Avoiding Collisions with Other Types of Vehicles
Car collisions don’t always happen the way drivers think they do. In many cases, they occur between cars and other types of vehicles, such as a car vs. tractor trailer accidents. There are countless auto accidents throughout Hudson Valley that involve cars and other types of vehicles that the average person may not be watching out for. These collisions can lead to serious injury and damage and should be carefully avoided.
- Car vs. tractor trailer – Collisions involving farm vehicles typically occur because traffic rules can be hard to interpret in rural settings or there is inadequate signage about which vehicles have the right of way. Cars drivers often make the mistake of assuming that they’re safe because farm vehicles are travelling at slower speeds. When driving in rural areas, drivers should ensure that they give tractor trailers plenty of distance and drive at reduced speeds until they have safely passed the other vehicle.
- Car vs. bicycle – Collisions with cyclist are common, especially in the city where cyclists and bike couriers seem to dart in and out of traffic. The best way for drivers to safely navigate city streets is to ensure that they double and triple check before crossing an intersection or changing lanes. It’s also important that drivers remember to shoulder check before opening the door of their car to exit when it’s parked on the street, as there are many collisions involving parked car doors opening into cyclist’s path, leaving the driver liable for a personal injury settlement.
- Car vs. delivery trucks – Another important aspect of city driving is being aware of delivery trucks and their drivers. Drivers should not assume that a parked truck isn’t a potential hazard. Delivery drivers are often hidden behind the trucks while they unload or are coming around the vehicle to get into the driver’s seat and their presence on the road can often be missed by other drivers. Collisions involving pedestrians can have serious legal consequences that can easily be avoided by slowing down around parked delivery trucks and proceeding with caution.
- Car vs. transport trucks – Hudson Valley highway auto accidents involving transport trucks are especially dangerous because of the high speed at which drivers are travelling. When large transport trucks are involved, it’s usually a losing battle for the driver of the much smaller car. Driving too closely behind a transport truck means that a car is not visible in the truck’s rearview mirrors, and that the car cannot see what is happening on the road ahead. If a driver needs to stop suddenly they won’t be able to see why and are likely to collide into the truck’s rear. Side-swipe type accidents are also common with transport trailers. Again, if a driver follows too closely they become invisible to the truck, so if both drivers make a move to change lanes at the same time it’s all too easy for a collision to occur. Drivers must ensure that they stay safe on the highways by leaving plenty of room in between their car and transport trucks.