Every vehicle on the roadway has a blind spot. This area surrounding your vehicle has limited visibility when relying on our rear-view mirrors. While blind-spot accidents can happen with any type of vehicle, they are especially common with commercial trucks.
The blind spots on commercial trucks are large, extending down both sides and well past the rear of the vehicle. If you were hurt in a blind-spot truck accident in Orangeburg, a dedicated truck accident attorney could help you recover financial damages. Let an experienced truck accident attorney advocate for your rights.
Blind-Spot Awareness
There are blind spots on every side of a commercial vehicle. A prominent commercial truck blind spot is at the front of the vehicle. Given the height of these trucks, drivers are unable to see directly in front of the vehicle, increasing the risk of causing rear-end collisions.
The blind spot at the rear of the truck is also dangerous, making it impossible for truck drivers to see the space immediately behind their vehicles, regardless of the size of their mirrors. For this reason, it is dangerous for any motorist to follow a commercial truck too closely.
Some of the most dangerous blind spots appear at the side of each vehicle. The blind spot on the passenger’s side of a commercial truck is especially large, reaching from just past the cab to beyond the end of the trailer. Understanding where these blind spots are can help prevent truck accidents in Orangeburg that result in debilitating injuries.
Blind-Spots and Negligence
Because of the increased risk of accidents, commercial truck drivers have an obligation to monitor their blind spots carefully. This is especially true when they change lanes, merge, or make turns. When commercial drivers in Orangeburg fail to act with care, they increase the chances of causing blind-spot accidents. Some of the steps that a truck driver should take to avoid a blind-spot accident include:
- Checking mirrors for vehicles present in blind spots
- Avoiding impairment
- Keeping track of nearby motorists
- Ensuring mirrors are adjusted correctly
- Receiving training on blind spots
When a truck driver fails to take reasonable steps to prevent a blind-spot accident, they could be liable for the harm they cause. Injured parties should speak with an attorney to start building a negligence claim.
Holding Negligent Truck Drivers Accountable
A personal injury lawsuit is often the best way to hold a negligent trucker accountable for a blind-spot crash. If a lawsuit is successful, a plaintiff could be entitled to recover an array of financial damages, including:
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Past and future medical costs
- Diminished future earnings
- Emotional distress
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
An attorney could play an important part in determining what a truck accident injury claim is worth. Some of these damages are easy to measure, like the cost of medical care. Other losses are subjective, like a person’s physical pain or the impact of disfigurement. An Orangeburg attorney could carefully evaluate the important facts of a blind spot truck crash case to determine what damages are available to injured parties.
Talk To an Orangeburg Attorney About Blind Spot Truck Accidents
If you were injured in a blind-spot truck accident in Orangeburg, you have the right to pursue compensation. You also have the right to hire skilled legal counsel to assist you with this process. Reach out to Whetstone Perkins & Fulda today to discuss your legal options during a confidential consultation.
