Cleveland Truck Accident Lawyers Who Understand Blind Spot Crashes

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Our Cleveland truck accident lawyers have heard a lot of motorists say they get nervous when they’re driving beside an 18-wheeler or directly behind a tractor-trailer because they’re worried about getting injured in a blind spot crash. Every semi-truck has blind spots, and while reckless drivers sometimes cause blind spot accidents, negligent truckers can be responsible too.

The area directly in front of, immediately behind, and on either side of a tractor-trailer are considered blind spots, with the right side of an 18-wheeler being one of the toughest places for a trucker to see your car. If you travel in these zones it can be hard for the truck driver to spot your car, which puts you and your passengers at risk of getting into a blind spot crash.

Just because you were in an 18-wheeler’s blind spot doesn’t automatically mean you’re at fault if there was an accident between you and the semi-truck. Negligent tractor-trailer drivers can be responsible for blind spot crashes for many different reasons. At Merriman Legal, LLC, Cleveland truck accident lawyers have the knowledge, skill, and experience to handle these complex cases and get you the compensation you deserve. Don’t let them push you around, and don’t let them get away with being irresponsible. Contact us today for a free consultation.

What causes semi-truck blind spot accidents?

Truck drivers can be found at-fault in blind spot accidents for a lot of different reasons. Some reasons why the trucker may not have seen your vehicle include:

Poorly adjusted mirrors
Speeding
Talking on a cellphone
Texting
Eating or drinking
Reaching for something
Driving under the influence
Drowsy driving

What are common blind spot accidents?

Semi-truck blind spots can lead to serious crashes in many different ways. For example, a truck driver may not see a vehicle in their blind spot and push it off the road or into another lane.

Underride and override crashes are also common. These occur when a car either drives under the rear or side of a truck (underride) or the truck drives over a smaller vehicle (override). The front blind spot of a truck extends about 20 feet, which makes this type of accident more likely if a smaller vehicle is too close.

How much is my claim worth after a blind spot accident in Ohio?

The value of your claim depends on the severity of your injuries, the impact on your daily life, and the truck driver’s liability. Your compensation can range from a few thousand dollars to a multi-million-dollar settlement.

Insurance companies are quick to offer settlements, but those offers are often far less than what your claim is actually worth. Don’t accept a settlement until an attorney has added up your damages and accurately determined how much money you’re eligible for.

Your compensation may cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and loss of enjoyment of life.

How to avoid semi-truck blind spots

Tractor-trailers can weigh thousands of pounds and on average are about 50 feet long, so it’s usually a good idea to give 18-wheelers room and do your best to stay out of their blind spots. If you are driving near a semi-truck and you can’t see the trucker’s eyes or face in the truck’s side mirrors, there’s a good chance you are invisible to the driver and are at risk of getting injured in a blind spot crash.

In order to avoid a blind spot collision with an 18-wheeler, our truck accident lawyers recommend you:

Keep a safe distance: Never tailgate or ride the rear-end of a semi-truck. If the truck driver needs to brake suddenly, you may not have enough time to react and could end up slamming into the rear of the truck. While all tractor-trailers are legally required to have rear underride guards to prevent smaller cars from getting crushed underneath in the event of a collision, these barriers are often faulty or defective and don’t function properly.
Leave plenty of room when changing lanes: If you are switching from one lane to another and about to pass a tractor-trailer, make sure to leave plenty of room before you pull in front of the truck. A good rule of thumb is to check your mirrors before switching lanes. If you can see both of the 18-wheeler’s headlights and some ground in between the truck and your vehicle, you should have plenty of room to switch over into that lane.
Use your turn signals: While truck drivers sit up high, they don’t always have a clear view of all the vehicles on the road. With this in mind, it’s important for other drivers to always signal when making a turn or changing lanes. If you signal that you are about to pull in front of a semi-truck, the trucker will have time to adjust their speed so that there’s plenty of room between you and the 18-wheeler. Remember, tractor-trailers need a lot more time to slow down than passenger vehicles due to the extreme weight difference between the two.
Always pass on the left: The most dangerous area to drive when you’re near a semi-truck is on the truck’s ride side, because other than immediately behind the tractor-trailer, it’s the toughest spot for a trucker to see your vehicle. Whether you’re traveling down the road or attempting to pass an 18-wheeler, the safest way to do it is by passing on the left.

Our truck accident lawyers won’t let them pin the blame on you

Tractor-trailers have larger blind spots than passenger vehicles, but that doesn’t mean truck drivers can’t be held responsible for blind spot accidents. Trucking companies and their lawyers have done a great job coining the phrase “no-zone,” which refers to an 18-wheeler’s blind spots, but it’s really just a way for them to try to automatically assign blame to other drivers after a blind spot crash ─ no matter who is truly responsible.

Determining fault in a blind spot accident with an 18-wheeler is never easy because the trucker and trucking company will often deny any wrongdoing. To make matters worse, attorneys representing the truck driver or trucking company will often try to shift the blame on you, even if they know the accident wasn’t your fault. That’s not right, and that’s not fair.

If you’ve been injured in a blind spot collision with a tractor-trailer and it wasn’t your fault, our dedicated Cleveland truck accident lawyers can investigate the details surrounding your crash and find evidence to prove you weren’t at fault. Let us help you fight back and get the compensation you deserve. Make my team your team. Contact us today for a free consultation.