Filing a Lawsuit for Truck Accidents Caused by Blind Spots
Driving near or around large trucks can be dangerous, especially if the driver cannot see your vehicle. Tractor-trailers have blind spots that are much larger than other vehicles, which make it difficult for the drivers to see cars in these areas which are often referred to as “no-zones.”
If a truck driver fails to account for vehicles that are in these blind spots, they could cause a catastrophic injury accident.
If a negligent truck driver did not see you in their blind spot and caused a serious injury crash, you have the right to seek fair compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. The Virginia Beach truck accident attorneys at Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C., have the right experience to handle your blind spot accident case.
As demonstrated by our track record of successful results and positive reviews from past clients, our compassionate attorneys care about your recovery and will do everything we can to help. We have been serving Virginia Beach and surrounding areas for more than 30 years, and we’re ready to fight for you.
Don’t wait to pursue the compensation you deserve for your truck accident injuries. Call the experienced truck collision lawyers at Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C. today to set up your free consultation.
Truck Driver Blind Spots Danger Zones – How Many Blind Spots Do Trucks Have?
Trucks like 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and tractor-trailers are so tall and long that they have many more blind spots than an average car. This means truck drivers might not be able to see people, cars, motorcycles, and other objects around them.
Drivers should spend as little time as possible in any vehicle’s blind spot, but traffic or other factors on the road might make this impossible to avoid. Depending on the truck’s size and structure, blind spots are often found in the following places:
- Directly behind the truck or trailer
- Just in front of the cab
- Below the driver’s window
- Along the right side of the truck’s cab
- The right end at the back of the trailer
Truck Accidents Caused by Blind Spots
Truck blind spots cause over 400,000 accidents each year, and many of these crashes result in fatalities, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Over 5,000 people are killed in crashes with large trucks and thousands more are injured each year.
In Virginia alone, large trucks are involved in almost 9% of fatal wrecks. Blind spots are a leading factor in these collisions, since a truck’s blind zone might be as large as 30 feet behind the truck, 20 feet in front of the truck, or even two lanes on the side of the vehicle, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Filing a Lawsuit for a Truck Accident Caused by Blind Spots
Pursuing a truck accident lawsuit after a crash caused by a trucker’s failure to observe your vehicle in a blind spot can be challenging. Many blind spot crashes involve large trucking companies and powerful insurance corporations. The company’s insurance and legal representatives are incentivized to pay as little money as possible if their employee injures someone on the road. They will usually do everything in their power to deny, delay, or diminish your claim.
They might even contact you soon after the crash and take advantage of your fragile state by trying to trick you into saying something they can twist to claim you were partially responsible for the crash. In other cases, the insurance company representative may try to convince you not to hire an attorney, and instead accept a lowball settlement offer.
To fight these companies that only have their own financial interests in mind, it’s vital to hire a skilled lawyer with extensive experience handling blind spot accident claims to stand up for you.
Keep in mind that truck accident lawsuits are subject to a specific statute of limitations, or deadline for filing a claim. In Virginia, the law dictates that motor vehicle crash victims typically have only two years to file a claim after the accident. After this date, victims generally cannot pursue compensation, even if the crash happened through no fault of their own.
However, these laws have some narrow exceptions that might extend the deadline for your case. A knowledgeable truck accident lawyer can help make sure your lawsuit is filed on time and all necessary paperwork is completed thoroughly and convincingly.
Driver & Company Liability for Blind Spot Accidents in Virginia Beach
Proving negligence is critical in Virginia truck accident cases because of the state’s contributory negligence law. Under this rule, crash victims cannot win compensation in a lawsuit if the court decides they have even an exceedingly small portion of responsibility for the accident.
Multiple parties might be liable in truck wrecks involving blind spots. Truck drivers know their vehicles have blind spots, and they have a responsibility to use extra caution when driving, especially in traffic and other areas where vehicles might be in their blind spots for longer than usual.
Beyond truck drivers themselves, other people and entities might hold some responsibility for the crash. For example, if the crash happened while the driver was on the job, their employer, the truck’s owner, or the owner of the cargo might be liable. Additionally, the truck’s manufacturer, mechanic, or even the crew that loaded the truck might hold responsibility.
Contact Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C. for help after a Blind Spot Truck Accident in Virginia Beach
Don’t wait any longer to fight for your legal rights and potential compensation. If you were injured in a blind spot truck accident, contact Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C., and let us fight for you.
Call us or fill out an online contact form to schedule your free case evaluation today.