14 Tips to Prevent Truck Accidents

Accidents involving semi-trucks are some of the most devastating I see as a personal injury attorney. Even when I worked full-time as a critical care nurse in a hospital ER, I saw the horrible injuries and tragic deaths that occurred because of them. That’s part of why I choose to be a truck accident attorney, and unfortunately they’re all too common. Protect yourself and your family by taking all the precautions you can to prevent a trucking accident before it happens.

Prevent an Accident with a Semi-Truck

1. Stay out of truckers’ blind spots (if you can’t see the driver’s eyes in the mirrors, they can’t see you)
2. Pay extra attention to areas where trucks may be entering the highway, including rest stops, busy interstate on ramps, and areas with posted signs
3. Only pass on the left side of a truck, as the blind spots on the right are larger
4. If passing, do so quickly to get out of the blind spot
5. Maintain a safe distance behind the truck
6. If merging or switching lanes in front of a truck, give plenty of space and maintain your speed
7. Avoid braking suddenly when in front of a truck
8. Be sure to give plenty of side clearance when passing
9. Give a truck plenty of space to turn at intersections
10. Never play “chicken” or try to beat a truck to a merge area, turn, or interstate exit
11. Stay focused, watching both your driving and the truck carefully
12. Drive predictably, not politely
13. Be alert at night, when both you and truckers may be sleepiest
14. Drive with extra caution in adverse weather conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Prove the Wreck Wasn’t My Fault?

If you’ve been in an accident with a semi-truck, the first step to proving you weren’t at fault is to document everything about the wreck that you can. Documentation includes the gas station receipt proving what time you left a location before the accident and the call log in your phone recording the time when you called 911 after the accident. Documentation also includes the police report and any photos or videos you took of the scene of the crash, the environment, and the vehicles involved. Next, gather all your documentation and make an appointment with an experienced trucking accident attorney like me. I have nearly 30 years of experience making sense of these forms of documentation and relating them in court.

If you haven’t been in an accident but have to drive in an area where there are lots of trucks entering or exiting the highway, or where you’ve noticed trucks swerving, crossing the center line, or speeding in that area, consider buying a dashboard camera for your personal vehicle. Of course, it’s much safer to take a different route if you can, and a dashboard camera won’t prevent an accident, but it can help you prove who was responsible if you do get into or witness an accident.

What Else Can I Do?

Dashboard camera footage may help you convince your local government or police department to implement more safety measures in the area, such as rumble strips, lower speed limits, flashing lights. Your local police department might designate more patrols through the area. Consider writing to your local elected council member about your concerns and offer to share your footage of the problems you’re seeing. Remember to always keep your original footage and back up important videos. Do not ever hand over your camera or unlocked phone to anyone, including law enforcement, without first talking with an attorney. Offer to email or provide copies of the footage instead.

Why Choose Dellacona Law Firm?

I make sure to keep up to date on all trucking regulations, laws, and requirements, and even attend trucking seminars. I know how to drive a truck, decipher a truck’s equipment and instruments, and read a trucking log book. Between your documentation, the police report, and my team’s own investigations, I can help you prove who was at fault in your wreck and get you the compensation you deserve, even if the at-fault party was the trucking company itself. I offer free consultations to all my potential clients so I can hear their unique situation and offer advice about your legal options. The statute of limitations in Georgia is 2 years after the date of the accident, so call my office today.

For more about trucking accidents, check out my complete guide.