Every vehicle has blind spots, and neglecting these areas can lead to serious roadway collisions. Commercial trucks and tractor-trailers have much larger blind spots than passenger vehicles, so truck drivers must be trained to navigate them safely.
When blind-spot accidents involving large commercial vehicles occur, they often result from negligence by either the truck driver or the company that employs them. If you have been hurt in a blind spot truck accident in Danbury, it is wise to speak with a skilled truck collision attorney who can advise you of your best legal options.
Truck collisions in Danbury can have various causes, but one of the most common is a driver’s failure to check their blind spots. Semi-trucks are significantly larger than the average passenger vehicle. While commercial trucks weigh up to 80,000 pounds, a regular car weighs around 4,000. The average length of a passenger car is around 15 feet, a fraction of the standard 72 feet for most semi-trucks.
Some commercial trucks are as large as 100 feet long. This means that truck drivers have considerably more extensive and dangerous blind spots than the average motorist operating a passenger vehicle.
Two of the most notable blind spots for most semi-trucks are 20 feet directly in front of the cab and 30 feet behind the trailer. Other key blind spots exist on the cab’s right and left sides and extend the length of the vehicle and up to two lanes outward. This makes it challenging for truck drivers to see pedestrians or other motorists when they are within these zones.
Motorists who are involved in blind-spot collisions may sustain catastrophic injuries. These could include one or more fractures, neck injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, burns, and traumatic brain injuries. Emergency medical treatment may be required at the scene of the accident. Even if emergency care is not needed, it is important for victims to seek immediate medical attention for injuries sustained in a blind spot truck crash.
The truck company’s insurance adjuster may try to contact an injured individual. This is often a tactic to try to deflect liability from their insured or even offer a low-ball settlement to get the case over and done with. After getting medical care, the next priority for an injured person is to contact a lawyer. An attorney can handle all key steps of a blind-spot truck accident claim, including speaking with the insurance company, contacting witnesses, reviewing evidence, and taking the case to court, if needed.
An insurance claim or settlement could recover multiple damages for someone injured in a blind-spot truck crash. These damages could include compensation for past and future lost wages and medical bills as well as pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and lost enjoyment of life.
While truck drivers are often at fault in these wrecks, other liable parties may be involved. The Danbury trucking company that employs the driver often shares some responsibility for a blind-spot crash. Sometimes, a third party, such as a negligent motorist, may have contributed to the accident, and they, too, could be held liable for an injured person’s damages.
If you are recovering from a blind-spot truck accident in Danbury, you may need legal assistance. Commercial truck accidents often involve serious injuries, extensive property damage, and expensive medical bills.
Our team can fight for full and fair compensation due to you while overcoming the common tactics that insurance companies use to try to devalue truck accident claims. Contact Berkowitz and Hanna, LLC today and ask to speak with an attorney about your recent collision.
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