If you spend any time at all on area highways and interstates, you are accustomed to sharing the road with 18-wheelers. These giant trucks are a common sight. But drivers should never get complacent about sharing the road with big trucks. One recent accident near League City exemplifies just how dangerous truck accidents can be.
A wrong-way accident killed one driver when he hit a truck head on. According to the Houston Chronicle, the driver of a Honda Civic was traveling the wrong way on a frontage road along I-45. He then entered the interstate traveling against traffic, where he hit a semi-truck head-on in the center lane.
The accident happened around 4:30 a.m. The driver of the truck suffered bumps and bruised knees but didn’t require medical treatment.
Frequently, truck accidents like this one are fatal for the person in the car. Rarely, however, is the truck driver seriously injured. Because of this, as the driver of the smaller vehicle, you must be vigilant when sharing the road with 18-wheelers.
Michael Taylor from the Tractor Trailer Training Program at Triton College in River Grove, Ill., says truck drivers have five primary complaints with other drivers. These complaints aren’t just annoyances – they’re potential accident triggers.
- Riding in a trucker’s blind spot;
- Cut-offs (sneaking into the small gap in front of a truck);
- Impatience while reversing;
- Playing policeman (when drivers attempt to use their car to block semis or make them conform in some other way);
- Failing to assist in lane changes or merges (when drivers don’t let truckers in).
By avoiding these, you can also avoid accidents. In addition, give trucks plenty of time to stop, and don’t try to pass a truck on the right.
When truck accidents happen, the trucks usually win—regardless of whose fault the accident is. For this reason, you must be cautious for both yourself and the truck driver. Just because you see him doesn’t mean he sees you. Be cautious enough for the two of you.
Houston-area Truck Accident Attorney
As a Houston truck accident attorney, I see many people involved in horrific accidents that they have no control over, accidents that are caused by someone else’s lack of caution or attention to the road. When this happens and you are injured as a result, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Contact my office today to discuss your case and how I may be able to help. I can be reached at 281-677-3961.
