When you are on the PA Turnpike, you expect to share the road with trucks, whether they are tractor-trailers or delivery trucks. Yet, when an accident occurs, it is crucial that you react in a manner that keeps you safe and protects your rights to compensation. At that point, the best step you can take is to hire a PA Turnpike truck accident lawyer.
But what can you do before an accident happens? Learn how to protect yourself in a PA Turnpike truck accident to minimize the risk of the most serious outcomes.
Use Defensive Driving Methods
Defensive driving is the process of operating your vehicle in a way that keeps you on the defensive, that is, monitoring for risks and minimizing them whenever possible. Defensive driving is always a good practice, even when you are not on the PA Turnpike. Some of the ways you can drive more defensively on the Turnpike, including in areas like Elk Township and Upper Merion, include the following:
- Avoid any distractions in the vehicle while you are on the Turnpike. That means not using your phone to text someone or to read an email. Avoid engaging in deep conversations with someone in the car with you. Be sure your focus stays on the roadway.
- Keep both of your hands on the wheel. This simple act gives you better control over the vehicle when you need to make quick but precise changes.
- Monitor trucks on the road with you and take action to put distance between yourself and those trucks if you see signs of trouble. That may include serving, behaving unpredictably, or speeding.
Defensive driving methods like these help you avoid an accident. They allow you to remain in control even if it seems like you cannot control the trucks on the road with you.
Know the Blind Spots
Blind spots are areas where the driver of a vehicle cannot see someone approaching through their mirrors. All vehicles have blind spots, but trucks have more of them and larger ones, which all increase the risk of serious injuries. A truck’s blind spots include:
- Directly in front of the truck, in the area that extends about 20 feet right in front of the truck’s grill
- The left side of the truck, usually around where the driver’s door starts and extends about one lane wide for about 30 feet
- On the right side of the truck, this is the largest and most dangerous blind spot, in that it extends from the front of the truck, past the rear of the truck, and covers as much as two lanes
- The rear of the truck’s blind spot is about 30 feet behind the truck itself
When you consider just how many and how large these blind spots are, you can see why there is so much danger in driving in them. If you cannot see the truck driver in their mirror when looking at it, chances are good they cannot see you either. To protect yourself from a PA Turnpike accident, avoid driving in any of these locations, even for a short period of time.
Follow the Rules of the Road Yourself
Another way to protect yourself from a truck accident on the PA Turnpike is to know the laws of the road and follow them. If a truck driver knows what to expect from you, they are less likely to create unsafe conditions. For example, if you are speeding, the risk of an accident is higher because the truck driver may not anticipate the rate of speed you are traveling when switching lanes.
Avoid passing illegally and maintain a safe distance of at least two cars. It is always a good idea to use turn signals to inform the truck driver of your intentions before you take action. Avoid reckless driving in any way. Remember, it is not just because it is the law but because driving your car to the letter of the law minimizes your risk of injuries.
Stay a Safe Distance Away
On the PA Turnpike, trucks need more space in front of them to stop but also more space behind them to slow down. If you have been behind a truck coming off one of the Turnpike exits, you may know that they move very slowly and methodically. That is because there is a significant need to slow the truck’s momentum down safely to avoid any damage to the cargo.
When you put more distance between you and the truck in front of you, you give yourself more time to react to changing conditions. You can see when a truck driver is steering into the wrong lane. You have more time to react and get out of the way.
If You Were Hurt, Protect Yourself with Legal Guidance
By working with a PA Turnpike truck accident lawyer, you protect yourself from the serious risks common in truck accidents. It does not take long to be at risk with so many trucks. If you are hurt, contact Kwartler Manus for a free consultation to discuss your rights.