How to Avoid a Tragic Accident with a Tennessee Commercial Truck

By Thomas Greer | January 25, 2015

If you drive on Tennessee highways, you know that sharing the road with other vehicles is the number one safety concern. When some of those vehicles are 80,000 pound semi trucks, safety takes on a whole new meaning.

As Memphis truck accident attorneys, we see too many automobile vs. truck accidents that are caused by driving errors made by the driver of the passenger car, not the truck operator. Drivers of smaller vehicles need to be extra vigilant when sharing the road with the much larger big rigs.

Road Safe America provides some helpful advice for avoiding wrecks between passenger cars and trucks:

  • Always be aware that trucks do not maneuver the same way as cars do. From lane changes to turning corners to stopping, semis take more time and need more road way.
  • Never cut in front of a large commercial vehicle. A truck takes much longer to stop than a smaller vehicle. By cutting in, you can cause a serious, if not deadly, accident.
  • A third of all car and truck crashes happen when the car enters the truck driver’s blind spots. As a rule of thumb, you must be able to see the truck’s side mirrors for the driver to see you.
  • Passing a semi is also very dangerous. To do this correctly, you should signal, accelerate slightly, and then stay at the same speed as you pass it. Once you have gotten around the truck, don’t pull back into the same lane until you can see the whole cab of the truck in your rear view mirror.
  • Always note the truck’s signals. You can be seriously injured if, for instance, you think the truck is turning left and you pass it on the right.
  • If the roads are icy or wet, give the truck plenty of extra time to complete turns, lane changes and stops. It’s just common sense.
  • If you see a truck driver making unsafe decisions, call the police or other highway safety agency and report it.

Of course, no matter how careful you are, you may still be hit by a semi. If this happens, the Memphis truck accident attorneys at Bailey & Greer offer the most successful, caring legal representation in Tennessee. Give us a call toll-free at 901-680-9777 to request a free case consultation.

You can also request a free copy of our new book, Every Step You Take Matters After a Tennessee Auto Accident. Just fill out our online form to get yours.

Posted in Library, Truck Accidents