Every motor vehicle has areas around it that the driver can’t easily see from their position in the driver’s seat. It’s part of every driver’s “duty of care” on the road to check these “blind spots” by:
- Turning their head
- Using their mirrors
- Using electronic collision detection systems if they have them
Truck drivers have this “duty” too—but as you may have unfortunately learned, not all of them follow through with it in every situation.
If you’ve been hurt in a blind-spot truck accident in York, you’ll want to speak with an experienced lawyer sooner rather than later about filing suit over your injuries. You have less time than you’d think to build and start this type of civil claim, and getting a positive result from one can be complicated and time-consuming.
At Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, our team of seasoned tractor-trailer crash attorneys is dedicated to helping those injured by negligent truckers pursue legal action. We’ve won thousands of truck accident cases for Pennsylvania accident victims over the past 25 years, and we want to help you get the payments you deserve.
Are Truck Drivers Always at Fault for Blind-Spot Wrecks?
Since every truck driver has the same duty as everyone else to regularly check their blind spots while driving, a trucker who fails to do that and causes a crash is considered “negligent” under Pennsylvania law. Someone who’s negligent in this way is also legally responsible for all “damages” other people suffer in the accident they caused, such as:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Mental anguish and trauma
- Lost work wages, benefits, or long-term earning ability
- Medical bills and car repair/replacement costs not already covered by insurance
- Other personal property damage—for example, the costs of replacing a broken smartphone
Importantly, though, being able to prove that a truck driver caused a York truck crash by failing to check their blind spots isn’t always enough on its own to guarantee civil recovery. You may also need to prove you weren’t at fault for the wreck because you did something negligent, like staying inside a trucker’s blind spot for an unreasonably long time. Otherwise, your final damage award’s value might be reduced based on your share of “comparative fault”—something a skilled legal professional can help prevent.
What Filing Time Limits Apply to Truck Crash Lawsuits?
Another thing your attorney can help you with after a blind-spot semi-truck collision in York is constructing and filing the strongest claim possible within the filing deadline set by Pennsylvania law. With almost no exceptions, you have two years at most after getting hurt through someone else’s negligence to file a lawsuit against them.
It doesn’t matter if the other person is obviously 100% to blame for your wreck or even if you suffered permanent and life-altering injuries. The “statute of limitations” still applies, and failing to abide by it will virtually guarantee that a court will throw your case out the second you file it, leaving you with no way of recovering financially.
Talk to a York Attorney About a Blind-Spot Truck Accident Claim
Truckers who don’t check their blind spots while turning or switching lanes put themselves and everyone around them at risk of getting seriously hurt in a crash. While a truck accident lawyer can’t do much to prevent this sort of incident from happening in the first place, they can help you sue everyone whose irresponsible actions played a role in causing your wreck.
Our winning legal team has experience representing those injured in blind-spot truck accidents in York. Call us today for a free consultation with one of our respected attorneys to discuss your legal rights and options.
