Rockford Truck Accident Attorney Offers Six Tips for Sharing the Road With Tractor-Trailers and Other Large Trucks

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says that trucks make up approximately 8 percent of vehicles on the road today. However, commercial truck crashes account for 12 percent of people killed on our nation’s roads. This disparity makes sense when you think about the immense size and weight of a large truck and the force that it exerts when it crashes into a passenger car. A Rockford truck accident can cause significant injuries including head injuries, spinal cord injuries, severe burns, limb amputations, and death.

The following tips can help to prevent a Rockford truck accident, keeping you and your family safe on I-90, Illinois Route 251, Harrison Avenue, East State Street, or Perryville Road:

1. Pass trucks on the left – accelerate slightly and keep your speed consistent. Be sure you can see the truck’s entire cab in your rear-view mirror before you signal and pull in front of the truck.
2. Avoid a truck’s blind spots –They are located directly in front of the cab, in the rear, and on either side of the truck.
3. Do not cut off a truck – they are heavy and require much more time to slow down or stop than your car does. Signal well before you pull in front of a truck and be sure there is plenty of room to do so.
4. Signal your intentions – to stop, slow down, change lanes, or turn, giving the truck driver plenty of time to react.
5. Allow for wide right turns – Trucks often veer to the left before making a right turn. If you try to squeeze in on the right, between the truck and the curb, the truck could hit your car as it turns the corner.
6. Avoid lingering near a truck – You could be injured in a Rockford truck accident if the truck experiences a tire blowout or if it swerves or stops suddenly.

While you may be doing everything possible to stay safe on the road, you cannot control the actions of other drivers—including truckers. If you have been seriously injured in a truck accident in Rockford that was not your fault, you need a strong advocate to help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your medical expenses, lost work, and pain and suffering. Contact an experienced Rockford truck accident injury attorney at The Fisk & Monteleone Law Firm for legal assistance. Our hardworking and skilled attorneys will take the time to understand your situation, answer your questions, and help you to determine your next legal steps—all during a free case evaluation. Contact us today at 815-962–0044 to schedule your complimentary consultation.