The operator of a sixteen-wheeler or tractor-trailer has a great responsibility on their shoulders. They have to maneuver a very heavy object over open roads and also through city streets with equal expertise.
Precautions to Keep Drivers Safe
The avoidance of being involved in an accident with a large truck such as a sixteen wheeler is the safest plan of action. The automobile operator can take precautions in this regard. Do not follow too closely. If you are at a distance you can be seen behind the truck via a rearview mirror so it cuts down on the surprise if you start to pass alongside the truck.
There are blind spots on each side of the truck. When passing, remember the adage that if you cannot see your car in the mirror then neither can the truck driver. Always be aware of the road ahead and avoid passing while heading into a bend in the road. These can all help keep the road safe for you by avoiding a truck accident. However, there are some factors that you need to be aware of too. The driver can be distracted by the GPS he is using while following a new route. The driver may be hurrying to make an unfair deadline established by their boss or just in a hurry to get home. Or, as in the Tracy Morgan Limousine accident of a few years ago, the driver may be on a long shift after he had driven personally for a long time before reporting to work. With the devastating aftermath of accidents such as these, having a truck accident attorney in New York at your side is crucial.
Statistics Are Staggering but Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help
As of October 2017, the city of New York has been the scene of 1,528 accidents involving trucks with six or more tires. Another 1,430 with smaller trucks. The added confines of city driving may contribute, but these drivers have the same distractions and can make the same mistakes due to negligence as any other driver. Serious injuries do occur in these accidents and the injured party may need surgery and many hours of physical rehabilitation for their recovery.
