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Tailgating is Always Dangerous but it Can be Deadly When Trucks Do It

Everyone wants to feel safe when they behind the wheel of a car. Every passenger in a vehicle wants to know that steps have been taken to ensure they are as safe as possible. Unfortunately, there are decisions made very day that make the roads more dangerous than they have to be. One of those decisions is tailgating.

While this practice is dangerous no matter who is doing it, there is no question that when a truck is tailgating, the potential consequences are deadly. Read on to find out what tailgating really is, why trucks do it, and how you can stay safe around it.

Truck drivers are under a lot of pressure

The main reason that truck drivers take part in aggressive behavior like tailgating and speeding is because they are in an industry that is very competitive. They often feel that they are under a great amount of pressure to get their loads to their destination as quickly as possible. Too often, this pressure can result in irresponsible choices including erratic lane changes, speeding, and tailgating. Any of these behaviors can greatly increase the chances of a truck accident.

Tailgating and other dangerous truck behaviors

Tailgating refers to a truck driving close enough to the vehicle in front of it as to be unsafe. As mentioned above, it is always dangerous but when it is a large truck, the danger is even higher. Why? For a few reasons, including the fact that heavier vehicles require more time to stop. There are additional dangerous activities that a truck driver may engage in including:

  • Speeding up on hilly roads or steep declines
  • Catching momentum from the vacuum that’s caused by other trucks
  • Pressure smaller vehicles to move over
  • Passing vehicles at unsafe speeds
  • Passing vehicles in heavy traffic

These are just some of the behaviors that truck drivers may engage in that put everyone on the road in danger.

Reasons truck drivers engage in tailgating and other risky behavior

The list of reasons a truck driver may choose to tailgate, speed up on a decline, or change lanes quickly is a long lost. For example, they may be trying to get their cargo to its end destination on time to avoid penalties. They may be tired and trying to get done as soon as possible so they can go home. At the end of the day, the reason they behaved unsafely is irrelevant.

The bottom line is that if a truck driver behaved unsafely and caused an accident in which you were injured or you lost a loved one, then you need to talk to an attorney who can help you. Reach out to The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 now to request a free legal consultation. We can assess your case and let you know what your options are.