Each day, trucks crisscross America’s highways, carrying goods from one location to the next. The drivers behind the wheel provide a crucial service and are often under a tremendous amount of pressure to reach their destination as quickly as possible. This pressure can lead to irresponsible, even reckless, driving that puts everyone on our nation’s roads at increased danger of being involved in an accident. Tennessee’s roads are no exception.

In fact, according to a recent report by the Truck Safety Coalition – a “non-profit advocacy group dedicated to reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by truck-related crashes” – Tennessee ranks number 11 on the top 12 list of deadliest states for truck accidents. The report uses data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), ranking states based on “the top 12 truck crash fatalities per 100,000 population for 2020, the most recent year for which data is available.”

Earning a spot on this “deadliest dozen” list is cause for concern, as the number of fatal truck accidents continues to increase and was up 13% in 2020 over 2019. Truck accidents are serious. All truck accidents. There is rarely such a thing as a “minor” accident when a huge tractor-trailer is involved, especially when the other vehicle is a car or SUV. The list of injuries from a truck accident can range from cuts and scrapes, soft-tissue damage, and broken bones to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), spinal cord injuries (SCI), burns, internal injuries, and traumatic amputation – and those are the crash victims who survive.

What makes trucks so dangerous?

Whether you call it an 18-wheeler, a tractor-trailer, a semi-truck, or a big rig, the trucks that traverse our highways are huge compared with the average passenger vehicle. An 18-wheeler usually weighs in at around 80,000 pounds – that’s 40 tons – when fully loaded, and stretches 70 to 80 feet in length. That difference in size means that in a truck accident involving a passenger vehicle, the outcome can be deadly for the occupants of the car or SUV. Even a seemingly minor truck accident can cause serious or catastrophic injuries and psychological trauma to those involved.

The length and weight of an 18-wheeler directly impacts its maneuverability and the amount of time and distance needed for it to stop safely. However, these factors are not always known or taken into consideration by the drivers of smaller vehicles when sharing the road with a large truck. Because the average passenger vehicle is smaller and typically 20 to 30 times lighter than a fully loaded tractor-trailer, drivers of passenger cars and SUVs may not realize the challenges truck drivers have to contend with on the roads, such as:

• Huge blind spots – a lot of them. Truck drivers must contend with what is known as a “reduced field of vision” thanks to the many large blind spots on a tractor-trailer. Blind spots are the areas on the road that the driver is unable to see using the rearview or side mirrors. They are located all around and at the front and back of the truck. Drivers of passenger vehicles often assume that a truck driver can see them when they cannot.
• Needing more time and space to stop. Whereas the average passenger vehicle can stop fairly quickly at a short distance – weather and other circumstances permitting – that is simply not the case for a large truck. An 18-wheeler requires substantially more time and distance to come to a complete stop. This longer stopping time means that if another vehicle cuts in front of a tractor-trailer or stops suddenly in front of it, the truck driver may not have enough time to safely stop the truck.
• Lack of maneuverability. Truck drivers must consider the size of their vehicle when merging into traffic or changing lanes. These can be especially dangerous for other vehicles on the roads because a truck cannot move through traffic as quickly or as easily as a passenger vehicle.

In addition to merging and changing lanes, trucks like 18-wheelers require more space to turn in any direction, particularly right-hand turns. These wide turns can be complicated and demand all of the driver’s skill and attention in order to be executed safely.

Other factors such as inclement weather conditions – particularly wind, as high winds can throw a tractor-trailer off-balance, making it difficult to control on the roads – and traffic conditions like bumper-to-bumper traffic, increase the challenges facing truck drivers and the danger to everyone else sharing the road.

How to avoid a truck accident in or near Knoxville

Avoiding a truck crash is sometimes easier said than done. The one fail-safe way to prevent a truck crash is to not drive near trucks. However, with so many trucks on Tennessee’s roads, this is not a realistic option. In order to safely travel on the same roads and highways as tractor-trailers, drivers of passenger vehicles should take reasonable precautions such as:

• Keep your distance. Always maintain a safe following distance of at least four seconds while driving behind an 18-wheeler. This is the minimum amount of space you should leave between your vehicle and the truck – you may need to leave more space depending on road and weather conditions. Remember, the more space between your car and the truck, the more time you have to react if a dangerous situation occurs. If the truck stops suddenly, has a tire blowout, or needs to make a wide turn, that additional space and time gives you a chance to react safely. Driving too closely behind a large truck can also obstruct your view of the road ahead and any potential obstacles. Staying back a safe distance means that you can see more of the road, which in turn allows you to anticipate any issues you may need to react to quickly.
• Always pass trucks on the left. Driving in a tractor-trailer’s blind spot is dangerous but sometimes unavoidable – especially when you need to pass the truck. When this happens, it is important to do so on the truck’s left, where the its blind spot tends to be smaller. Make sure that there is enough space in front of the truck for your vehicle to safely fit. This means the truck driver can maintain a safe stopping distance between their truck and your car, and that you can maintain a safe distance between your car and any vehicle in front of you. Speeding up to cut a truck off and then immediately slamming on your brakes to slow down can cause an accident.
• Stay alert – it may save your life. Keeping your attention on the road, road conditions, and the other vehicles nearby is always a priority when driving. It is absolutely vital when sharing the road with large trucks. Your reaction time – and the space you give yourself to react in the event of a dangerous or potentially dangerous situation – can mean the difference between life and death. Giving trucks a wide berth can help you avoid a truck accident.

Trucking companies know that the pressure they put on their drivers can lead to serious, even deadly, accidents. However, their goal is to protect their bottom line, and they pay their insurance companies and lawyers to do just that. Even when it is obvious that the truck driver caused the accident, the trucking company and their insurer will do everything they can to pin the blame on someone else – usually the victim. When that does not work, they typically offer a settlement below the amount you deserve, one that will likely not cover the cost of emergency and ongoing medical treatment, long-term care, loss of income, or other financial hardship due to injuries sustained in the accident.

If you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident in Knoxville, you are entitled to fair compensation. The trucking company, their insurance provider, and their lawyers will fight aggressively to avoid taking responsibility and to minimize any settlement you may receive. At Banks & Jones, our experienced Knoxville truck accident lawyers fight even harder to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. We know how trucking companies and their insurers operate, and we are not intimidated by their tactics. We take a strategic approach and we always Fight 2 Win. Give us a call at 865-290-2704 or complete our contact form today.