Every motor vehicle has “blind spots”—typically directly beyond the front bumper, directly behind the back bumper, and extending out and back from each side of the vehicle—where the driver cannot easily see obstacles, people, and sometimes even entire other vehicles around them. Because of their massive size, commercial tractor-trailers have unusually large blind spots, which makes it extra important for long-haul truckers to use their mirrors properly and check these blind spots carefully before turning or switching lanes.
Any truck driver who fails to do this and ends up causing a traffic collision, as a result, may hold civil liability for any injuries that result from that wreck, as may the company they work for and potentially other third parties as well. If you were recently injured in a blind spot truck accident in Walterboro, working with a skilled truck accident attorney could be key to effectively enforcing your legal rights and getting the most money possible from your claim. Call Whetstone Perkins & Fulda today to learn more about your options.
Proving a Truck Driver Did Not Properly Check Their Blind Spots
It is worth mentioning that holding a truck driver and/or trucking company civilly liable for a blind spot truck accident in Walterboro does not always require proving specifically that they caused the wreck in question by not properly checking their blind spots. For example, if a truck driver sideswipes someone else on a highway because they changed lanes without signaling and also did not check their blind spots, either reckless act could be the basis for an ensuing civil claim since both behaviors would likely qualify as a “breach” of their duty to act lawfully and responsibly on the road at all times.
That said, it can still be helpful to collect evidence after this sort of incident with a mind towards establishing that a failure to check blind spots played a direct role in the accident. Evidence can include:
- Data from a truck’s “black box”
- Footage from surveillance/dashboard cameras
- Testimony from witnesses who saw the crash happen
- Photos/videos of the crash scene and vehicle damage
- Report(s) generated by police officers who responded to the crash scene
Our firm could provide vital help with finding, preserving, and incorporating important evidence into a comprehensive lawsuit or settlement demand.
How “Comparative Fault” Could Affect Civil Recovery
Support from skilled legal counsel can also be key to fighting against accusations that a person injured in a Walterboro blind spot truck wreck was partially or even primarily at fault for their own injuries. While truck drivers have a duty to check their blind spots regularly, other drivers are likewise expected to know where the blind spots of other vehicles are and stay out of them as much as possible, and failing to do so could be construed as “comparative fault” for a blind spot crash.
In this kind of scenario, the court could reduce the total compensation available to an injured person depending on what share of total fault that person holds for their own injuries. Even worse, if someone is found more than 50 percent to blame for their own accident, the court could bar them from getting any civil compensation at all.
Talk to a Walterboro Attorney About a Possible Blind Spot Truck Accident Claim
Not checking blind spots causes many more traffic accidents than people might expect, and the ones involving commercial trucks tend to have especially devastating consequences. Fortunately, anyone hurt in a wreck like this who can trace the incident directly back to a truck driver or trucking company’s breach in standard of care likely has grounds to demand substantial civil compensation from them and every other person who played a role in causing their injuries.
Assistance is available after blind spot truck accidents in Walterboro from dedicated and dependable truck accident attorneys at Whetstone Perkins & Fulda. Call today to discuss your options.
