Truckers Blind Spot Accident Lawyers in Orlando - Paul Knopf Bigger
Commercial truck drivers must monitor their blind spots to avoid collisions with motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. A blind spot truck accident can inflict severe injuries on crash victims. If you’ve gotten into an accident because a truck driver failed to check their blind spots, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses.
The experienced truck accident attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger can help you pursue the money you need for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses due to a blind spot truck crash. We proudly advocate for the rights of injury victims throughout Orlando and hold negligent parties accountable for the harm they cause.
Contact our office today for a free consultation with an Orlando blind spot truck accident lawyer.
What Are Blind Spots?
Blind spots are areas around a vehicle that obstruct a driver’s view. A driver cannot see these areas in their side or rearview mirrors or the vehicle’s windows. Blind spots occur due to the angling of side and rearview mirrors, which create a small zone near the vehicle outside the mirror’s field of view. A vehicle’s side pillars obstruct a driver’s view and create blind spots. Blind spots pose a significant risk of an accident because drivers cannot see vehicles or pedestrians that enter their blind spots.
How Many Blind Spots Do Trucks Have?
Commercial trucks have four major blind spots:
- The blind spot in front of the truck extends several feet out in front of the truck, as the truck tractor’s long hood blocks a trucker’s view of the road directly in front of the vehicle.
- The blind spot behind a truck can extend back several dozen feet because the truck’s length and trailer make it impossible for the truck’s side mirrors to provide views directly behind it.
- The driver’s side of a truck has a blind spot that begins behind the driver’s door and extends into the adjacent lane for nearly the entire length of the truck and trailer.
- Finally, the blind spot on the passenger’s side begins at the passenger’s door and extends out and back at an angle into the adjacent two lanes.
Common Types of Truck Blind Spot Accidents in Florida and Orlando
A commercial truck’s blind spots can prevent a truck driver from seeing other road users nearby, often leading the driver to make a maneuver that causes a collision. Some of the most common types of blind spot truck accidents include:
- Sideswipe accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Underride accidents, including getting stuck underneath the side of the trailer or the trailer’s rear overhang
- Left/right turn accidents where a vehicle or cyclist gets trapped by a truck trailer making a wide turn at an intersection
Blind Spot Accident Statistics from the NHTSA
Many blind spot accidents occur due to negligence when truck drivers attempt to change lanes and don’t take a careful look.
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report on driver behavior before and during lane-change crashes found that fatigued truck drivers involved in critical accidents while making lane changes did not spend enough time looking in relevant locations, including out the windshield and windows and in the vehicle’s mirrors.
The study concluded that fatigued truck drivers involved in critical crashes pay less attention to the road ahead and appropriate mirrors.
What Can I Do to Avoid Being in a Truck Blind Spot Crash?
Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians should exercise caution around commercial trucks to avoid truckers’ blind spots. Consider the following tips for staying within a truck driver’s view on the road:
- Leave Extra Room When Driving Near a Commercial Truck – Because trucks have blind spots that extend multiple feet to the front and rear, you should create extra space between your vehicle and large trucks.
- Do Not Cut Off a Large Truck – When you change lanes in front of a commercial truck, the driver may not see you in their front blind spot. If you slow down or stop suddenly in front of the truck, the driver will not be prepared to avoid a collision.
- Always Pass a Truck on the Left – Because the rules of the road instruct drivers to pass on the left, a trucker may not expect another motorist to pass them on the right. In addition, trucks have a larger blind side on the passenger sides, so these blind spots will likely obscure you if you pass on the right.
- When Passing a Large Truck, Do So Quickly and Safely – Do not linger next to a commercial truck while driving on the highway. The truck driver may not realize that you’ve entered and stayed in their blind spot, and the trucker may attempt to move into your lane.
- Signal Any Turns or Lane Changes Clearly and Early.
- Remember to Yield the Right-Of-Way – This is crucial when merging next to a commercial truck on the highway.
How Is Liability for Blind Spot Trucking Accidents Determined?
Various parties may have liability for a blind spot trucking accident. Often, a trucker will bear responsibility for causing a blind spot truck accident if they fail to monitor their blind spots, leading to a collision. Because commercial trucks have large blind spots, truck drivers must learn how to monitor these blind spots and avoid collisions with other road users.
But a trucking company may also bear liability for a blind spot truck accident caused by a truck driver that the company employs. A trucking company may have direct responsibility for a blind spot truck accident if the company fails to train and supervise its drivers adequately or if the company defers maintenance on the truck’s mirrors and cameras intended to monitor blind spots.
Different kinds of evidence can help determine liability for a blind spot truck accident. Examples of evidence attorneys often use in blind spot trucking crash cases include:
- The truck driver’s hours-of-service logs
- The truck driver’s pre-trip inspection reports
- The truck driver’s post-accident alcohol and drug test results
- The truck’s event data recorder (“black box”) logs
- Dashcam footage
- Surveillance or traffic camera footage
- Eyewitness testimony
- Post-accident vehicle inspections
- Truck maintenance records
- Police accident reports
- Accident scene photos and videos
- Accident reconstruction expert reports and testimony
What You Should Do After a Truck Accident Caused by Blind Spots
A blind spot truck crash can cause significant injuries and trauma. Your priority should be seeking medical attention to properly diagnose and treat your injuries. Remember to follow your doctor’s instructions, keep all follow-up appointments to improve your prognosis, and show that you are taking your health seriously.
You can also take steps to protect your right to seek compensation. You should do the following after a truck accident caused by blind spots:
- Contact law enforcement to report the accident. Remember to request a copy of the police accident report in the days following the crash.
- Remember to get the truck driver’s license, insurance, and employer information.
- Request copies of medical records of your treatment and rehabilitation.
- Do not put off medical procedures or rehab for your injuries.
- Gather your pay stubs or income records if you need to take time off work to recover from the accident.
- Keep any bills, invoices, or receipts to document your expenses from the crash.
Finally, contact an Orlando, Florida, blind spot truck accident lawyer from Paul Knopf Bigger. We will let you know about your legal options for pursuing compensation from a liable truck driver or trucking company.
Why You Need an Orlando Lawyer When Filing a Blind Spot Crash Claim
Trucking companies and insurers have teams of investigators, adjusters, and defense lawyers to fight injury claims from those hurt in blind spot truck crashes. Because of this opposition, you need an Orlando attorney to advocate for your rights in the face of unscrupulous trucking companies and insurers. You can benefit from hiring a lawyer from Paul Knopf Bigger because we will:
- Investigate the crash and gather crucial evidence to prove that the accident occurred due to the truck driver’s failure to monitor their blind spots
- Identify all potentially liable parties and possible sources of compensation
- Communicate with trucking company representatives, insurance adjusters, defense attorneys, and bill/lien collectors on your behalf, allowing you to focus your time and energy on healing from your injuries
- Calculate the total value of your financial and personal losses, including future medical costs and expenses, to help you seek maximum compensation
- Represent you at trial, if necessary, if the liable parties refuse to make a full and fair settlement offer
Contact an Orlando Blind Spot Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you’ve suffered injuries in a blind spot truck crash, you need an experienced truck accident attorney to help you pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You should not bear the financial burden of an accident caused by a negligent party.
The seasoned legal team at Paul Knopf Bigger has the resources, skill, and tenacity to build a robust case to prove liability for your injuries and losses. Contact our office today to speak to an Orlando blind spot truck accident attorney during a free initial consultation.