On Behalf of O’Malley Tunstall PLLC | Jul 29, 2020 | Car Accidents

Traveling in a recreational vehicle is a great way to be able to enjoy the comforts of home while enjoying the open road. While these are very large vehicles, special licensing usually isn’t required to drive one but the driver must be at least 21. It is imperative that these drivers operate them safely.

A recent accident on Interstate 40 near the Iredell/Catawba County line highlights how important it is for drivers to ensure they know how to handle these rigs. An RV and a flatbed truck crashed into each other on a bridge. The driver of the RV had to be removed from the vehicle and flown to the hospital.

Common problems with RVs

One of the biggest issues with RVs is that they have large blind spots. This makes it hard for some drivers to ensure they aren’t going to slam into another vehicle as they maneuver along the roadways. The maneuverability of these large vehicles is another issue. Many drivers aren’t accustomed to the wide turning radius of an RV or the longer stopping distance.

There are some other factors that contribute to these crashes. While inexperience is one possibility, there’s also the chance that the driver is over 55 years old. These individuals might not be able to react in a suitable manner to obstacles in the roadway. They may also have faltering eyesight, which can lead to wrecks.

Other issues that can lead to problems include:

• Driver fatigue
• Unbalanced RVs
• Miscalculations with turns
• Rollovers due to the center of gravity
• Speeding or aggressive driving
• Winds and inclement weather

When there is a crash

RVs are large and heavy vehicles. When one slams into a smaller vehicle, it’s possible that the occupants of the smaller automobile face serious injuries. These can require considerable medical care, which can be a costly undertaking. There’s also the chance that you’ll have to take off work to go through the medical treatments until you’re able to work again.

Anyone who’s injured in a crash with an RV should have a medical evaluation to determine what injuries they suffered. They may opt to pursue a claim for compensation from the driver who struck them. This can help to recover things like the money they missed earning when they had to take off work and what they had to spend for medical care.