Large trucks are among the most dangerous types of vehicles to share the roadway with. Apart from their size and weight, which can cause serious damage and severe injuries in an accident, large trucks also have several blind spots that make traveling around them risky. Because of these blind spots, many truck drivers cannot perform certain maneuvers as safely and easily as passenger vehicle operators. This puts other motorists at risk.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a truck collision, a Corpus Christi truck accident lawyer with Loncar Lyon Jenkins can help you hold the liable parties accountable for your financial damages. We can begin assisting you immediately with a free, no-obligation consultation.
Commercial Drivers Must Check Blind Spots to Avoid Truck Accidents
Large trucks and commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) have large blind spots on all four sides, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
These four blind spots, which the FMCSA considers “No Zones,” are as follows:
- 20 feet directly in front of a large truck
- 30 feet directly behind a large truck
- The left lane on the side of the truck
- The right two lanes on the side of the truc
While it is the duty of all motorists to be aware of a large truck’s blind spots, it is also a truck driver’s responsibility to check these areas to ensure a maneuver (such as a lane change) is safe to make. When drivers fail to take caution, we can hold them financially responsible for accidents they cause.
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Liable Parties in a Blind Spot Truck Accident
Our Corpus Christi blind spot truck accident lawyers can help you recover compensation from one or more parties for the impact the accident has had and will have on your life. It is important to understand that there may be one or more parties we can hold accountable for your accident.
Our attorneys will investigate your crash and ensure all those liable pay their fair share so you and your loved ones do not get stuck with the cost of someone else’s mistakes. Liable parties in a Texas truck accident may include:
The Truck Driver
If the truck driver was engaging in negligent or careless behavior at the time of the accident, they may be one party we can hold liable for causing it. For instance, if the truck driver failed to check the lane next to the truck to ensure it was clear, we may be able to bring a claim against them. This can be the case even if you were traveling in a blind spot.
Other factors that could help us build a case against the truck driver include:
- Proof they were violating one or more state or federal safety regulations; or
- Proof they were operating their vehicle in a reckless or careless manner, such as speeding, driving while intoxicated, or texting and driving.
The Trucking Company
If the truck driver was working at the time of the accident and performing duties within the scope of their employment, their employer may also be financially responsible for the accident under a legal principle known as vicarious liability.
A truck driver’s employer may also have behaved negligently if it hired a truck driver knowing the individual was not qualified to operate the vehicle or that the driver posed a risk based on their driving history. Trucking companies can also bear responsibility for not maintaining their fleet of vehicles, not conducting mandatory driver drug and alcohol screenings, or encouraging drivers to speed or drive aggressively to make faster deliveries.
Our Attorneys Can Help You Prove Your Blind Spot Accident Case
To secure compensation for a trucking accident, you must show that the liable party’s negligent actions led to your injuries and damages. Our personal injury lawyers can do this for you. Our firm will use decades of combined legal experience to collect evidence, advocate for you, and handle case-related “red tape.” We can:
- Interview eyewitnesses
- Obtain police reports, medical records, and physical evidence
- Consult with crash reconstructionists, doctors, economists, and other relevant experts
- Identify and calculate your damages
- Draft and file your insurance claim or lawsuit
- Negotiate for the maximum possible settlement and handle all case-related communications
- Represent you at trial if necessary
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Possible Blind Spot Truck Accident Compensation
Truck drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles while exercising caution and care. Drivers who fail to do this should pay for the harm caused by their negligent behavior. To hold a truck driver (or any other party) accountable for a blind spot truck accident, our lawyers can file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against them.
By doing this, we can demand compensation for the damages you suffered. Our Corpus Christi blind spot truck accident attorneys can assess your injuries and losses and pursue awards for the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and job benefits
- Loss of earning capacity
- Loss of household services
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Factors That Can Affect a Texas Truck Accident Case
If the court finds you are partially liable for causing a blind spot truck accident, your percentage of fault can affect your ability to recover damages. According to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §33.001, if the court assigns you more than 50 percent fault for an accident, it will disqualify you from recovering compensation.
For this reason, insurance companies and opposing counsel may try to blame your truck accident on you. Our lawyers can defend you from allegations of wrongdoing on your part that could reduce your financial awards or prevent you from seeking damages. We can also stand up to bad-faith insurance tactics or legal strategies designed to diminish your settlement or verdict.
The Statute of Limitations
Another Texas law that will affect your case is the statute of limitations. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you have two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. The clock started when your or your loved one’s blind spot accident occurred.
If you do not meet this deadline, the court will likely refuse your case, and you will not be able to take legal action, even if you have solid proof of the driver’s or trucking company’s negligence. An expired statute of limitations will also reduce your bargaining power when seeking an insurance settlement. Our firm can help you get started today.
Obtain Legal Help After a Blind Spot Truck Accident in Corpus Christi
If you suffered injuries in a blind spot truck accident, call in the Strong Arm. At Loncar Lyon Jenkins, we can help you understand more about your personal injury claim and what we can do to help you fight for the compensation you are due.
We take cases on contingency, meaning our services cost nothing upfront or out of pocket. To learn more about Loncar Lyon Jenkins and how our Corpus Christi blind spot truck accident lawyers help victims of blind spot truck accidents, contact us today.
