The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just announced that 3,757 of fatalities from motor vehicle collisions were the result of crashes with tractor trailers and other commercial trucks in 2011.
Even though they only comprise 3% of the vehicles on the road, these giant trucks caused a disproportionate 12% of the deaths. And worse, 72% of the people killed were in the smaller vehicle.
Consider these facts as you drive next to a tractor-trailer:
* They can weigh as much as 40 tons fully loaded.
* They require up to 40% more distance to come to a stop.
* Their drivers can drive up to 11 hours in a day and 77 hours in a week.
Here are some safety tips to avoid being hit an 18 wheeler: keep your distance by leaving enough room for braking and maneuvering, stay out of their blind spots, be careful when passing, and get out of their way if they are tailgating you.
If you have been involved in a collision with a large commercial truck, call the Texas Trucking Accident Lawyers at Berenson Law Offices at 817-885-8000 or 1-888-801-8585. We have handled tractor-trailer and commercial vehicle cases in Texas and in other states for over 33 years and are here to answer any questions that you might have.