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Experienced Truckers Share Valuable Driving Tips You Need to Know

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America is currently facing a logistics crisis partly due to disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic and an acute shortage of truck drivers. If you have ever wanted to be a trucker, there is never a better time than now. 

But the conditions and the pressures of work can easily have a toll on truck drivers, making it one of the riskiest professions. But some truckers have been in it for a lifetime and have managed to drive incident-free. 

Keep reading as we share some valuable tips from experienced truckers that you may want to know early in your newfound career. 

American Trucking Industry Statistics

The trucking industry employs approximately 3.5 million Americans representing 5% of all full-time employees. This industry is male-dominated, with only 10% of all truckers being women. 

Other statistics indicate that the industry is 80,000 truckers short, a figure expected to rise as older truckers approach retirement. As a result, the existing truckers are often pushed to the limit to ensure that trucking companies meet the deadline, a significant contributor to truck accidents in recent years. 

In 2020, over 4,865 people died in truck-related injuries in the U.S., representing a 1% decrease from 2019 but a 31% increase since 2011. If you want to get an in-depth look at the trucking accident rates, this list of truck accident statistics can be a good read for you.

Safety Tips from Experienced Truckers

Drive Defensively

Defensive driving means driving with an awareness that you could be the only driver on the road with safety in mind. According to most experienced truckers, many drivers do not know how to drive safely around big rigs. A study conducted by a Michigan university showed that over 80 percent of all crashes involving a trailer are caused by other vehicles rather than the truck. 

Some defensive driving tips for truckers include being cautious about your blind spots, which can be relatively broad, and maintaining a wider following distance than an average car. With up to 80,000 pounds in tow, you will require a longer distance to come to a stop than an average car.

Ensure Your Truck’s Maintenance Is Up to Date

The responsibility of ensuring that the truck’s maintenance is up to date lies with the trucking company. Your life is at risk when driving a truck, so you may want to ensure that the company does what it is supposed to do. 

You do not have to wait for the maintenance schedule to look for mechanical issues. Regular inspection of your truck before getting on the road is vital to ensure everything is in its right working order. 

For example, you may want to physically examine the wheels to ensure they have the right pressure and that there are no loose screws. You may also want to ensure that all your brakes, brake lights, and turn signals are functional before getting on the road.

Get Adequate Rest and Sleep

Adequate sleep and rest are essential when operating big rigs. If you do not get enough of any, you risk sleeping while on the road creating a significantly high risk of getting into an accident. Federal laws stipulate a maximum of 60 to 70 driving hours per week and regular breaks that vary depending on the driving regime.

Most trucks come with automatic logs that indicate the number of hours they have been on the road. However, logging out doesn’t always mean the driver will get adequate rest. 

Some truckers use the brakes to engage in other activities such as drinking, which could mean they don’t get enough rest to drive the following day safely. According to experienced truck drivers, if you feel drowsy during your drive, it is best to pull over into a rest area and take a break before proceeding. 

Michelle has been a part of the journey ever since Bigtime Daily started. As a strong learner and passionate writer, she contributes her editing skills for the news agency. She also jots down intellectual pieces from categories such as science and health.

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Lifestyle

What “Reasonable Person” Standard Is Applicable When Determining Negligence?

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In order to determine negligence, the reasonable person test asks if a person’s actions are consistent with what would be anticipated of a generally careful and sensible person in the same situation. Stated otherwise, did the accused act in a way that would have been expected of a reasonable person? 

In Florida, determining who is legally liable for an accident depends critically on the issue of carelessness. The “reasonable person standard” is the foundation of this assessment. Your personal injury lawyer can explain the “reasonable person standard” and how it can apply to your case if you are hurt in an accident in Florida. 

The Reasonable Person Standard: What Is It?

Legally speaking, the reasonable person standard offers a yardstick by which someone’s actions are assessed in cases of negligence. “How would a reasonable person have acted under the same circumstances?” is the central question it poses. Jurors and judges are asked this question in order to assist them in determining whether a person’s acts (or inactions) fall short of the expected standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would follow.

Like in many other jurisdictions, Florida does not base its reasonable person criterion on what an especially cautious or risk-averse person would do. Rather, it represents the behaviors of a composite of what the community expects of each individual. A reasonable individual would, for example, observe traffic laws when driving, heed warning signs, and refrain from needlessly endangering other people.

Utilizing the Reasonable Person Standard to Determine Negligence

The activities of the parties involved in a personal injury lawsuit are rigorously examined in light of this reasonable person standard. If it is determined that an individual’s actions do not correspond with what a reasonable person would have done in the same situation, negligence has been proven.

According to the law, proof of someone’s negligence is insufficient; strong, convincing evidence is required. Your personal injury lawyer is essential to this procedure because they have to painstakingly gather evidence showing how the negligent party strayed from what a reasonable person would have done. Piecing together facts, testimony, and any footage or recordings that can definitively demonstrate that their activities were in violation of the recognized norms of safety and care is more important than simply focusing on what they did or did not do.

This proof could take the form of eyewitness statements that refute the version of events provided by the person at fault or security footage that captures the moment of negligence. Something as small as skipping a scheduled maintenance or ignoring a warning alert might have a big impact. Your personal injury attorney seeks to establish beyond a shadow of a doubt that the defendant’s acts were not just improper but directly caused others to be put in danger by providing a thorough picture of their negligence. 

How Does This Impact Your Case for Personal Injury?

In a personal injury case, knowing the reasonable person standard is essential. In the event of an accident, this standard might assist you in proving liability if you think the other person was careless.

You should be aware that your activities will be evaluated in comparison to the hypothetical reasonable person’s behavior in situations where you might be held culpable. It doesn’t matter what you meant or thought was appropriate; what matters is what the community would anticipate from someone in your situation.

Although navigating the complexities of the reasonable person standard might be challenging, Florida’s negligence law heavily relies on this standard. A fair appraisal of the facts is essential when seeking justice following an injury accident, and comprehending this criterion is crucial.

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