Most motorists who drive passenger vehicles may need to rent a truck or van at some point in their lives in order to complete home renovations or for a move. If you need to rent a truck, you will want to keep several safety tips in mind in order to help prevent a Miami Springs traffic accident:
1) Rent the right truck and check it out before you drive. Choose the smallest truck you need for your needs without having to overburden the truck. The larger the truck you rent, the more blind spots you will have and the more difficult it will be for you to drive the truck, especially if you’re used to smaller vehicles. If you need a very large truck for your task, consider hiring a moving service or truck driver to prevent having to drive the truck yourself. If you do rent a light truck, make sure that you test the truck out before you load it up and drive it anywhere. Consider taking it to a mechanic for quick once over. Unfortunately, the safety records and standards of rental companies very widely. There many horror stories of customers renting trucks that are not fit for the road or that prove to have safety issues.
2) Go for a test drive. If you rent a truck, consider taking it out on back roads and quiet streets to familiarize yourself with the vehicle before you load it up and take it for a drive in busy areas. Gaining a little bit of experience and confidence with the truck is important in helping you reduce the risk of a Miami Springs truck accident.
3) Get lots of rest. Fatigued driving is a leading cause of Miami Springs car accidents and truck accidents. If you are moving or doing something strenuous, especially, get plenty of rest so that you are alert on the road.
4) Make sure you know the responsibilities of the truck. If you are renting a very large truck, you may need to keep a log of driving hours and rest hours and you may need to make stops at scales along the way. Make sure you have this information before you take the truck out of the rental company’s parking lot.
5) Drive defensively.
6) Become aware of your truck’s no zones. Trucks have more blind spots and much larger blind spots than the average car. Become familiar with the truck’s blind spots and make sure to give yourself extra room in order to account for them. Use your mirrors and turn around physically to check blind spots when backing up, turning, and driving. Up to one third of car accidents involving trucks and passenger vehicles occur because of a vehicle in the truck’s no zone.
7) Use extra caution in construction zones. Construction zones are danger zones for all drivers, especially trucks. Construction zones usually involve a number of pedestrian construction workers as well as larger vehicles and unpredictable vehicle movements. When in a construction zone, slow down and follow directions and signs carefully.
8) Give yourself extra space. Trucks take more time to slow down. With the larger blind spots, as well, it becomes more important to keep a larger distance between yourself and other vehicles. When in doubt, leave more room.
9) Report problems. If you notice unsafe conditions on a highway or other safety dangers, you can contact the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Driver Hotline (1-800-DOT-SAFT) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Hotline (1-888-327-4236) in order to report the problems.
If you have been injured in a Miami Springs truck accident or have rented a truck that you believe has been negligently maintained that has caused an injury, contact the Flaxman Law Group to speak with a personal injury attorney about your situation.