Traveling light may no longer work for you. With the increasing airline fares and the not-too-sure accommodations, it’s often better to bring your home wherever you go. It’s why recreational vehicles (RVs) have become a lifestyle necessity today. More people have opted for its affordability and convenience for an excursion with family or friends.
RV usually have the comfort of home away from home. Its demand rose up during the pandemic. People found it safer and more convenient to travel using home trailers than being constrained to stay at home. The work from home setup also influenced the demand for RVs or motor homes.
But the increasing number of camper vans, trailer and motor homes on the go has affected traffic and road safety conditions. Due to its make and size, drivers exert more effort while driving and maneuvering their recreational vehicle. It’s to avoid crashing it or getting involved in an accident.
To avoid the occurrence of these accidents, various government and private institutions have looked into its many causes. They are trying to address these growing concerns for public safety in general.
Table of Contents
Most Common RV Accidents And Some Measures To Avoid Them
Vehicle Rollovers
When you try to make a sharp turn while still traveling at high speed, your recreational vehicle will skid and roll over. Because of its size and weight, these trailers are notoriously difficult to maneuver. It’s why sharp turns on roads have the potential to cause it to slide and topple over.
So, if you’re driving your motorhome, make sure that you slow down before making turns and crossing intersections. It will minimize the risk of vehicle rollovers and other accidents.
Another cause of trailer home rollovers are from worn out tires. Unbalanced and worn out tires will cause any vehicle to slip on damp roads, causing it to swerve off and in worst instances, overturn.
Always check your tires before starting on a trip. You need to ensure that you have tires ready for any terrain. Make sure your tires have the manufacturer approved air pressure. Lack or too much pressure will cause the tires to wear out unevenly.
But, there are still unavoidable circumstances on the road no matter how cautious you are. When accidents happen, you need a recreational vehicle accident attorney to help you deal with it. The nuances of the legal or federal procedures may overwhelm you if you don’t consult an expert in the field.
Jackknife Skid
An RV jackknifing on the road often causes fatal accidents. In jackknifing, the trailer swings out in a 90 degree angle from behind the truck. It will resemble a jackknife with its blade pulled out. The driver will no longer have control over the vehicle at this point.
Jackknife skids are usually triggered by applying the brakes too quickly or making very sudden turns. Sometimes, when the car in front suddenly brakes and you’re close behind or you’re too fast to stop, you’ll have no recourse but to either apply a sudden brake or make a sudden turn.
Avoid tailgating to keep you away from these accidents. Keep a safe distance from those vehicles in front of you. Be sure to brake, turn slowly and smoothly in order to avoid colliding with them. It’s better to arrive safely at your destination late than getting held up because you were not careful and your vehicle crashed.
Rear-end Collisions
These accidents often happen because of tailgating. The vehicle following close behind is not driving at a safe distance. Because of its weight, it’s not easy for a trailer truck to brake immediately. When the car in front makes a sudden stop or turn, the vehicle at the rear may not have the time to brake or speed away. This causes rear-end collisions.
Avoid getting distracted while driving. It may not be easy if your kids are bugging you because you’re all going out for a surprise. But, always ensure kids safety while mobiling from destination to destination. Furmore, always maintain a safe distance from the car before you so you can easily maneuver out of danger just in case the need arises.
Backing Up Crashes
Poor visibility and a failure to pay attention to one’s surroundings are the primary causes of backing up mishaps. Make sure to keep an eye out for pedestrians and other vehicles, especially if you’re backing up near street corners.
Always use your vehicle’s mirrors and backup camera to improve your visibility. It’s to steer clear from road obstructions and away from accidents. Leaning out of your window while backing up is dangerous. You might not see someone or another car approaching the opposite corner of your truck.
