Aggressive Drivers Can Cause Truck Accidents

A growing number of truck accidents are proving to be the result of drivers being unnecessarily aggressive while out on the road. Careless and aggressive behaviors including unsafe lane changes, wide turns, and refusal to yield to other traffic can result in accidents causing severe injury and even death.

Why is This Such a Big Problem?

When hearing that aggressive driving causes such a high number of truck accidents, the first question most people ask is why is this such a prevalent problem with truck drivers. The answer is somewhat simple. Since trucks are so large, drivers often feel superior to other road users and may not feel as though the rules of the road apply to them. While truck drivers are highly trained professional drivers who have had additional driving training, they are not immune to making mistakes on the road. Statistics suggest that truck drivers are the most aggressive drivers in the country. However, only 14 states have legislation that addresses aggressive driving by commercial drivers and 11 of those states have passed an aggressive truck driving law in an attempt to reduce the number of truck accidents that take place.

Spotting an Aggressive Driver

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the definition of aggressive driving is ‘a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.’  It is usually the case that rather than just being a careless driver, aggressive drivers are reckless and may even be intentionally behaving in this manner to intimidate other road users. Thousands of lives are claimed annually in truck accidents that involve aggressive driving, and with such large vehicles in the mix, the results are truly devastating.

If you know the hallmarks of an aggressive driver, you can do what is necessary to avoid them and reduce your chances of being involved in a truck accident. Some of the most common aggressive driving behaviors that are responsible for truck accidents include:

• Driver Failing to be Attentive
• No Signal Before Changing Lanes
• Refusing to Yield the Right of Way to Other Vehicles
• Failure to Come to a Complete Stop at Stop Signs
• Excessive Speeding
• Repetitive Braking and Accelerating

If you do spot an aggressive truck driver on the road, the best possible advice that we can offer is to keep your distance as much as possible. Change lanes or pull over to allow them to pass you. It is also advisable to contact police, giving them as much detail as possible to identify the truck in question.

What to do in The Event of a Truck Accident

Unfortunately, even if you know the signs to look for and do your best to stay out of harm's way, it is simply not possible to avoid all truck accidents. Even taking aggressive drivers out of the equation, accidents do happen. If you are involved in a truck accident and believe that the driver was aggressive or negligent, then you could have grounds for a lawsuit. However, various things need to be proven. There must be evidence to suggest that the driver neglected his or her duty of care towards other drivers. It must also be possible to prove there were no other contributing factors that may have caused the truck accident, including things like adverse weather conditions or truck malfunction.

If you are injured in a truck accident, then it is best to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer for advice.

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Butler, Vines and Babb is a leading law firm in Knoxville, TN, with extensive litigation experience in Medical Malpractice Law, Birth Injury Law, Trucking Accident Law, Personal Injury Law, and Business Law. Contact us today at 

www.butlervinesbabblaw.com or call 866-701-9631.

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