(864) 582-0416 Drivers share the road with a wide variety of vehicles and rely on the attention and judgment of those around them to remain safe. Large commercial vehicles, like 18-wheelers, pose a particular risk on the roadways due to their size, the long hours drivers spend behind the wheel, and their limited visibility.
When blind-spot truck accidents in Spartanburg leave motorists injured or with seriously damaged vehicles, it can be a challenge to determine who is responsible for the accident. Getting compensation for medical costs, repair bills, and lost wages may require an extensive investigation; an experienced semi-truck collision attorney at Holland & Usry can help. Call us today for a free* case review.
A “blind spot” refers to the places surrounding a large truck that are not easily visible to the driver. These spots occur because the truck does not have a rearview mirror (the view is blocked by the trailer) and because the size of the vehicle limits the visible range of the side mirrors. Truck drivers are responsible for knowing their blind spots and driving with safety in mind. They need to check these blind spots before turning or changing lanes.
These zones of low- or no-visibility for a truck driver include directly behind the truck, directly in front of the truck, to the left of the truck extending partially down the side, and to the right of the truck extending past the rear of the trailer. This right-side blind spot is the largest and is responsible for a lot of blind-spot truck accidents.
Blind-spot semi-truck accidents in Spartanburg may result in side-to-side vehicle collisions, underride crashes (when a car slides beneath a truck), rollover crashes, and rear-end collisions.
Determining fault for a blind-spot 18-wheeler accident in Spartanburg can be complicated. The most immediate consideration will be whether the drivers of the vehicles that collided were acting responsibly and legally. A truck driver may be designated as at fault or negligent, depending on the circumstances.
If the truck driver was using a cell phone or otherwise distracted from the road, this could be powerful evidence of negligence. It can rise to the level of qualifying your case for punitive damages.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides guidelines for both property-carrying and passenger-carrying drivers to ensure that they are well-rested. These regulations require drivers to take 30-minute breaks after eight hours of driving and adhere to time-specified driving limits. If a driver has gone beyond these limits, they may be found negligent.
Following too closely or tailgating another vehicle can be dangerous at any time, but it is especially dangerous for a large truck, which has a longer braking time. If a truck driver was following too closely to a car prior to a crash, it may help establish fault.
Even without these driver-specific factors, however, there can be additional considerations for assigning fault in a blind-spot truck accident. Depending on the agreements in place between the driver and their employer, the condition of the truck and the background checks performed (or not performed) prior to hiring the driver may be part of establishing fault on behalf of the company.
An attorney can help navigate the complex web of paperwork and investigations that will likely follow a blind-spot truck wreck in Spartanburg.
From communicating with insurance companies, ensuring that the investigation thoroughly considers each component of potential negligence, and accurately capturing all associated costs from the accident, a lawyer can make the process much easier.
Those who have been involved in blind-spot truck accidents in Spartanburg should contact a lawyer right away. Keeping careful track of expenses such as medical bills, repair costs, and lost wages can help establish a clear case for compensation. An experienced attorney can make sure that the investigation is thorough and considers all responsible parties to ensure the fairest compensation for your losses.
Call Holland & Usry for your free* case review.
