Common Causes Of Truck Accidents & Big Rig Dangers: Truck Size & Weight

Why is this?

There are a few reasons: truckers are on the road for long hours, trucks weight considerably more than cars and motorcycles, and trucks harder to control, brake, and turn. Although some truck accidents can't be prevented, you can educate yourself on the most common types of truck accident and be on the lookout for dangers while on the road.

· Blind spots and no-zones. Because of their length and build, trucks have much larger blind spots than regular vehicles. The area directly behind the truck and diagonally to each side of the truck are invisible to the truck driver, and should be "no-zones" to any other vehicles in the area. Common accidents include trucks changing lanes into a vehicle located in a blind spot or a truck breaking suddenly when there is a car directly behind them.

· Wide turn awareness. Also because of their size, trucks need to swing wide to the left when making right turns and wide to the right when making left turns. Accidents occur from this situation when trucks do not see smaller vehicles flanking them on either side or when cars or motorcycles are to the right of the truck and next to the curb during a right turn. Be aware that trucks make wide turns!

· Weight distribution/rollovers. Trucks are often top-heavy with cargo and cumbersome in general and they are much more susceptible to rollovers when turning too fast or driving on onramps or offramps. Rollovers can also occur in adverse weather conditions.

· Jackknifing. If truck drivers lose control of their big rig, the cab of the truck can do one thing and the trailer of the truck can do another. In many situations, this involves the trailer swinging around 360 degrees, taking out any other vehicles in its path, so that the cab comes to rest in the opposite direction of the trailer (like a jackknife. Jackknifing can happen if a truck brakes too fast or makes sudden changes in direction.

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