Long-haul truckers are expected to stay aware of everything around them as much as possible. This duty of care includes a responsibility for truckers to check their blind spots using mirrors, collision detection systems, and anything else available to them before turning, merging, or switching lanes.
Any truck driver who fails to fulfill this duty and causes blind spot truck accidents in Hershey as a direct result may be legally liable for the consequences of that wreck. No matter who you have grounds to file suit against, assistance from a seasoned truck crash lawyer will be vital to getting a positive case result and obtaining the money you deserve for your damages.
Where Are the Blind Spots on a Tractor-Trailer?
Every motor vehicle has four main blind spots where the driver cannot easily see other cars, pedestrians, and obstacles: just beyond both the front and back bumpers and in roughly triangle-shaped areas along both the left side and the right side of the vehicle. The blind spots for semi-truck drivers are in roughly the same positions, but since these trucks are so much larger than normal cars and their drivers sit so much higher above the road surface, their blind spots are much bigger.
For example, while the blind spot in front of a typical commuter car only stretches a few feet out in front of the bumper at most, the blind spot in the same place for a tractor-trailer can stretch as long as 25 feet. This is long enough to hide not just one but potentially multiple cars completely from view. The same thing applies to blind spots on the sides and rear of a semi-truck, where the truck driver may not be able to see multiple lanes of traffic beside them or a long tail of traffic to their rear. This is the main reason why it’s so important for truck drivers in Hershey to take the initiative in preventing blind spot truck accidents and why it can be so important to take proactive legal action against them if they don’t.
Proving a Truck Driver at Fault for a Blind Spot Wreck
Not checking your blind spots is a textbook example of a breach of duty—in other words, a reckless or careless act that puts other people at risk of getting hurt in an ultimately preventable accident. Because of that, if you can prove a truck driver in Hershey crashed into your car specifically because they didn’t check their blind spots properly, you likely have grounds for a civil claim against them.
You’ll also need to prove you weren’t doing something irresponsible yourself that contributed to causing your wreck, like coasting for an unreasonable amount of time inside a trucker’s blind spot. Otherwise, you might miss out on much-needed compensation based on your comparative fault, as your attorney can explain in more detail during an initial consultation.
A Hershey Attorney Can Help After a Blind Spot Truck Accident
Any truck driver who acts irresponsibly on the road puts themselves and everyone around them at risk of catastrophic harm. Even with that in mind, it can be harder than you think to hold a truck driver or trucking company liable for injuries you suffered in a wreck caused by their negligence, especially if you try to do it alone.
Guidance from a winning lawyer can be essential to enforcing your rights following a blind spot truck accident in Hershey. Call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to discuss your options.
