Driving in and of itself is a dangerous undertaking. Even under the best of circumstances, you might find yourself involved in an accident that is not your fault.
Driving becomes exceptionally challenging when bad weather sets in. In fact, the U.S Federal Highway Administration reports that 21 percent of traffic accidents are weather-related. Snow, rain, fog, sleet and sun glare – all can impact the driver’s performance. The result, trucking accidents are highly likely to happen.
THE DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF TRUCKS AND BAD WEATHER
It is not uncommon for trucking accidents to occur thanks to human error or mechanical failures. But what happens when bad weather aggravates the human or mechanical error that eventually results in the trucking accident? Thanks to their weight, trucks are highly vulnerable to weather-related accidents. Here are the weather conditions that are likely to trigger truck accidents:
HEAVY PRECIPITATION
Rain, snow, drizzle or hails – all these forms of precipitation impair the driver’s visibility making it difficult for them to judge and keep safe distance from the car ahead. Reduced visibility also increases the risk of veering off the lane and causing head-on collisions with oncoming traffic. Besides impaired visibility, precipitation also reduces the tires’ grip on the tarmac resulting in reduced traction.
HEAVY WINDS
Heavy winds can greatly impact a moving truck’s stability. Wind that blows from different angles can cause the truck and its cargo to lose their balance resulting in collisions. Besides destabilizing the truck, high winds can also trigger sand storms that can obstruct the driver’s visibility. And since high winds are never easy to predict, it is important that truck drivers are conversant with the weather conditions in the areas they are driving through.
It is tough enough to navigate a loaded truck in perfect weather. If you are involved in a truck accident that is not your fault, it is important that you take appropriate steps to protect your rights and interests.
