Safety Tips for Avoiding an Ocala Truck Accident
Ocala, Florida is a popular tourist destination. This means it also experiences heavy traffic – including large trucks such as eighteen wheelers, tractor trailers, semi trucks and other big rigs. If you have been involved in an Ocala auto accident involving a truck, contact an experienced auto accident attorney as soon as possible to protect your right to compensation.
Truck Safety Tips
Large trucks are more likely to be involved in accidents, and they cause more damage when they do. Follow our safety tips to reduce your chances of being involved in a truck accident:
- Always leave plenty of following distance between yourself and a truck. Large, heavy trucks require greater stopping distance to avoid obstacles in the road.
- Take precautions to ensure you are seen. Drivers of large trucks have poorer visibility than drivers of passenger cars. Be sure to use your signals and headlights to help truck drivers see your vehicle.
- Be aware of driver risks – both from yourself and other drivers on the road. The Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration presented a study to Congress on Large Truck Crash Causation. The most common crash factors were all driver related (including legal drug use, travelling too fast for road conditions, unfamiliarity with the roadway, and not paying attention to hazards and condition). Truck drivers were also prone to fatigue and feeling pressure from motor carriers to complete more miles. Protect yourself by eliminating all distractions within your own vehicle, and learning to recognize dangerous driving patterns from large vehicles on the roadway. Report any unsafe driving you witness.
- Pay attention to the cargo of trucks around you. Hazardous materials must be labeled with appropriate placards. Be sure to allow adequate distance between yourself and any large vehicle transporting hazardous or flammable materials.
- Tire blowouts. These incidents are more common in hot weather. They are particularly dangerous for heavy vehicles – such as large trucks – because the resulting loss of control of the vehicle causes even more damage on the way to a stop. Again, leave plenty of stopping distance between yourself and other large vehicles on the road. Signal any drivers with loose tires or other dangerous equipment.
- Slow down! Be particularly cautious when circumstances demand it. Inclement weather, poor visibility, and Florida’s infamous hurricane season can all pose highly dangerous risks to vehicles that do not slow down. Construction zones also pose greater risks, as there are often workers present and more large vehicles in the vicinity. Pay attention to your surroundings and adapt your driving behavior accordingly.
Contact an Experienced Ocala Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, contact Meldon Law at 800-373-8000 to schedule your free consultation with an experienced, aggressive attorney. Our attorneys have decades of experience in protecting the rights of truck accident victims. Our friendly, professional staff will protect your legal rights and ensure a fair outcome for your case.
