Winter driving can be dangerous. Sharing the roads with large trucks is often hazardous. When the two are combined, conditions can be especially dangerous for residents of Indiana and across the country. A recent accident has tragically proven this point about the dangers of winter driving conditions and large commercial trucks.
Fox 59 reported that in late November, thick fog was reducing visibility on roads on New Castle, Indiana, causing conditions that law enforcement believed led to a crash between a pickup and a semi-truck. The driver of the larger truck was unhurt, but two passengers in the pickup truck were hospitalized and the pickup driver was killed. Authorities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Drivers should be aware of the winter conditions that can lead to reduced visibility and slippery roads, including fog, rain, heavy wind, ice, snow and sleet. It is also important to understand that large commercial trucks are heavier and often travel at high speeds on freeways, which makes them difficult for truck drivers to maneuver and stop. Truck drivers might not be able to slow down on icy roads in time to prevent an accident. When visibility is reduced and truckers fail to see traffic that has slowed or stopped on the roadway ahead, the consequences can be devastating. Every year, headlines show catastrophic accidents involving big rigs and multiple vehicles that occurred when the trucks were unable to slow down on icy or foggy roads.
Drivers may improve their safety odds when they take precautions during adverse weather and are aware of their surroundings. However, it is not always possible to prevent or foresee the reckless or negligent driving behaviors of others. When a negligent truck driver or other driver causes an accident that results in an injury or fatality, the injured parties or their families may be eligible to seek compensation.
