The 2012 Washington State Annual Collision Summary from the Washington State Department of Transportation provides that in that year alone, 4,453 collisions occurred involving heavy trucks and commercial vehicles, a large portion of which led to injuries.
These incidents can cause massive damage as well, and the United States Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has published a factsheet of information specifically on how to prevent being in an accident with a truck.
Although all truck accidents are serious, there is one specific type that can be highly destructive and that drivers should take caution to avoid at all costs: squeeze play. The following provides information on what squeeze play with a truck is, and how as a driver you can make sure it doesn’t happen to you.
What is squeeze play with a truck?
The circumstances leading to a squeeze play accident often look similar across all cases. First, a driver must be behind a truck. Trucks make wide turns, so the trucker may swerve left slightly in order to have more room to turn to the right. From behind, this motion instead may seem to signal a left turn.
Unaware of the trucker’s impending right turn, the driver then advances on the right, only to be “squeezed” against the wall or other bank when the trucker finally makes the lane change or turn. This can lead to a catastrophic accident resulting in injuries to both drivers, as well as anyone else that may get in the way.
How to Avoid Squeeze Play with Trucks
Because a squeeze play accident can be so damaging, it is important for drivers to take necessary precautions when driving behind trucks.
In order to avoid squeeze play and other truck accidents, drivers should:
- never pass a truck on the right side, instead waiting until there is sufficient space to pass on the left;
- stay out of the trucker’s blind spots, which are on the right, directly behind, directly in front, and on both sides of the cab; and
- do not cut in front of a truck without giving it ample time to react.
It is important for drivers to take extreme care at all times when maneuvering near or around semi-trucks. Remain calm when driving around these large commercial vehicles, and avoid trying to pass when it is unsafe to do so as it can result in serious injuries.
A Truck Accident Attorney Can Help
It is a sad story to hear of someone being caught in a squeeze play accident with a large truck. These wrecks often leave the injured victims with massive medical costs, or even result in fatalities.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a squeeze play accident in Kirkland, speak with the attorneys at Max Meyers Law PLLC today. We can help you file a personal injury or wrongful death case to recover due compensation for damages related to the accident. You can reach us today by calling 425-399-7000 or by filling out our contact form.
