Protect Yourself from a Palm Beach Truck Accident

If you are involved in a Palm Beach truck crash, your chances of emerging alive are very slim. This is due to the sheer size of the vehicle your car is going up against. Even if your car is the safest in its class, it has a very small chance of making it through a Palm Beach truck accident.

The best way to ensure you survive a Florida semi truck crash is to never be involved in one in the first place. There are several driving behaviors motorists can adopt that will help to prevent them from being involved in a Palm Beach semi truck crash.

• Respect a trucker’s space – Large trucks, such as semis, need more space than other vehicles. Remember to not follow a truck too closely and never cut a truck off. Due to their weight, trucks need a lot more room to stop than most other vehicles. If you merge closely in front of a truck and have to stop quickly, it is unlikely that the trucker will have enough room to safely stop their truck. Keep in mind that if the roadways are wet, the trucker will need even more room to stop.
• Trucks also need more room than cars to turn corners, especially to the right. Do not try to squeeze between the truck and the curb. Give the trucker the space they need to maneuver their vehicle safely.
• Give fair warning – If a semi truck is following you in traffic, give the trucker a fair warning of your intentions. If you know you are going to turn soon, tap your brakes and turn on your signal far before the expected turn. This way, the trucker has the advance notice that he needs to slow down or stop safely.
• Be visible – Semi-trucks have numerous large blind spots. Protect yourself from a Florida semi crash by staying out of these “no-zones.” If possible, do not pass trucks on the right side; however, if you must, keep a careful eye on the truck to make sure they do not start to move over and get out of the blind spot quickly. Remember, if you cannot see a trucker’s mirrors, they cannot see you.
• Use your headlights – It is a smart practice to always use your headlights when you are driving, even if you are not driving with large trucks. Anything you can do to increase your visibility is encouraged.
• Yield to other vehicles – A little courtesy can go a long way. Merge safely with other cars, and allow them enough room to merge in front of you. If a semi-truck has to move over to the left lane to allow traffic to enter the freeway, leave them enough space to safely merge back to the right. Do not attempt to pass them on the right side.

Sometimes, no matter how careful a driver is, they cannot prevent their involvement in a Palm Beach semi truck accident. If you or someone you love has suffered significant injuries in a Palm Beach tractor trailer crash, contact Fetterman & Associates. Call our office at (866) 865-1244 to speak with an experienced Palm Beach truck crash lawyer today.