Trailers Pose Serious Threat During Summer Travel
July 13, 2017Summer is well underway, which means that more people are hitting the road for various vacation destinations. In addition to the tractor-trailers that are a common sight on highways across the country, more people hitch things such as campers, boats, and livestock trailers to their vehicles during the summer months. Unfortunately, if the driver does not know how to safely navigate a trailer, or it is overloaded or poorly maintained, it can have devastating consequences. Drivers should be aware of the potential hazards associated with these vehicles, especially when driving on busy highways during the height of the summer travel season.
Some of the common causes of trailer accidents include:
- Overloading a camper or trailer
- Towing vehicle does not have adequate horsepower to safely tow the trailer
- Tires on the trailer burst because they have not been properly inflated or replaced when necessary
- Poor driving technique
- Braking suddenly
- Poorly matched equipment
- Unbalanced loads
To avoid potential problems when towing a trailer of any kind, keep the following tips in mind:
- Before hitting the road, be sure to do a final maintenance check, especially if you have not used the trailer all year.
- Check the tires on the trailer, including any spare tires, to ensure that they are in good condition and fully inflated.
- Make sure that the loads in the towing vehicle and the trailer are secure, evenly distributed, and not too heavy.
- Make sure that you know the towing capacity of the vehicle towing the trailer. Do not let the gross vehicle weight (GVW) and gross combination weight rating (GCWR) exceed the specified amount. If the capacity is exceeded, the vehicle towing the trailer may not be able to come to a complete stop in the time needed to avoid a wreck. If this happens, it can result in serious injuries.
- Make sure that the trailer lights, including tail lights and marker lamps, are in good working order. It allows other drivers to see the trailer, particularly at night.
- If your trailer is equipped with brakes, make sure that they are maintained and that the emergency “breakaway” cable is attached to your vehicle.
- Driving with a trailer requires slower acceleration and a longer distance to come to a complete stop.
- Use extended mirrors to ensure adequate visibility of the trailer, as well as other vehicles on the road.
- Allow for enough space if you need to pull over for an emergency.
Baltimore Truck Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Advocate for Victims of Trailer Accidents
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a truck accident involving a trailer, it is in your best interest to contact the Baltimore truck accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton at your earliest convenience. We will work tirelessly to determine who is responsible for your injuries and ensure that you receive the maximum financial compensation you deserve. To set up a free confidential consultation with one of our Baltimore truck accident lawyers, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent truck accident victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.