Semi-trucks, as everyone knows, are enormous monsters that dominate any road. But what you may not know is that these monstrosities are plagued by inherent safety faults. Semi-trucks (tractor-trailers) are surrounded by dangerous “no-zones.” No-zones references the areas around the truck in which the majority of accidents occur. This post will go over the no-zones and how you can avoid them.
There are four no-zones that surround a semi-truck:
• Front no-zone;
• Side no-zone;
• Rear no-zone; and
• Wide-turns.
The front no-zone refers to the area that is directly in front of the truck. Semi-trucks are several tons larger than the average passenger vehicle and therefore require several hundred more feet to slow down and come to a complete stop. It is important to give tractor-trailers plenty of room to anticipate traffic and slow down.
The side no-zone is the area on either side of the truck. Semi-trucks sit very high up. Therefore the mirrors cannot capture objects that are close to either side of the truck. The general rule is if you cannot see your car in the truck driver’s mirror, then the truck driver cannot see you, and you should move.
The rear no-zone operates similarly to the side no-zone. The trailer attached to the semi-truck blocks the driver’s rear view mirror. Therefore, he must rely on the side mirrors. Typically, you should give the truck several car lengths of space.
Finally, trucks make wide turns; it is unavoidable. Don’t try to beat the truck and slip into a tight right turn between the truck and the curb; your car will lose.
If you were injured in an accident with a semi-truck, you might want to contact a lawyer at your earliest convenience. Truck accidents result in more severe and life-threatening injuries. The type of injuries that could result in substantial medical bills and ongoing medical care. A lawyer can help you get the compensation you need to cover these expenses.