Most serious injuries and deaths in truck accidents happen to the people in passenger vehicles, rarely the truck driver. With that in mind, it’s essential to know how to share the road to decrease the chances of:

  • An accident with an 18-wheeler
  • An accident with a United States Postal Service truck
  • Firetruck accidents
  • School bus accidents
  • FedEx and/or UPS truck accidents
  • And similar

If you’ve been injured in a truck collision, it’s in your best interest to consult with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Keep Enough Distance Between You And The Truck

Driver keeping distance from Truck in Front

How far should you stay from a truck? Generally, that depends on your speed, the terrain, traffic conditions, and the weather.

For the most part, experts recommend staying at least 300 feet (about 20 car lengths) behind a truck or large vehicle. When that’s not possible, try your best to stay visible to the truck driver.

You should also pay attention to how close a truck is behind you. That’s because semi-trucks, buses, USPS trucks, firetrucks, and the like require a lot more space to come to a complete stop. Abruptly stopping in front of a truck can significantly increase the likelihood of an accident. That’s especially true if the road is slippery.

Remain Visible At All Times

Most semi-trucks and large commercial vehicles are riddled with blind spots. That means that it’s much more difficult for a truck driver to see you than it is for you to see them. With that in mind, it’s essential to remain mindful of the following blind spots for truck drivers:

  • 0 – 20 ft in front of the truck
  • 0 – 30 ft directly behind the truck
  • The left side under the truck cab mirrors
  • The right side under the cab mirror and extending to half the trucks length

Generally, if you can’t see your vehicle in the truck’s mirrors, it’s more likely than not that the driver is unaware of your presence.

Let The Truck Pass You On The Highway

Semi-trucks are heavy and fast. If you notice a truck driver attempting to make a pass, that’s not the time to speed up. The best advice is to slow down, allow the truck to pass, and then continue on your journey. Attempting to “play chicken” with an 18-wheeler is a deadly game that isn’t likely to end well.

Avoid Distractions

Distracted driving perpetuated by passenger vehicle drivers and truck drivers is a major cause of truck-related accidents. With that in mind, if you notice a distracted truck driver, it’s in your best interest to get away from them as soon as possible. Further, you should limit distractions while driving like:

Texting while driving is dangerous
  • Using your cell phone while driving
  • Tinkering with your radio
  • Having serious conversations with drivers
  • Driving while sleepy
  • Eating food with driving

Be Mindful Of Inclement Conditions

Inclement weather, particularly rain, snow, and ice, requires extra vigilance while driving on the road with semi-trucks. That’s because trucks are more likely to slip and slide on wet roads. Further, semi-truck drivers experience decreased visibility during inclement weather conditions more than typical passenger vehicles.

Be sure to give truck drivers more space during inclement weather than you would normally.

What to Do If You’re Involved in a Semi-Truck Accident

Even if you do everything you can to avoid an accident with a truck, it can still happen. If you’re involved in an accident with a semi-truck, firetruck, post office vehicle, or the like, you should take the following steps:

Driving Calling 911 After An Accident
  • Immediately call the police and report the accident
  • Check for injuries to other drivers involved in the truck accident
  • Seek immediate medical attention (even if you’re unaware of injuries)
  • Collect evidence at the scene (i.e., eyewitness information, pictures, and videos)
  • Exchange insurance and personal information
  • Contact a truck accident lawyer in Nevada

If you’ve been injured due to the negligence or recklessness of a truck driver, you may be eligible to seek maximum compensation for your injuries. Contact the best truck accident injury lawyer in Nevada for your circumstances to learn more.

How Long Does It Take To Receive A Truck Accident Settlement?

Even the most experienced truck accident lawyer can’t tell you how long it will take to receive a truck accident settlement.

Since truck accident claims typically involve large commercial companies and government-owned vehicles, the truck accident settlement process is notoriously complex and drawn-out. Generally, how long it takes to settle a truck accident claim depends on:

  • How many vehicles were involved in the accident
  • The severity of the truck accident and injuries sustained
  • The time it takes to investigate liability in the case thoroughly
  • The insurance company’s process
  • How long it takes your truck accident lawyer in Nevada to negotiate a settlement

If you find yourself in an accident with a truck in Nevada, its very important to have the best lawyer by your side.  Someone that understands what you’re going through and knows how to obtain maximum compensation for you.