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“Daniel Talbert is a top-notch attorney... he has a never-give-up approach even when things look bleak.”
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“David Teddy was more than worth the money... he actually took the time to listen.”
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“David Teddy and his team are outstanding!!! WORTH EVERY PENNY!”
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What Are Blind Spots?
A blind spot is an area around a vehicle that the driver cannot see while looking out their windows or at the sideview or rearview mirrors. A driver must turn their head and look directly at these blind spots to confirm the coast is clear.
Every vehicle has blind spots, but they differ somewhat based on the size and shape of the vehicle. Because of their massive size, trucks have large blind spots. Serious accidents can happen when a driver fails to properly check a blind spot before taking action.
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“Daniel Talbert is a top-notch attorney... he has a never-give-up approach even when things look bleak.” - Roger T.
-
“Ralph is the epitome of what a lawyer should be.” - Melinda R.
-
“David Teddy was more than worth the money... he actually took the time to listen.” - Rosslyn S.
-
“David Teddy and his team are outstanding!!! WORTH EVERY PENNY!” - Nicholas D.
Where Are the Blind Spots Around a Truck?
A large truck has blind spots on all sides, particularly in these locations:
- In front of the truck – Because of the vehicle’s size and height, truck drivers cannot see objects or vehicles directly in front of the truck. The blind spot extends as much as 20 feet in front of the truck’s cab.
- To the left of the truck cab – Truck drivers cannot see objects or vehicles across one lane on their left side, starting at the side mirror. The blind spot extends between half and three-quarters of the length of the truck’s trailer. A good way to determine whether you are in a truck’s blind spot is to look for the driver in their mirror. If you cannot see them in their side mirror, it’s safe to assume they cannot see you.
- To the right of the truck cab – On the right side, the blind spot extends across two lanes. This blind spot extends the full length of the tractor and just past the rear of the trailer. As on the left side, if you cannot see the truck driver in their side mirror, they likely cannot see you.
- Behind the truck – Because of the truck’s long cargo trailers, truck drivers cannot see directly behind their vehicle for approximately 30 feet.
Causes and Types of Blind Spot Crashes in Lincolnton
Truck driver error, to some extent, causes most blind spot crashes. Truck drivers should know that they have massive blind spots around them and that they are responsible for checking them.
Some of the most common causes of blind spot crash in Lincolnton include:
- Failure to check blind spot – Simply put, failing to check a blind spot is the most common cause of blind spot crashes. There might be any number of reasons why the driver failed to check their blind spot, such as being distracted, tired, inexperienced, or poorly trained.
- Following too closely – If one vehicle follows another too closely, it can disappear into the other vehicle’s blind spot. That can also occur in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
- Failure to use turn signals – If a truck driver fails to use their turn signal to indicate a lane change, a motorist could drive into their blind spot unaware of their intentions, resulting in a collision.
- Driving in a blind spot – The FMCSA recommends that other drivers stay out of trucks’ no zones. Rather than drive in the blind spot, drivers should either slow down or move ahead to remain in the truck driver’s view.
Common types of blind spot crash in Lincolnton include:
- Rear-end collisions – Because of the blind spots in front of and behind trucks, rear-end collisions can easily happen. For example, if a car in a truck’s front blind spot must stop suddenly but the truck driver does not see them, the truck could rear-end them.
- Sideswipe crashes – These crashes happen when a truck collides with a vehicle in the left- or right-side blind spot, as when a truck changes lanes or merges onto a highway.
- Back-up accidents – Truck drivers who are backing up cannot see the first 30 feet behind their trailer. That poses a significant hazard when reversing.
- Rollover accidents – A truck that collides with something in its driver’s blind spot could subsequently experience a rollover accident.
- Wide turn accidents – Because of their length and size, tractor-trailers make wide turns. When turning, trucks could collide with objects in their left or right blind spots.
- Underride accidents – This type of accident occurs when a small vehicle slides partially or completely underneath a tractor-trailer. An underride accident can happen after a truck collides with a vehicle in its side blind spots.
Who Is at Fault for a Truck Accident Caused by a Blind Spot in Lincolnton?
In most blind spot crashes, a truck driver who fails to check their blind spot before maneuvering their truck is found to be at fault for the accident. In many cases, the driver’s employer or insurer is liable for compensating anyone injured in the accident their driver caused while on duty.
However, trucking companies often have teams of aggressive lawyers and insurance adjusters looking to protect the company’s profits. They might argue that the victim is at fault for driving in the truck’s blind spot. This argument is especially problematic in North Carolina, which operates under a pure contributory negligence rule. That means if an accident victim is partially at fault for the accident (even just 1 percent), the victim cannot recover compensation.
How Our Lincolnton Law Firm Helps People Hurt in Blind Spot Crashes
The attorneys at Teddy, Meekins & Talbert, P.L.L.C. are not afraid to take on the trucking industry and demand that you be compensated for your:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property losses, such as car repairs or replacement
Contact Our Experienced Lincolnton Truck Accident Lawyers Today
If you were injured in a blind spot crash in or around Lincolnton, North Carolina, contact the experienced truck attorneys at Teddy, Meekins & Talbert, P.L.L.C., today for a case review. We look forward to meeting you and finding out how we can help.