours of Service rules and get adequate rest
- Avoid driving under the influence
- Check blind spots
- Signal correctly to let other drivers know of upcoming lane changes and turns
- Drive defensively and be alert for other users of the road
If a truck driver has been negligent and you have been injured as a result, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation with a Miami trucking collision claims attorney. We can review whether you may have a claim and how much your claim may be worth.