Attorneys James T. Carey and P. Zachary Stewart

Pursuing your Claims. Protecting your Rights.

Never assume large vehicle drivers will look out for your safety

On Behalf of | May 6, 2021 | Personal Injury

Motorists in Weirton or elsewhere in West Virginia often share the roads with large vehicles. It is only natural to be concerned about safety because of the sheer size of any big rig that travels beside or behind another vehicle. Accidents involving cars and large trucks are known to leave car occupants with catastrophic or fatal injuries.

Big vehicles need extra space to come to a halt and make safe turns, and the drivers often fail even to notice smaller vehicles. Drivers of passenger vehicles need to be cautious and alert when taking road trips, commuting to work or even running errands.

Precautions for passenger vehicle drivers to take

  • Stay out of the truck driver’s blind spots.
  • Avoid driving alongside big vehicles if at all possible.
  • Allow extra space at intersections for large vehicles to maneuver, especially if they make right turns.
  • When passing big rigs, it is essential to wait until the truck’s headlights are visible in the rearview mirror before rejoining that lane.
  • Never cut in front of large trucks because they cannot come to an immediate stop.
  • Do not squeeze in between a turning truck and the curb, which is in the trucker’s blind spot.
  • Slow down and pull over when ambulances, EMS vehicles and fire engines approach from any direction.
  • Look out for special warning signs when driving in cities where streetcars or light rail vehicles are present.

Regardless of how many precautions West Virginia drivers take, they will always be at risk of falling victim to the negligence of other drivers. If that happens, injured crash victims likely have grounds to file personal injury lawsuits in a civil court. Similarly, surviving family members of those who lost their lives in such vehicle accidents could pursue financial relief by filing wrongful death claims.

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