Trucking Accidents a Summer Risk on Indiana Roadways

According to JConline, two truck drivers were killed around 7:30 a.m. in a three-semi crash along I-65 between the Indiana 25 and Indiana 43 exits. Two of the semis were stopped on the side of the road, with their triangles out, and we’re hit by a passing semi who failed to see them and so didn’t allow them enough safety space.But that’s not all with the accidents for that week. According to KYPost, another accident happen with the same scenario. A tractor-trailer was broken down on the side of the road when it was rear-ended by another passing semi. This accident forced officials to shut down part of the interstate along a stretch of eastbound Interstate 275 near Lawrenceburg.

Our Indiana truck accident attorneys understand that these large, commercial vehicles don’t operate like the passenger vehicles. Because of their size, weight and power, accidents involving these trucks oftentimes turn deadly. As a matter of fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that there were close to 4,000 people killed in trucking accidents across the U.S. in 2011. In addition to these fatalities, there were 100,000 people injured. Fatalities in accidents involving these trucks in 2011 actually increased 2 percent year over year. During that same year, Indianan saw close to 150 tractor-trailers involved in fatal accidents.

But whose fault is it?

Nearly 20 percent of all large-truck drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2011 had at least one prior speeding conviction, compared to 18 percent of passenger car drivers involved in fatal crashes.

So how can you help to avoid one of these accidents?

– Avoid cutting off large trucks. They take a lot longer to stop than our passenger vehicles do. You don’t want to get caught in front of one.

-Always wear a seat belt. This is your best defense against injury or death in the event of an accident.

-Stay out of a trucker’s blind spots. These are the areas around the truck that the driver cannot see. A good rule of thumb is to remember that if you can’t see a truck driver, then they cannot see you.

-Pay attention to the road and the traffic around you. When you are driving, please focus only on the road. If you need to attend to another matter while driving, safely pull over in a parking lot or rest stop.

-Keep a safety cushion around trucks. Try to leave a 10-car length gap when in front of a truck and 20-25 car lengths when behind a truck.

-Remember that trucks make wide turns. Because of their large size, remember that a truck making a right turn may first swing left to clear the corner. Conversely, a truck making a left turn may first swing right to clear vehicles and other objects on its left side. Expect this and be prepared! more Call Attorney Burton A. Padove if you or your child has been injured in an accident, at (219) 836 2200 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. More Blog Entries: Car Accident Fatalities on the Rise, NHTSA Reports, Indiana Injury and Family Lawyer Blog, June 26, 2013