Trucks are common on the road and are responsible for transporting billions upon billions of goods around the state of Alabama. They are much larger than typical cars, and their dimensions mean that truck drivers have several blind spots where visibility is limited. If you get involved in a blind spot accident with a semi-truck, the results can be devastating, even catastrophic.
If you have injuries from a blind spot truck accident, contact the attorneys at Parker Trial Law. Trucking companies are typically liable for injuries their drivers cause, and you may have a claim for financial compensation. Our Dothan personal injury attorneys can perform a thorough investigation of the accident scene and hold irresponsible drivers and trucking companies responsible for their harmful actions.
Contact us today to set up a free, no-obligation consultation with a blind spot accident attorney in Dothan. You pay nothing unless we win money for your accident case.
Why Experienced Legal Representation Matters in Your Blind Spot Truck Accident
Accidents involving commercial vehicles like trucks are more complicated than regular auto accidents because they involve a commercial entity rather than a private individual. Trucking companies operate under different regulations than regular motorists. Further, the company’s employment structure can raise difficult questions when attempting to establish liability and who bears responsibility for the accident. Additionally, large trucking companies have the funds to hire attorneys to shield them from litigation.
All of these factors stress the importance of working with an experienced Dothan truck accident attorney. At Parker Trial Law, we have extensive experience working with truck accident cases and have recovered millions for clients, including a $1.46 million result for a spinal fusion due to a semi-truck collision.
Where Are the Blind Spots of a Tractor Trailer?
Trucks have four blind spots: one in the front, one in the back, and two on either side of the trailer just behind the cab.
- Front Zone – The cabin of a typical semi-truck sits much higher than the cab of a typical car, so drivers may not be able to see vehicles directly in front of them. The front zone blind spot extends for about 20 feet ahead of the truck.
- Back Zone – The rear no-go zone is much larger and extends about 200 feet behind the tractor-trailer. Motorists who follow a truck too closely from behind are at a much-elevated risk of an underride accident where the car becomes wedged between the trailer and the ground.
- Side Zones – Trucks have blind spots on both sides that can extend the entire length of the vehicle. Blind spots on the right are larger and cover two lanes due to the driver’s position in the truck cab, so other motorists should always pass a truck on the left side.
It is virtually impossible to avoid driving next to a large truck at some point, so drivers must make sure they do not remain in blind spots for extended periods.
Why Do Blind Spots Cause So Many Truck Accidents?
Truck blind spots cause so many accidents for the simple fact that they impede visibility. If someone is riding in the blind spot next to a truck, there is a good chance the driver cannot see them. If the truck driver decides to speed up, slow down, or change lanes suddenly, any vehicle in the blind spot can risk a collision.
Blind spot errors are even more likely when combined with negligent driving practices, such as:
- Fatigued driving
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Inadequate training
- Truck part defects (e.g., brakes, mirrors, etc.)
According to the FMCSA, about 14 percent of truck accidents result from inadequate surveillance, often in the context of blind spots combined with lane changes and turns.
What Are a Truck Driver’s Responsibilities Related to Blind Spots?
Truck drivers receive a substantial amount of training and undergo rigorous certification to ensure safety while on the road. With respect to blind spots specifically, drivers are required to adequately check all their blind spots before making a turn. Failure to do so could constitute driver negligence.
It is impossible to completely avoid blind spots, and truck drivers are responsible for adequately checking their blind spots and other surroundings. An accomplished truck accident attorney from Parker Trial Law can fight back against attempts to place the blame at your feet. We can investigate the circumstances of the accident to determine precisely how it occurred and hold companies accountable for driver negligence when the driver bears responsibility.
What Financial Compensation Can I Recover as Part of a Truck Accident Claim?
Commercial trucks outweigh regular cars by tens of thousands of pounds, so collisions often cause catastrophic injuries that are exorbitantly expensive to treat. Our attorneys can pursue the responsible trucking company to potentially recover compensation for your:
- Emergency medical bills and continuing medical expenses
- Lost work income
- Diminished lifetime earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Property damage
Our strategy at Parker Trial Law is to aggressively pursue the highest amount of recoverable compensation for our clients. We will push back against insurance companies and seek out all relevant liable entities to help secure the fair compensation you need to rebuild.
Contact Parker Trial Law for a Free Case Review
Truck accidents are much more complex than typical auto accidents and require the delicate touch of an experienced tractor-trailer wreck attorney. Our team at Parker Trial Law collectively has decades of legal experience in personal injury law and is familiar with the federal and state trucking regulations that make a difference to your blind spot accident. We are unafraid to take a case to trial if it is the best choice for maximizing the compensation you can recover.
Most importantly, we are compassionate and empathetic attorneys attuned to our clients’ needs and concerns. Our lawyers understand how an injury from a truck accident can turn your life upside down and will do everything in our power to balance the scales of justice. We can take the legal burden off your shoulders so you can prioritize your recovery. Further, you pay nothing unless we win money for your blind spot truck accident.
Contact Parker Trial Law online or by phone today to receive a free, no-obligation case review with a Dothan truck accident lawyer.
