There are times when you clearly have to share the road with 18-wheelers and other large vehicles. You can’t control that. But you can control how close you get to these vehicles as you drive.
Should you make a conscious effort to avoid large trucks by passing them, changing lanes, or even just slowing down to put more of a buffer zone between the trucks and your car?
Stay away from those blind spots
One major benefit of keeping your distance from large trucks is that you also get to stay out of their blind spots. These can be large enough for a motorcycle or a small car to entirely disappear, and they surround the trucks. Many accidents happen because drivers do not know that there is another car in the blind spot until the crash.
Another thing to consider is the size of a truck and the way that puts you in greater danger. If you get rear-ended by a semi, for instance, it can ride up over your car and crush the passenger compartment. If you get rear-ended by a car the same size as yours, the bumpers and crumple zones take much of the impact. You can be injured either way, but you could have more severe injuries if you’re hit by a truck.
Careful driving can’t always protect you
Understanding the risks can help you drive carefully and do what you can to avoid those risks, but you can’t always ensure you won’t get injured in an accident someone else causes. If you do, you need to know how to seek compensation. An attorney can guide you through the process.