Truck driver liability for blind spots is often a factor in truck accidents. Blind spots are areas where drivers cannot see other vehicles or pedestrians, also called the “no zone.” Just as cars have blind spots, so do trucks, and especially semi-trucks or 18-wheelers, which have blind spots that are extensive on all sides of their vehicles.

Facts About Large Truck Blind Spots

Truck drivers sit high in the cabs of their vehicles, and in certain situations this position enhances visibility. However, when other vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles or pedestrians are close to the truck, such proximity diminishes the truck driver’s ability to see them. This is especially true when they are a good deal lower than the truck.

Truck blind spots include:

• The front blind spot extends close to 20 feet in front of the truck.
• The side blind spots nearly extend the length of the truck. If you can see the driver’s face in his side view mirror, he should be able to see your vehicle. If not, it is safe to assume you are hidden from his view.
• The rear no-zone of a truck extends about 200 feet from the rear of the truck.

Truck Driver Liability

Truck drivers must take reasonable precautions when they change lanes, make turns or slow down. They must check for other cars or people who could be in their way. Failure to do so is negligent, and when accidents resulting in damages occur as a result of their breach of duty, injured parties can hold them liable.

Often the trucking company is liable for a driver’s actions when the driver is on duty and driving for the company. When companies hire truck drivers that have driving records of drunk or reckless driving, they are at risk for being held responsible for accident damages.

(Justia.com)

Have You Been Injured or Lost a Loved One in a Truck Accident?

If you have suffered serious injury, find out about your rights to sue for damages. Consult with our attorneys at Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP  and discuss your potential case during a free initial consultation.

On Saturday, June 24 around 6:00 a.m., a car crashed into a tractor-trailer in Long Island City, Queens.

According to CBS New York , the driver of the car crashed into a tractor-trailer, and the collision sheered off the top of the car as it slid under the truck. The police believe the driver of the car ran a red light and broadsided the big rig while traveling on Queens Boulevard. The driver, 28-year-old Steven Narvaez died at the scene of the accident. Emergency personnel took his passenger, a 17-year-old girl, to Elmhurst Hospital where staff evaluated she was in critical condition.

The truck driver was unharmed and remained at the scene. It appeared that police conducted a sobriety test on the truck driver and officials are investigating the crash, but made no arrest.

Truck Accidents

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) heavily regulates the trucking industry. Truck drivers are subject to regulations that limit the number of hours they are allowed to drive. Most trucks have an electronic control module (ECM), also called a black box. The ECM records data about the truck operation, such as times driven, speed, braking, etc.

Truck Accident Statistics

An estimated 500,000 truck accidents occur annually. However, the US Department of Transportation reports that passenger vehicle drivers are responsible for more than 75% of the accidents.

In 2015, 16 percent of the deaths in truck accidents were truck drivers, 69 percent were occupants of passenger vehicles and 15 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

For Serious or Fatal Truck Accidents Seek Legal Help

When another driver causes a serious accident, you should seek legal help as soon as possible. Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP  has extensive experience dealing with truck accidents and other vehicle accident cases and can help you protect your rights to recover compensation.