Advocating for People Injured in Dallas Truck Blind Spot Collisions
Blind spots are areas around a vehicle that the driver cannot observe with the use of rear view and side mirrors. Checking a blind spot requires turning the head and taking one’s eyes off the road. All vehicles have blind spots that drivers must be aware of when changing lanes or performing other maneuvers.
Commercial truck drivers have particularly large and dangerous blind spots, also known as the truck’s no zone. Blind spots are much larger on semi tractor-trailers because the vehicles are much longer, and drivers in truck cabs sit higher off the ground. Truck drivers have a duty to be particularly cautious and aware of blind spots while operating a big rig on the roadway.
Where Are a Truck’s Blind Spots Located?
Large commercial trucks have four blind spot areas located all around the vehicle:
- Approximately 20 feet directly in front of the cab, extending across the entire width of the cab
- Approximately 30 feet behind the trailer, extending across the entire width of the trailer
- On the left side of the truck, extending one lane out, beginning at the driver’s seat and running for approximately three-quarters of the length of the trailer
- On the right side of the truck, beginning at the front end and extending 10 to 20 feet from the rear. This is a semi truck’s largest blind spot, extending across two lanes out from the truck.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Trucker Blind Spot Accidents in Texas?
A fully-loaded 18-wheeler can cause a tremendous amount of destruction when it collides with a much smaller passenger vehicle. Injured victims and their families are entitled to seek compensation. As with any collision involving a large commercial truck, there may be multiple potentially liable parties in a truck blind spot accident. Our Dallas truck accident lawyers can conduct a thorough investigation to determine fault and liability and pursue all forms of compensation. Depending on the circumstance, liable parties may include:
- Truck driver
- Trucking company
- Loader or shipper of the truck’s cargo
- Manufacture of a defective truck part
What Types of Collisions Can Occur When Truckers Are Not Careful About Blind Spots?
When truckers fail to adequately check their blind spots before changing lanes, it can cause several different types of deadly accidents.
- Sideswipe crashes can occur when truckers change lanes into another vehicle.
- Override/underride collisions can occur when a truck driver fails to see and runs over a small vehicle (override) or when a smaller car slides under the truck’s trailer (underride).
- Head-on collisions can be caused by a large truck merging left into other vehicles and sending them into oncoming lanes of traffic.
- Run-off-the-road accidents happen when a truck merges into a lane where vehicles are present and forces them off the road.
Why Is it Important to Contact a Dallas Truck Accident Attorney Right Away?
Truck crashes are complex cases involving federal regulations and multiple potentially responsible parties. Trucking companies and their insurers have teams of attorneys ready to fight your claim. Your best chance of recovering full compensation for your injuries is to speak with an experienced Dallas truck blind spot accident attorney – as soon as possible, before vital evidence is lost.
Why Choose Us?
Our Dallas personal injury attorneys at The Lenahan Law Firm have extensive experience representing people who have been seriously injured in truck accidents. In fact, of the clients we accept at any given time, approximately one-third are truck wreck cases. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients, and we have what it takes to win your case. Contact us today at (214) 295-1008.
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