February 13, 2023 | Sagi Shaked | Truck Accidents
More than 13 million semi-trucks roll down US highways and interstates every day. These trucks can weigh as much as twenty times the weight of normal cars, and accidents with them can be devastating. Many accidents with semi-trucks happen when cars wind up in their blind spots.
So where are the blind spots on a semi-truck, and what happens if you’re in their blind spot? Read on to learn more about blind spot truck accidents in Miami, Florida.
Where Are Truck Drivers’ Blind Spots?
Semi-trucks have large blind spots on the front, sides, and rear of their vehicles. A driver won’t be able to see any vehicle that’s within twenty feet of their truck. They also won’t be able to see a vehicle that’s within thirty feet behind the truck.
If you’re behind the driver’s door on the left-hand side of the truck, they won’t be able to see you. You’ll also be in their blind spot if you’re anywhere in the two lanes to the right of the truck.
Common Blind Spot Accidents
As you might imagine, there are a few common accidents that can happen when a car is in a truck’s blind spot.
Often, when trucks try to merge onto a highway or change lanes, they can sideswipe cars that are in their blind spots. This most commonly happens when drivers don’t check their mirrors or the lanes they’re merging into before they move over.
When a car is trying to avoid a sideswipe accident, they may wind up running off the road and colliding with something else. They may even wind up veering into other lanes and getting into head-on collisions with oncoming vehicles.
Worst yet, when a smaller car is in front of a semi-truck, it may wind up getting run over completely in an override accident. Or if the semi stops suddenly and the smaller car doesn’t, it may run under the trailer in an underride accident.
Why These Accidents Happen
Preventing blind spot truck accidents starts with understanding why those accidents happen. Oftentimes, it has to do with an error on the part of the truck driver. If they don’t have the appropriate training or experience, they may slip up and cause catastrophic accidents.
If a truck isn’t equipped with the appropriate mirrors or if those mirrors aren’t aligned properly, they may not see cars in the lanes they’re merging into.
Failing to check blind spots before merging is another common cause of these accidents, as is failing to keep a proper lookout for traffic.
When truck drivers are distracted, fatigued, or drunk, their lowered reaction time can have devastating consequences.
Who’s at Fault?
After an accident with a truck, one of the first things you’ll need to do is determine who’s at fault.
Although Florida is a no-fault state, one party can still be held liable for the damage it caused. Oftentimes, truck accidents are – no surprise – the fault of the truck driver.
Unfortunately, neither trucking companies nor insurance companies want to pay a fair settlement to drivers who have been injured. Oftentimes, they’ll try to say the driver was at fault since they were in the truck’s blind spot.
A good personal injury lawyer can help protect you from this blame and help you take on the trucking companies and the insurance giants.
Get Help After Your Truck Accident
Commercial trucks have large blind spots, and sometimes cars get trapped in them. If you’ve been hurt in a blind spot truck accident in Miami, Florida, you need a good personal injury lawyer on your side. You could wind up being blamed for the accident, even if the truck driver was at fault.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, the attorneys at Shaked Law want to help. We’ll protect you from blame for the accident and help you take on the corporate lawyers to get a fair settlement. Schedule a free consultation with us today and get the representation you deserve.
Contact Our Truck Accident Law Firm in Miami, FL
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Miami, FL and need legal help, contact our Miami truck accident lawyers at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers
20900 NE 30th Ave Suite 715
Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 937-0191