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Avoiding 18-wheeler accidents in Oklahoma

An important part of truck accident prevention is knowing what trucks are physically capable of. Trucks are the largest vehicles on the road and put cars in more danger than themselves. Truck accidents frequently involve overrides or underrides. The first occurs when a truck collides into the back of a car and rides over it, and the second when a car collides into the back of a truck and is forced under it. Rear underride guards are mandated for all trucks weighing 10,000 pounds or more, but they are of somewhat limited utility.

Big rigs also have long braking distances. The prevalence of no-zones, or blind spots, on trucks can lead to a lane-change straight into parallel traffic. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has reported that a third of all truck accidents involve no-zones.

In wet weather, trucks will spray water, mud, and snow onto car windshields, which may result in an accident. This, and many of the above-mentioned scenarios, can be avoided if car drivers give trucks the space they need.

If a passenger car driver who is injured in a truck accident did not cut off the truck or do anything else that could be considered negligence, then a lawyer representing the victim can have the accident scene investigated, gather any eyewitness testimony, and review the police report in the effort to find evidence that the truck driver is at fault. For example, the driver may have been distracted, drunk, fatigued, or encouraged by the trucking company to rush a delivery. The attorney can attempt to negotiate a settlement with the company\’s insurer. If the offer is inadequate, a lawsuit seeking compensation for the injured victim\’s losses could be filed.

Source: Esurance, \”Sharing the road with large trucks\”, Oct. 3, 2017