Atlanta Blind Spot Truck Accident Lawyer
Side impact collisions involving trucks are a common yet very scary occurrence. This is due in part to the fact that truck drivers face a difficult task of examining their blind spots when making a lane change or making a turn. A driver is easily susceptible to sustaining serious injuries from an accident such as this.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident involving the blind spot of a truck, speak with a dedicated attorney today. An Atlanta blind spot truck accident lawyer may be able to help you build an injury claim.
Hazardous Characteristics of Trucks
Trucks have blind spots that are much larger than other vehicles, which makes them more prone to being involved in blind spot accidents than other vehicles. The blind spots exist in various planes in front, on both sides of, and in the rear of the truck. Unlike a passenger car with a clear field of vision in the rearview mirror, a truck driver looking in the rearview mirror can see nothing.
Many 18-wheelers on the interstate have a sticker on the back that serves as a reminder to all motorists that trucks cannot see around themselves to the same degree as passenger cars. The truck driver must know how to manage space and drive in such a way that there are no cars in their blind spots for extended periods of time.
Attributing Negligence
There is nothing inherently wrong with a vehicle being in a truck’s blind spot. It is ultimately a question for a jury in a case but there is no statute in Atlanta that says a driver cannot drive along the side of a truck. Anyone who drives in Atlanta knows there are times when there is nowhere else to go but next to a truck in traffic. Therefore, it is incumbent on a truck driver to account for the blind spot, especially during lane changes.
The truck driver must keep a diligent lookout and adjust their view to see better in their mirrors. Some mirrors minimize the view to give the truck driver different angles of their side blind spots. The truck driver has the responsibility to maintain their lane and not change without checking their blind spots. All vehicles on the road have the same obligation to check their blind spots and make sure they are not in a truck’s blind spots before changing lanes.
Types of Common Accidents
Common blind spot truck accidents happen during lane changes, especially on multi-lane roads. These accidents are typically side-impact collisions. The most dangerous collisions are when the passenger car gets underneath the trailer and is struck, spins out, or is crushed by the rear tandem wheels. The passenger compartment can be sheared above the door post by the truck or trailer equipment.
Importance of Speaking with an Atlanta Truck Blind Spot Accident Lawyer
When a person suffers an injury in a truck accident in Atlanta, it is important to contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible for several reasons. Trucks have insurance companies and lawyers who immediately begin gathering information and evidence and talking to witnesses. If the person wants to be on a level playing field, it is imperative they speak with lawyers who know what to do, where to go, who to call, and what evidence to gather.
It is critical to contact witnesses while their memories are fresh. The lawyer can visit the scene to document physical evidence that may otherwise be lost. They can capture and interpret the paint markings the police put down and contact the appropriate experts.
Those are some of the critical items that can make the difference between winning and losing a truck collision case. These cases are not as simple as an auto accident. A huge body of law and regulations applies to commercial motor vehicles and it is important to speak with an Atlanta truck accident lawyer who has experience with this law.
