Yesterday, a 61-year-old woman was critically injured when she was hit by a truck in Queens. The pedestrian was walking at Beach Channel Drive and Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway when she was struck by the tractor-trailer. She is currently being treated at Jamaica Hospital.
Truck accidents are unfortunately all too common, especially in heavily populated areas. Because of their large size and shape, tractor-trailers have a number of blind spots – also called “no-zones” – around the truck where accidents are likely to occur. These accidents are often fatal for pedestrians bicyclists, motorcyclists, or drivers of passenger vehicles. In fact, 2014 alone saw 3,660 truck accident fatalities, the vast majority of which were other drivers.
Avoiding a truck accident begins with knowing where a truck’s blind spots are located. Consider these tips for each of a truck’s four no-zones:
- Front no-zone: Trucks take twice as long to come to a stop, so don’t ever cut in front of a truck! Make sure to leave yourself, and the driver of the truck, enough room when merging.
- Side no-zone: If you can’t see the driver’s face in their side mirrors, they can’t see you! Avoid spending too much time lingering right next to a truck – either pass quickly or allow the truck to pass you.
- Rear no-zone: Trucks don’t have a rear window, so they aren’t able to see anyone driving directly behind them. Don’t tailgate a big truck – if it needs to brake, you may not have enough space to avoid a collision.
- Right no-zone: Trucks make wide right turns, so be sure to avoid squeezing by a truck that is turning. The truck will likely end up in your lane without even knowing you’re there.
Drivers who don’t follow these tips increase their chances of being involved in an accident. We hope that you don’t ever need to call us, but if you are injured in an accident, Koenigsberg & Associates Law Offices is here to help. With decades of experience assisting truck accident victims in New York City, we know what it takes to secure full and fair compensation for injured clients. Plus, there is no risk in giving us a call – initial case evaluations are provided free of charge, and you pay nothing for our services unless we win your case.
We are available 24/7 to answer your phone call. Schedule your free truck accident consultation at (718) 690-3132.