Tractor-trailers were involved in 3,215 fatal truck accidents across the U.S. in 2009 (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System). While dwarfed in comparison to the number of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes (18,350), there are significantly fewer large trucks registered in the U.S.
In the west valley last Tuesday, a person was killed in an Arizona tractor-trailer accident (Associated Press via ABC 15 12/28/10). The small car they were riding in with two other passengers hit a large truck and became wedged underneath it. It is not known if the other two passengers were injured in the wreck, but the accident is still under investigation.
Driving on the valley highways and especially those outside of the valley, drivers must share the roads with many large trucks. It is important to remember a few safety tips when driving around these large vehicles.
- Remember these trucks are a lot heavier than the typical passenger vehicle, it takes much longer for them to come to a complete stop. For this reason, drivers must never tailgate a tractor-trailer truck and leave extra room when changing lanes in front of trucks.
- Tractor-trailers have many blind spots. To stay in the “safe zone,” always stay in the area where you can see the trucks’ mirrors. If you can’t see the mirrors, there is a good chance the driver can’t see you.
- When taking turns, tractor-trailers must start their turns very wide, sometimes even pulling the opposite direction before they turn. But the trailer does not have steering on most trucks, so very often it cuts the turn very narrowly. If you find yourself around a tractor-trailer taking a turn, slow down to let them turn in front of you or get out of the way so they can turn behind you.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in a tractor-trailer truck accident in Arizona, you may deserve compensation. Call the Phoenix truck crash attorneys at Breyer Law at (480) 753-4534 to have your questions answered and hopefully we will be able to help you.
