Beware The “No Zone”: Safe Driving Around Semi Trucks
18 wheeler trucks are huge, heavy vehicles. In an auto accident a car is likely to get wrecked as it simply cannot stand the force of the impact from a commercial semi, tanker or flatbed truck. As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that there are routinely catastrophic 18 wheeler crashes throughout the metroplex. The vast majority of these collisions are usually the fault of the truck driver. They assume that because they are driving such a large vehicle they can bully other motorists.
Not all commercial truck drivers are bad drivers, however. Most take their professional responsibilities very seriously. However, truck accidents can happen to anyone at any time.
Whenever you find yourself driving near an 18 wheeler truck, it's always wise to be cautious. Unfortunately, due to their large size, the truck driver might not be able to see you if you're either following behind or alongside their trailer. Just as you have blind spots in your car, so a truck has much larger blind spots known as "no zones."
You don't want to be driving in a no zone. If the truck driver can't see you, then you risk being hit if they change lanes or make a turn without signaling. This diagram shows where the no zones are on a large truck: directly behind and in front of the truck, and at angles to both the left and the right of the truck bed. The concept is the same in other larger vehicles such as school buses or coaches. If you're driving in the no zone, then you should assume that the driver cannot see you.
If you're following too close, you're at risk of crashing into the undercarriage of the truck in the event of a sudden stop. Similarly, if you cut in front of a truck and then have to slam on the brakes, there is little hope that the truck is going to be able to stop before smashing into the back of you. A good rule of thumb is that if you can't see the cab's mirrors, then the driver probably can't see you either.
It is always advisable when driving near semis to try and stay away from them as much as possible. Since they are such large vehicles even the smallest error by the driver could mean devastating property damage or personal injuries. This is particularly true in situations such as construction zones where there are narrow lanes, or in windy conditions since a sudden gust could cause an 18 wheeler to blow off course into your lane.
Always pay close attention to a truck's signal lights to see whether they are indicating an intention to change lanes or make a turn and get out of the way as quickly as possible. A professional trucker is unlikely to simply try to force you out of their way, but it you are driving in their no zone, they probably haven't seen you so might believe that the road is free.
Remember: always be cautious and alert when driving around large trucks. In the event of a wreck, you will be the one who gets hurt.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Texas truck accident which was not your fault, call the experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at the Anderson Law Firm for a free, no obligation consultation on your situation. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.
Mark Anderson has been practicing personal injury law since 1991 and is recognised as one of the best attorneys in his field.
Mark is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization – a distinction held by fewer than 2% of Texas lawyers. He was selected as a life member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum as recognition for his success in recovering compensation for his clients. He has been honored with the prestigious AV Rating by the Martindale Hubbard System and has been rated 10/10 (the highest level possible) by the AVVO Rating System which ranks attorneys based on experience, conduct and industry recognition. Mark was selected as a Top Personal Injury Attorney by Fort Worth Magazine in 2009 and 2010.
For more information about Mark, see his biography.
