In recent years, we have witnessed a surge in accidents involving commercial vehicles, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. In Illinois, around 5,500 truck accidents were reported in 2012, and it was seen that passenger vehicle occupants faced the highest risk of injury. More than 3,500 people were killed in crashes involving tractor trailers, of them, only 17 percent were truck drivers. The remaining 83 percent were occupants of passenger cars, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists. The problem is that many drivers treat large vehicles such as tractor trailers as they treat any other motor vehicle such as a passenger car. However, there are differences that every driver should be aware of. In this post, our Chicago injury attorney will discuss some of the key benefits between passenger vehicles and tractor-trailers.

Be Extra Cautious

The biggest and most obvious differences between commercial and passenger vehicles is in their weight and size. An average tractor trailer may weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, and on the other hand, an average passenger car weighs around 3,500 pounds. Another thing that makes trucks dangerous is that they have high ground clearance, so there is a high risk of the car getting crushed.

Other risks include the distance the larger commercial vehicle requires to come to a stop or to make a turn. At intersections, the commercial vehicles generally have to pull to the left side to make a right hand turn, and to the right side to make a left hand side. Also, when braking, the trucks have to drive at least 40 percent father before coming to a halt. It is important for car drivers to maintain a larger following distance with the commercial vehicle to prevent accidents in sudden braking situations and intersections.

Another major problem is that truckers have significant blind spots that can obscure small vehicles. Larger blind spots are on the right and rear of the tractor trailer. The front right corner and left side of these vehicles have smaller blind spots. If you are unable to see the truck driver in the mirrors, you are probably in the blind pot, which means you need to be extremely careful. Any negligence such as driving alongside the truck at same speed could land you in a car wreck.

Accidents Caused by Commercial Truck Driver Negligence

By following safety guidelines, car drivers can prevent many accidents. However, truck driver negligence is often a factor in crashes that cause serious injuries. In accidents involving a tractor trailer and passenger car, the car occupants are often the worst affected, and suffer serious and often fatal injuries.

If you have suffered injuries in an accident caused by a negligent tractor trailer driver, you should get in touch with a competent and qualified personal injury lawyer. Call (312) 957-4166 to speak with a top-rated Chicago injury lawyer at Willens Law Offices. We can evaluate your claim free of charge and help you determine what the best steps are moving forward.