Utah Blind Spot Truck Accident Attorney
All vehicles have blind spots. But the blind spots on a commercial truck are huge compared to a car and can span multiple lanes of traffic. Truckers must take extra care to check these areas before turning, merging, or changing lanes. Drivers who fail to check their surroundings can cause severe accidents and life-changing harm to others.
If you suffered injuries in a truck accident because a truck driver didn’t check their blind spots, compensation may be possible through a personal injury claim. The Utah truck accident attorneys Swenson & Shelley can advise you of your legal options. Call or contact us online for a free consultation with a blind spot truck accident lawyer today.
What are Blind Spots?
Blind spots are areas around vehicles that drivers can’t see using their side or rearview mirrors. Passenger cars have a blind spot running diagonally along either side, obscuring the motorist’s view. Drivers must look over their shoulders before changing lanes or merging to avoid colliding with vehicles traveling next to them. Trucks also have blind spots, but they are much larger than those on passenger cars.
How Many Blind Spots Do Trucks Have?
There are four blind spots on a truck:
- 20 feet in front of the cab
- 30 feet behind the trailer
- On the right side of the truck, from the back of the cab to the back of the trailer, spanning across two lanes
- On the left side, starting at the back of the cab and extending to the back of the trailer and one lane over
These four areas are known as the No Zones. If you can’t see the truck driver in their side mirrors, assume they can’t see you.
Common Types of Blind Spot Truck Accidents
A truck’s blind spots can lead to multiple types of collisions. The most common include:
- Sideswipe collisions – A sideswipe accident involves a truck driver who changes lanes without checking their blind spot, crashing into the side of a car already occupying the lane.
- Override accidents – These crashes occur when a semi-truck hits the rear end of the car in front and runs over it. Override accidents can happen if a truck driver tailgates another vehicle without leaving enough space to stop or slow down.
- Underride accidents – An underride accident refers to a car sliding underneath a truck’s trailer. This type of crash can result from a trucker cutting off a driver in the next lane, causing that car to become wedged beneath the trailer.
- Turning accidents – Trucks have a wide turning radius which prevents them from negotiating tight turns without running into adjacent lanes. Truck drivers who don’t check their blind spots risk hitting a car traveling alongside them.
Filing a Lawsuit for Blind Spot Accidents
When someone else is responsible for your injuries, you can file a lawsuit against them to demand compensation for your losses. Compensation can include money for:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation, like physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy
- Household assistance, such as cleaning and childcare
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage
Punitive damages are also possible in truck accident lawsuits. Rather than compensate you for your losses, they are meant to deter further egregious behavior by the at-fault party. To receive punitive damages, you must show clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s act or omission was due to their malicious and willful or intentionally fraudulent conduct or that their actions demonstrated a reckless and knowing indifference toward and disregard for others’ rights.
Lawsuits are also bound by a statute of limitations. In Utah, this statute of limitations allows a four-year timeframe to initiate a lawsuit against another party. That means you have four years from the date of the accident to file a truck accident claim.
Blind Spot Truck Accidents and Wrongful Death
Some blind spot truck accidents are fatal. If your loved one died due to someone else’s wrongdoing, you might have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault party. The personal representative of your family member’s estate or a surviving heir, such as a spouse, child, or parent, can file a wrongful death claim. The statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of your loved one’s death to file.
The financial award compensates survivors for their losses related to the death, such as:
- Loss of the deceased’s counsel, advice, and affection
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering the victim experienced from the time of their injury until their death
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Lost wages, including future earnings and benefits
Who is Liable for Your Injuries?
Multiple parties can be at fault for a truck accident. Checking blind spots before maneuvering a truck is ultimately up to the truck driver. Failure to do so can make them liable for the accident victim’s injuries.
However, the motor carrier they drive for might be liable under certain circumstances. Truck companies are generally liable for their employees’ actions while doing their jobs. In other cases, the company may be more directly liable, such as if it hired the driver without checking their qualifications, background, and safety record.
Trucking companies might also be responsible for blind spot accidents if they don’t provide adequate supervision. Employers must supervise their employees to ensure compliance with traffic laws and state and federal trucking regulations.
Injured in a Blind Spot Accident? Contact Swenson & Shelly Now
If you suffered injuries in a blind spot truck accident, the lawyers at Swenson and Shelley can help. Your well-being and future matters to us. Our experienced truck accident lawyers can investigate your case, gather evidence, and negotiate aggressively for maximum compensation for you.
When someone else’s negligence turns your life upside down, we’re here to help you pick up the pieces and rebuild. Contact Swenson & Shelley today for a free consultation with a blind spot truck accident lawyer in Utah.