Morristown TN Truck Blind Spot Accident Lawyer

Massive commercial vehicles like semi-trucks have large blind spots that make it difficult for drivers to see what’s happening around them. Truck drivers must thoroughly check their blind spots before maneuvering in any direction, as it’s too easy for passenger vehicles and other road users to disappear within them.

When a truck driver causes a blind spot accident, these other road users face the most significant risk of injury or death.

Were you injured in a Morristown truck accident because a truck driver failed to check their blind spots? If so, you could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain, suffering, and other losses.

Contact us online or call The Terry Law Firm today for a free consultation with a truck blind spot accident lawyer in Morristown, TN. We are ready to explain how we can help you pursue compensation from the people who hurt you.

What Are Blind Spots or No-Zones on Semi-Trucks?

The blind spots on a large truck are so extensive that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) terms them “no zones” to remind motorists how little a truck driver can see around them. They are areas where the driver of a vehicle cannot see objects without using special mirrors.

Where Are the Blind Spots Around a Truck?

Semi-truck blind spots are large and extend farther than the blind spots on passenger vehicles. The four major no-zones on a commercial truck are:

• Right side – The right-side blind spot starts at the truck’s cab and extends diagonally back along its trailer, obscuring at least the two adjacent lanes.
• Left side – The left-side blind spot starts at the cab and extends at least one lane to the left of the truck.
• Rear – The blind spot at the truck’s rear extends 30 feet or more behind the trailer.
• Front – The front blind spot extends up to 20 feet ahead of the truck’s cab.

Truck drivers must carefully observe their surroundings and be aware of the vehicles around them at all times. Checking blind spots before changing lanes is crucial. If drivers don’t pay attention to what they are doing, they could collide with a car traveling alongside them or even rear-end the back of a vehicle ahead.

Causes of Blind Spot Crashes in Morristown

Driver error is one of the most common reasons motor vehicle accidents occur. Truck drivers have a lot to think about and do while operating their vehicles. They must focus on the road ahead, watch for dangerous conditions, adjust their speed, and navigate around other road users. The slightest mistake or careless action could lead to a crash.

The most common contributing factors to blind spot truck accidents include:

• Tailgating
• Wide right turns
• Distracted driving
• Sudden braking or accelerating
• Speeding
• Merging into another lane without checking blind spots

It’s important to remember that, while a truck driver might be the person most immediately responsible for causing a crash, they are not the only one who could be liable. Depending on the circumstances, the trucking company could be just as responsible for the collision, particularly if it:

• Knowingly hired an unlicensed or inexperienced truck driver during a staffing shortage
• Failed to complete a background check on a prospective employee
• Failed to offer training to the truckers
• Improperly maintained the mirrors on the trucks

Furthermore, if the truck company employed the driver directly, they could be responsible for the crash due to the legal concept of vicarious liability. An experienced truck blind spot accident lawyer can review the situation and determine who could be liable for compensating you.

Common Types of Truck Blind Spot Accidents in Morristown

Some of the most common types of blind spot accidents in Morristown include:

• Sideswipe collisions – When a truck driver changes lanes without checking their blind spots, they risk hitting any vehicle in the adjacent lane.
• Override crashes – The truck’s front blind spot extends up to 20 feet ahead of the cab, or nearly twice the length of a passenger vehicle. A truck driver who is unaware that there is a vehicle in this front blind spot risks rear-ending that vehicle while accelerating.
• Wide turn accidents – Right turns can be too tight for large trucks to make without briefly entering the oncoming lane. Wide turn accidents often occur when a trucker approaches a turn without looking for vehicles on the right side of their truck. Turning without checking blind spots can cause the truck driver to crash into or drive over a small car in their path.
• Underride collisions – An underride accident happens when a car collides with and then slides under the semi-trucks trailer. That might occur if the truck driver brakes or changes lanes suddenly without thought to vehicles that might be around them.

Who Is at Fault for a Truck Accident Involving a Blind Spot?

Depending on the circumstances, the truck driver or their employer could be at fault for the crash and, therefore, liable for compensating you. Every trucking company must purchase liability coverage for its vehicles. The amount of coverage depends on the type of cargo and the weight of the entire vehicle.

You could be entitled to compensation for your:

• Hospitalization, physical therapy, surgery, and other medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Diminished quality of life
• Property damage

If you file a lawsuit, you might also be able to recover punitive damages. To do so, you must show clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted fraudulently, maliciously, recklessly, or intentionally to receive this type of financial award.

Contact a Blind Spot Accidents Attorney Today

Since 1960, The Terry Law Firm has provided a family tradition of legal services to injured clients. We are a small-town firm with big-city know-how and won’t shy away from even the most challenging blind spot truck accident cases. When you hire us, we will advocate for your rights and aggressively pursue the money you need.

If you sustained an injury in a blind spot truck accident in Morristown, TN, contact The Terry Law Firm today for your free consultation.