The trucking industry is competitive and truckers take it seriously. Unfortunately, this can lead to mistakes while driving and those mistakes can lead to truck accidents. We all know that commercial trucks are much larger and heavier than a typical vehicle, which means that even a minor truck accident can lead to significant property damage and serious injuries.
There are many reasons for truck accidents, including truckers tailgating. Read on to learn more about this issue. If you’ve been injured in an accident with a commercial truck then Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas looks forward to speaking with you. Contact us today at 909-982-0707 for a free consultation and we’ll let you know if you have a case or not.
The reasons truckers tailgate
In most cases, a trucker isn’t tailgating because they want to make your life difficult or because they’re purposefully reckless. They are typically under incredible pressure to get their loads to their destination in as little time as possible. This is due in part to the fact that they’re typically paid per mile so the faster they can travel those miles, the more money they’ll make per hour.
Unfortunately, this pressure can lead to drivers who act irresponsibly or are overly aggressive. They can speed, they can change lanes unsafely, and they can tailgate. Any of these behaviors increase the chances of an accident and the chances of a catastrophic injury.
What is tailgating and why is it such a problem?
First of all, let’s cover what tailgating actually means. It is a basic term that typically refers to driving behind another vehicle so closely that it’s unsafe. No matter what type of vehicle is doing it, it’s unsafe, but when it’s a truck it’s even worse. Why? Because trucks need a much longer distance to stop. In the event of an accident, that truck would plow into the car in front of it if it’s tailgating.
Truckers tailgate for a number of reasons. In some cases, they’re on hilly roads or steep declines and they’re trying to get at the right speed and maintain it. This can be challenging to do and it can cause them to tailgate to keep up their speed. They also may tailgate in order to pass another vehicle if traffic heavy, or they might even tailgate a car to try and force it to move to another lane or speed up.
Finally, some truckers want to take advantage of the vacuum caused by other trucks. If they’re in this vacuum, they can catch momentum that allows them to go faster while using less fuel. This is particularly dangerous because it means numerous trucks are already too close together.
At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas we want to stress that while there may be many excuses truck drivers give for tailgating, it is always dangerous and it is never okay. If you’ve been injured or have suffered property damage as the result of a trucker then we hope you’ll call us at 909-982-0707 right away for a free case evaluation.
