If you only had to memorize one safety tip to help you reduce the risk of getting in to a crash with a large commercial truck, you will likely benefit the most from focusing on how much space to give a bigger vehicle.

The risks associated with commercial trucks often involve how long it takes them to stop or how they make wide turns. Their size and weight can make it harder for a driver to quickly maneuver if something unusual happens on the road. Additionally, there are big blind spots where the driver of the commercial truck might not see vehicles that are right next to them.

Giving a commercial truck enough space will prevent you from being hit by the truck and give you time to avoid a crash that occurs near you.

You typically want to give trucks twice the space that you give cars

It is common advice for driving instructors to tell new drivers to maintain twice the amount of stopping distance between the front end of their vehicle and the back of a truck than they would for a standard passenger vehicle. Giving as much space as possible is ideal, but sometimes traffic conditions may force you to be a little closer to a commercial truck than you might like.

For safety’s sake, you should always leave at least 30 feet between the back of a truck and the front of your vehicle. You should avoid driving in the lane directly to the left of a truck’s trailer and two lanes to the right of the trailer and cab. When merging in front of a truck, you also want to allow at least 20 feet of space and do your best to be going the same speed, if not faster, than the truck.

If, despite your best efforts, you still wind up hurt in a commercial truck crash, you may need to file an insurance claim or even a civil lawsuit to cover medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. An experienced attorney can provide valuable guidance and assistance.