The size of a big rig or other large truck means it is more likely to get into accidents and has more force during a crash. Its size also means it has blind spots on the side, in front, and in the rear.
These blind spots hamper truckers’ ability to gauge the traffic around them. While trucks have mirrors that increase their visibility, they cannot provide a full 360-degree view. As the signs on many big rigs warn, if a driver of another vehicle cannot see the trucker’s mirrors, the trucker cannot see them. When you are injured in a blind-spot truck accident in Mankato, a knowledgeable truck accident attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Drivers can avoid blind spots on trucks when they understand their size and location. A standard 18-wheeler has blind spots on all four sides of the vehicle. Without mirrors, they are entirely blind along the entire passenger side, behind the truck, on most of the driver’s side past the driver’s door, and for about 20 feet in front of the vehicle. The only place where they do not have an obstructed view is in the immediate vicinity of the driver’s door.
Truckers use their mirrors to help them see their blind spots. The most important rule for drivers to remember is that if they cannot see the trucker’s mirrors, the trucker cannot see them on either side of the truck. Drivers should remain several car lengths behind the truck, because truckers cannot see vehicles for several feet behind them. Truckers also cannot see what is immediately in front of their truck, so drivers need to be at least two car lengths in front of a truck.
Drivers can try to maintain an appropriate distance while following trucks, but this may not be possible in some traffic circumstances, such as at stop lights and at stop signs. The result is that even the most cautious drivers can end up in a trucker’s blind spot.
Large truck crashes often lead to extensive injuries. The sheer size of the trucks means a massive amount of force is involved in all wrecks, even at slow speeds. When these accidents occur at higher speeds, they can easily lead to severe injuries or even death. Possible injuries include
These injuries can range in severity from moderately inconvenient to life-altering. They can even lead to death. The greater the injury, the greater the need for financial compensation. More severe injuries lead to a greater need for medical care and more time away from work. They can impact lifelong earning capacity and lead to more substantial pain and suffering.
Injured parties may be entitled to three types of compensation from blind-spot truck accidents in Mankato: financial compensatory damages, nonfinancial compensatory damages, and punitive damages. Compensatory damages repay people for the damages they experience, whether they are direct financial losses like medical bills or non-monetary losses like pain and suffering. Punitive damages are available when the trucker acted in deliberate disregard for the rights or safety of others.
Blind-spot truck accidents in Mankato can lead to devastating injuries and expensive property damage. You do not have to deal with those consequences on your own. Our attorneys are here to help when you need us by evaluating your potential damages, identifying responsible parties, negotiating with insurance companies, and bringing a claim on your behalf. Schedule a free consultation to learn more.
