Possibly one of the best-known hazards of sharing the highway with a truck is the blind spots found around several different points on the vehicle. While most drivers are aware these zones exist, sometimes the speed and congestion of the traffic-flow make it impossible to avoid driving in these zones, even briefly, potentially causing a crash.
If this scenario sounds familiar and you were injured from such an incident, you should contact a St. Augustine blind sport truck accident lawyer. Depending on your case, a truck collision injury lawyer may be able to help you pursue financial compensation for the damages you have suffered.
Semi-trucks, also known as 18-wheelers, generally have four primary blind spots:
- The immediate front of the truck cab which extends forward roughly 20 feet
- The area directly behind the truck trailer, which extends for approximately 30 feet
- The area just below and behind the driver’s window
- The right side of the truck cab, extending backward diagonally
While these areas are colloquially referred to as “blind spots,” truckers are still expected to do their best to check these zones before turning, changing lanes, or braking. However, if an accident occurs while the plaintiff is in one of these areas, they should consult a blind spot truck accident lawyer in St. Augustine.
Typical Causes of Blind Spot Accidents
While a wide range of scenarios might lead to a blind spot trucking accident, these incidents generally arise when the trucker did not see the plaintiff in their smaller vehicle while turning or changing lanes. Common causes include:
- Vehicles following another too closely, whether a car is tailgating a semi or vice versa
- When a trucker is driving aggressively, such as hitting the brake-checking to signal that a driver should back off or cutting off another vehicle
- When a trucker fails to check their blind spots before changing lanes
- Passenger cars traveling in a large truck’s blind spots
Blind spots are often marked on the back of semi-trucks in the form of a “do not pass” sticker on the right-hand side of the vehicle to remind drivers not to follow too closely.
Comparative Fault Claims
When an accident occurs in a blind spot, a truck accident attorney in St. Augustine may still be able to help the plaintiff recover damages. The good news for a plaintiff is that even if they are found by a jury to be partially at-fault for an accident in which they suffer harm, they could still recover financial compensation, just a reduced amount.
In a personal injury claim, the plaintiff generally must prove the defendant’s negligence caused the accident. Under Florida Statutes §768.81, defendants could fight back by arguing that while they may be partially to blame for the incident, the plaintiff is at fault as well. In these cases, the plaintiff may be assigned a percentage of blame for the accident, reducing their damages by a proportionate amount. A St. Augustine blind spot trucking accident attorney could help the plaintiff minimize their share of fault to recover the maximum amount of compensation available.
Call a St. Augustine Blind Spot Truck Accident Attorney Today
A St. Augustine blind spot truck accident lawyer may be able to help you if you were injured from a collision with a trucker. Depending on your situation, you might be eligible to recover damages for your losses resulting from the incident. Call today to find out more.
