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    How New Drivers Can Avoid Truck Accidents

    By Buckman and Buckman, P.A. on July 16, 2018 | In Truck Accidents

    New or inexperienced drivers in Florida can be forgiven for feeling uneasy as a 50,000-pound 18-wheeler rumbles by them on the highway, or a tractor-trailer makes a wide turn that seems headed right for them at an intersection. Truck accidents can cause devastating injuries.

    Many dangerous truck accidents are the truck driver’s fault, or they result from a defect with the truck itself. Still, every new driver must learn to comfortably share the road with massive tractor-trailers, tanker trucks and other “big rigs.”

    The following tips for driving safely around large trucks are from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which regulates large trucks and buses (also called “commercial motor vehicles,” or CMVs):

    • Avoid blind spots. The bigger the truck, the bigger the blind spots around the front, back and sides of the vehicle. Be particularly mindful of blind spots when you merge near a large truck. The best thing to do is to stay away. Slow down to let a truck pass or get out ahead of it.
    • Directly behind a truck, you should be at least 30 feet back. If you cannot see the driver in the truck’s side mirror, the driver probably cannot see you. You need to move farther away.
    • Pass safely. Being seen is a key to staying safe. When you pass a truck, if you can see the driver in the trucker’s side mirror, he or she can see you. Signal properly and pass quickly. Don’t linger in a blind spot. Also, leave plenty of room before you pull in front of a truck.
    • Anticipate wide turns. A large truck may have a turning radius of 55 feet. In other words, a truck needs a lot of room to turn, and it may swing wide or even turn from a middle (rather than far right) lane. Stay out of the way.
    • Never try to get by a truck in the right lane at an intersection. The driver may be planning to turn (with or without signaling) and not see you. Don’t “block the box” where a turning truck is headed at an intersection. Stop at the line. If you need to back up to allow space for a truck, look for additional vehicles behind you and be patient.
    • Be patient and alert. As a driver, you must watch for and make allowances for large trucks just as they must safely share the road with you. Trucks operate under legal restrictions and commercial deadlines. A tractor-trailer may use technology like speed limiters to comply with regulations. So, you need to be patient with a slower truck. A truck driver may be speeding to make a delivery on time, fatigued, impaired or distracted, so you must be ready to react to sudden lane changes, drifting or other moves.

    Our Sarasota Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help You

    Even the most experienced drivers get into accidents. Whether you were the driver or a passenger, if you have been hurt in a truck accident in Sarasota or a nearby community in Florida, you should seek help right away from the experienced truck accident lawyers at Buckman & Buckman, P.A. You can count on our legal team to protect your rights and fight for all compensation you are entitled to receive, including money for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and more. Contact us now for a free consultation about your case.

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