(757) 455-0077Because of how much longer and wider they are compared to passenger cars, commercial trucks and tractor-trailers have especially large blind spots where their operators cannot easily see other vehicles and people around them. With that in mind, truck drivers still have a responsibility to check their blind spots—often with help from side mirrors and collision detection technology—before making a turn or changing lanes.
If a truck driver fails to uphold these obligations and causes a crash as a result, they or their employer may be civilly liable for any ensuing damages. If you recently were hurt in a blind spot truck accident on the VA Eastern Shore, a knowledgeable lawyer could provide the assistance you may need to effectively pursue a positive result.
In addition to following local and federal regulations for appropriate roadway behavior, the duty of care truck drivers assume toward other people on the road also requires that they maintain awareness of their surroundings at all times. This means that if they cause an accident by failing to check their blind spots, they have breached this duty and could be considered legally negligent if that breach directly leads to someone else getting hurt.
Various reckless or careless actions could contribute to a blind spot truck crash on the Eastern Shore from violations of traffic laws, like turning without signaling or drunk driving, to a brief lapse in concentration or moment of distraction. The form of negligence that specifically causes a blind spot wreck has no bearing on a claimant’s right to recovery. If a truck driver or their employer was negligent in any way, there could be grounds for a personal injury claim.
That being said, negligence on the part of the injured party could prohibit recovery altogether. This is because state law adheres to a harsh pure contributory fault system that prohibits any claimant who bears partial fault for their own damages from recovering any compensation. In this instance, this negligent behavior may involve a driver passing a trucker on a road’s shoulder or staying in a truck’s blind spot for an unreasonably long time.
A person on the VA Eastern Shore who was injured in a blind spot truck accident could demand restitution for every form of harm they can trace directly to the incident in question. Recoverable damages may be economic or non-economic in nature, meaning that it is possible to recover for both objective monetary losses and more subjective losses that have no specific financial value.
A dedicated truck accident attorney could help a victim of a blind spot wreck pursue restitution for:
Achieving a positive resolution to a civil claim after a truck crash can be complex under any circumstances. However, doing so after a wreck caused by a truck driver who failed to check their blind spot can be especially challenging.
Support from a knowledgeable legal professional can be essential to the success of your case following a blind spot truck accident on the VA Eastern Shore. Call today to schedule a consultation.
Call (757) 455-0077 to request a free consultation
