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  • Tips for Handling Your Accident with an 18-Wheeler

    on February 24, 2014

    on February 24, 2014 by Gene M. Lerner

    Gene's picDrivers and passengers of vehicles often sustain serious and life-altering injuries when they are involved in an accident with a big-rig truck. There are several potentially liable parties in this type of wreck, so it is essential that you consult with a personal injury attorney to help you recover from the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

    According to Road Safe America, an organization that provides helpful information about trucking accidents, many crashes between heavy commercial trucks and passenger cars can be avoided by following these safety tips:

    • Large trucks behave very differently from cars, so it is essential to be alert when driving near a semi-truck.
    • When tractor-trailers turn right, they often swing wide to the left to make the turn because the rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels. Motorists should never attempt to pass a truck on the right when it is turning right.
    • Be careful to avoid driving in a truck’s blind spots. As a general rule, if the truck’s side mirrors are not visible to you, the truck driver cannot see you. One-third of all crashes between large trucks and autos occur in the blind spots around a truck.
    • Commercial trucks take a significant amount of distance to fully stop, so it is dangerous for a car to cut in front of a truck. If you should slow down or hit your brakes, the larger truck may not be able to stop in time to avoid hitting you.
    • Motorists should allow trucks at least four to six seconds of space in wet conditions and at highway speeds.

    Following the above tips can help keep you safe, but they can also assist you in your claim against a negligent commercial truck driver. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, bus or other large vehicle, contact Slater, Tenaglia, Fritz & Hunt for help.

    When another party’s negligence has caused an injury to you, it is important to understand your legal options. Whether you have been in an auto accident, slip and fall, hurt by a product, or other type of accident, Slater, Tenaglia, Fritz & Hunt can help. For your convenience, we have office locations in New Jersey and New York. To schedule your appointment and free consultation, call us at (201) 820-6001 in New Jersey or (212) 692-0200 in New York. We can also be found on the Internet, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+ and Youtube. And remember, we handle all of our personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay our fees unless we recover for you. Like us on Facebook.

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