Memorial Day Weekend has come and gone, and many in Delaware have either already hit the road for traveling or are planning to do so in the near future. Summertime road trips can be a memorable annual event, but steering clear of some of the dangers involved can help keep this tradition alive.
For residents of Delaware, a trip to various popular vacation destinations usually means getting on the interstates and sharing the road with countless others. Some of these other vehicles inevitably include large semi-trucks hauling their loads across the country. Understandably, driving near these massive vehicles makes some people nervous, and for good reason. Truck accidents can be particularly devastating when an 18-wheeler collides with a smaller passenger car. Regardless of the type of collision it is often catastrophic for the person in the smaller car, and often for the truck driver as well. Thus, avoiding truck accidents is a goal everyone can appreciate all summer long.
One of the most basic safety precautions regarding trucks on the interstate is increased following distance. Too short of a distance between cars is the cause of countless unnecessary wrecks, but this is especially important with semis. A huge semi-truck can create a wind current of its own that affects the stability and handling of other vehicles, particularly those following closely behind, motorcycles and vehicles that are hauling loads of their own such as boats on trailers or campers.
According to the well-known roadside service AAA, motorists can do themselves a favor by simply not following semi trucks too closely. A few moments of patience can save a driver – and his or her passengers – a lifetime of trauma. Rear-ending a truck can cause extremely serious injury, fatal wounds, a multi-vehicle accident and more. For survivors, affording medical care and rehabilitation can be a tremendous challenge. For family members of deceased victims, the devastation can be endless. An experienced truck accident attorney can investigate negligence in relation to a truck accident and determine if it caused a damaging incident.
Source: AAA, “Driving Around Big Trucks,” accessed May 31, 2016
