Did you know over 500,000 truck-related car accidents happen each year in the United States?
One of a truck’s most damaging elements during an accident is its steel bumper. This seemingly benign stylistic choice could pose a significant safety risk.
Steel bumpers have the potential to significantly worsen a truck accident more than they otherwise would have. To learn more about steel bumper semi trucks, continue reading this article!
What Are Steel Bumpers?
A bumper is a structure that is incorporated or attached to the front and back ends of a car to reduce damage in the event of a minor collision. Automobiles with rigid metal bumpers first emerged in 1901. Their primary purpose was ornamentation.
Today, semi trucks are often equipped with steel bumpers. While this is sometimes seen as a safety feature for truck drivers, the steel bumper poses a huge threat to other drivers on the road.
Why Are Steel Bumper Semi Trucks a Safety Hazard?
Because steel bumpers are heavy, they increase the amount of harm an 18-wheeler does. This is because the other vehicle receives the damage and the bumper doesn’t absorb it.
To reduce the damage bumpers inflict during collisions, the automotive industry has begun to use other energy-absorbing materials. These other substances absorb part of the accident-related pressures.
Steel, on the other hand, is inflexible and destructive during an accident.
The modern bumper is made by manufacturers with the goal of prioritizing both the protection of persons surrounding the vehicle as well as the safety of the occupants.
Modern bumpers are known for being “cheap” because they aren’t made of metal, but they are meant to get damaged in a collision so that as much of the impact as possible is absorbed. So, it seems to reason that their use of deliberate design could draw criticism.
Understanding the Dangers of a Steel Bumper in a Truck Accident
Many 18-wheeler trucks and other commercial vehicles that are currently on the road still have steel bumpers. The majority of passenger cars today have energy-absorbing bumpers that help safeguard the vehicle and its occupants in the event of an accident, but some trucks continue to employ steel, posing a risk to other drivers.
Steel bumpers can dramatically worsen the extent of the damage in an accident, almost certainly causing the other vehicle’s occupants to sustain much more severe wounds. In the event of an accident, this material is significantly less forgiving, which means that the damage will be much more severe.
When you are driving a passenger car and are in an accident, it is crucial to understand the distinctions between the materials used to construct your car and the trucks on the road. This will help you to prove your claim.
The vehicle industry continues to use materials that are more accident-friendly, including plastics and other energy-absorbing materials, for obvious reasons. Because of this, our company might be able to assist you in pursuing financial compensation for your accident-related injuries.
Types of Semi Trucks
There are many different kinds of semi-trailer models available, and one will fit your needs better than another depending on your load or freight. The success of your project and the safe arrival of your items will be greatly improved by choosing the appropriate trailer for the job.
Flatbed trailers are some of the most often used trailers because they are versatile. The term “flatbed trailer” refers to a flat deck that is open on all sides without a roof or box to protect the load, as is the case with flatbed trailers.
The open design of the trailer makes it simple to load and unload, but it offers little protection for the goods from the weather or traffic. Because the load may be lowered from above with a crane or raised from the side with a forklift, flatbed trailers are ideal for transporting wide or huge products.
Next, there are drop deck trucks. These are commonly referred to as step deck trailers, and are open trailers comparable to flatbed trailers but differ in a few ways. Step deck trailers feature two deck levels, known as the upper deck and lower deck, whereas flatbed trailers only have one level.
Due to their two decreases in deck height that enable a very low deck, lowboy trailers are also known as twin drop trailers. After the gooseneck comes to the first drop, and before the wheels come to the second drop. Lowboy trailers are the best choice for transporting taller equipment without the need for height permits due to their added dropdown capability.
Lowboy trailers also have the benefit of being able to carry more weight thanks to the addition of more axles. A lowboy trailer can be just what you need to transport huge machinery like bulldozers or other construction equipment.
Defensive Driving Around Semi Trucks With Steel Bumpers
Defensive driving entails staying alert and vigilant for unexpected or changing road circumstances.
You must drive with extra caution around drivers who are unfamiliar with trucks and their operations.
Make sure you leave ample space in front of you about twice as much as what the typical driver maintains. The amount of time it takes a truck to come to a stop after applying the brakes is known as the braking distance.
For a commercial truck, the typical stopping distance is 4 seconds. There are still 390 feet till you come to a complete halt at 55 mph.
Commercial trucks are heavier and bigger than the majority of other road users. These large vehicles need extra space and time to pass through traffic because of their size.
Use your turn signals before you change lanes near one of these cars. This is a crucial safety rule that you should always abide by.
You can move safely and avoid a collision by using your turn signals to let the truck driver know what you want to do and how to adjust.
When driving next to a commercial truck, leave plenty of room. These trucks take up more road space than passenger cars.
In order to make a wide turn, a truck can occupy two lanes. Passing a vehicle turning right on the right side is never a good idea since you risk becoming wedged in between the truck and the curb.
Regulating Your Speed Around Semi Trucks With Steel Bumpers
There are occasions when the posted speed limit is excessive when it comes to trucks. This is an instance of a speed limit that only applies to vehicles and not heavy trucks. If trucks approach these quickly, they might easily topple over.
You should consider the speed at which you travel in relation to the weather and flow of traffic. Recognize when you should slow down and when you can afford to accelerate. The only place you should probably be driving at top speed on a clear day is in the center of an empty interstate.
To be informed of the weather before leaving on a journey, sign up for weather alerts. Winter weather is particularly hazardous because it contributes to quite a few truck driving accidents.
For slippery or snowy roads, you should reduce your speed by half. In the winter, give yourself more time for everything: indicate your turn earlier, double your following distance, and change speeds more gradually. Consider stopping if you observe other truckers doing so.
You should take extra care when passing a commercial truck since they need more time to halt and navigate through traffic.
Additionally, semi-truck drivers may alter their pace while going uphill or downhill, so avoid passing the vehicle in these situations.
Additionally, if you are moving along the left side of the vehicle, the driver will have an easier time seeing you. Pass on the left while keeping your speed consistent and using appropriate signals. Wait until you can see the driver of the truck in your rearview mirror before reentering its lane.
Furthermore, keep to the right and slow down when a truck passes you. This moves you out of the truck’s blind spot more quickly and gives the driver of the truck more room to pass safely.
Have You Been Involved In a Truck-Related Accident?
You need the services of a lawyer if you were hurt in a trucking accident or lost a loved one. We are prepared to assist you in determining who was responsible if you believe the accident with steel bumper semi trucks that. could have been prevented. This is especially so if the truck you collided with had been built more effectively and did not have a steel bumper.
Have you been in a truck-related accident? For a free consultation if you were hurt in a collision with a commercial truck, get in touch with us by clicking here!