Eighteen-wheelers and other large trucks are a common sight on League City roadways. Most drivers have experienced the intimidating feeling of being beside one of these large vehicles in the flow of traffic, and feeling completely invisible to the driver. The truth is, if you are driving too close to a big rig, you often are invisible to the driver. Motorists traveling in a truck driver’s blind spot can lead to severe blind-spot truck accidents in League City. Unfortunately, drivers are often unaware they are putting themselves in danger because of their position.
If you were injured in a truck accident because you were in a trucker’s blind spot, a skilled truck accident attorney can help you determine your eligibility for compensation. The legal team at Schechter Shaffer & Harris can assess your case and determine if the driver performed due diligence in checking blind spots before the accident occurred.
Where Are Truck Blind Spots?
The massive size of a big rig dwarfs typical vehicles on the road, making them invisible in certain areas around the truck. A truck has several large blind spots where the driver is incapable of seeing the traffic around them. If you travel in the following spots, a truck driver likely cannot see your vehicle at all:
- The area directly in front of the truck’s cab
- The driver’s side, behind the driver’s window, and directly beside the trailer
- The passenger side, next to the trailer
- Several feet directly behind the truck
If you are driving near a large truck and are in a position where you cannot see the truck’s mirrors, the truck driver probably cannot see your vehicle. While truck drivers follow procedures to pay attention to traffic around them and recognize when vehicles move into blind spots, it is imperative to provide truck drivers with space for safe maneuvering.
Determining Liability in a League City Blind Spot Accident
Roadways are built to accommodate various types of traffic in all situations, forcing drivers to occasionally drive uncomfortably close to massive trucks. Fortunately, truck drivers are trained to recognize where their blind spots are and how the positions of vehicles around them could lead to vehicles traveling in spots they cannot see. A truck driver’s training and the actions of the motorists beside them are used to determine liability in blind spot accidents.
When truck drivers fail to be vigilant about the traffic around them, they can be completely unaware that a vehicle traveling lawfully has entered their blind spot and veer into the vehicle’s lane. The driver failing to do their due diligence in keeping track of the surrounding traffic may be considered negligence. However, if a motorist abruptly darts in front of the truck for a lane change, the motorist’s actions are negligent. A driver who needlessly travels close to a truck or drives recklessly around it can be found liable for causing an accident.
Consult a League City Attorney to Learn About Compensation for a Blind-Spot Crash
All of the factors involved in blind-spot truck accidents in League City make these injury cases notoriously difficult. Truck company insurers will fight to prove a truck driver is innocent by insisting injured motorists were partly responsible for causing the accident. This can substantially reduce the amount of compensation an injured individual is eligible for. If you have been injured in a League City blind spot accident, you need an experienced partner to help you navigate the legal process of proving negligence and filing a claim for compensation.
Contact the knowledgeable personal injury attorneys at Schechter Shaffer & Harris to learn more about compensation for truck accidents or to schedule a consultation.
