Every motor vehicle has blind spots, the areas surrounding the vehicle that a driver cannot see. However, commercial trucks have blind spots that are much larger than other vehicles, often creating dangerous situations. Careless truck operators who fail to account for the size of their vehicles can cause catastrophic blind-spot truck accidents in Oakwood.
If you were involved in a crash with a trucker who failed to check their blind spots, you could have the option of pursuing an injury claim. With the help of a dedicated truck accident attorney, you could recover a monetary award from the reckless to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma.
The term “no-zone” describes areas around the exterior of a truck where drivers have limited visibility. There are four main no-zones that every commercial truck driver must account for:
Blind spots are a particular issue with commercial trucks for several reasons. The cabs of these trucks are high in the air, making it difficult to see smaller vehicles. The length of these commercial vehicles also creates challenges with seeing the full area surrounding the trailer’s exterior. While larger mirrors and other technological advances have improved visibility for truckers in Oakwood, any vehicle or pedestrian in the blind spot of an 18-wheeler may be at risk of a collision.
To successfully pursue a civil lawsuit against a commercial truck driver, a plaintiff must show the trucker was negligent. When accidents occur in a truck’s blind spot, this negligence often has to do with the truck driver failing to take the proper steps to ensure no vehicles are in their way. There are four elements of negligence a potential plaintiff must prove.
Proving a defendant had a legal duty of care is central to every negligence claim. Truck drivers have a duty of care toward others on the road to exercise caution and drive safely. Trucking companies also have a duty of care to train their drivers and enforce safety regulations.
The second element of negligence is proving someone breached their duty of care. This involves demonstrating how a truck driver failed to take reasonable steps to operate their vehicle safely. For example, a distracted trucker may not have checked for vehicles in their blind spots before merging lanes or suddenly accelerating.
Causation entails demonstrating that the defendant’s breach directly caused or contributed significantly to the accident and subsequent injuries.
Finally, damages are the actual harm an Oakwood plaintiff experiences because of their injuries in a blind-spot truck accident. These damages may include medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity, among other losses. A dedicated attorney could review the circumstances of a particular accident case to determine whether all elements of negligence are present and what damages may be available to injured parties.
While you may take care to avoid being in a truck’s blind spots for longer than necessary, if the truck’s driver fails to take steps to protect you, it may be impossible for you to avoid a collision. Unfortunately, people in a smaller passenger vehicle are likely going to be the ones to experience severe consequences.
Following a blind-spot truck accident in Oakwood, a civil lawsuit could be your best option for securing justice and compensation from negligent truckers. Reach out to Smith Hulsey Law today to discuss your injury claim during a confidential consultation.
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