What Not To Do When Driving Close to Trucks

Automobiles and trucks share the road all across the state of Florida.  We have all heard drivers complain about truckers on the roads, and we have heard truckers complain about the automobiles on the road.  We at The Umansky Law Firm have spent more than a decade representing clients who have been injured in truck accidents in Orlando, and we know that a few simple precautions would make the roads safer for both automobiles and trucks.  The rules of the road for both truck drivers and automobile drivers actually are quite simple.  Use common sense and consideration for your fellow drivers. 

First, and most important, trucks cannot stop in the same amount of space as a car going at the same speed.  Because of their mass, a truck requires far more room to stop than an automobile.  Therefore, car drivers cannot cut off a truck driver and expect the truck to be able to brake and stop or even slow significantly immediately.   By the same token, truck drivers cannot tailgate because they cannot stop as quickly as the car in front of them is able to stop.  Keep a safe distance between all trucks and cars.

Second, car drivers and truck drivers must recognize that because of their size, trucks do not handle like automobiles.  Trucks may be more than 100 feet long.  A vehicle of that size does not have the responsiveness of an automobile, and cannot maneuver in traffic like a car.  A truck cannot react to automobiles in the same way other cars can.  Truck drivers must remain alert for situations in which they may have to react quickly, such as avoiding an accident on the side of the road, and give themselves as much time as possible to take action.

If despite your best efforts you have been injured in a truck accident, call The Umansky Law Firm in Orlando at 407-599–3838 for a free consultation, or complete our web form and we will contact you.