Blind Spot Car Accident Lawyer
Everyone has blind spots in their vehicles that is why we now have backup cameras and sensors in newer vehicles to help reduce the blind spot accidents.
Blind spots cause a significant amount of accidents in the United States each year.
Many of these accidents include commercial vehicles like delivery trucks or tractor trailers long hauling through the U.S.
Many people are killed each year when truck drivers fail to check blind spots before changing lanes or turning.
The offices of The Richard Harris Law Firm offer our personal injury legal services to victims of blind spot accidents that are for the most part preventable accidents.
We specialize in helping victims who have been injured in blind spot accidents in Nevada.
The Richard Harris Law Firm will investigate the accident and fight for your rights to recover damages due to the accident.
If you have been injured in an accident involving a truck driver and blind spots call us today for a free consultation.
All information obtained by our legal team is considered confidential via attorney client privilege.
Drivers who fail to check blind spots can cause devastating accidents when changing lanes.
These accidents can be severe and cause trauma to innocent victims that can change someone’s life.
The responsible party should be held accountable for their part in the accident.
National Blind Spot Accident Statistics
According to the NHTSA or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3000 people die each year in blind spot incidents involving passenger vehicles.
Vehicle blind spots are so dangerous because they can cause accidents before you even know they have happened.
These accidents happen when the driver of a truck or a large vehicle doesn’t check their blind spots before driving off or changing lanes, and very dangerous when speeding is involved.
The driver then crashes into the other vehicle without seeing them. These accidents are often severe and can cause catastrophic injuries and in some cases death.
According to the Nevada Department of Transportation from 2009-2013, 371 people died and over 2,770 people were injured severely in collisions involving big trucks.
Causes of Blind Spot Accidents and Injuries
Like most accidents there are always common causes.
Most drivers are aware of the dangers of blind spots and large trucks but must deal with them on a regular basis.
Especially on interstates like the I-15 which is a major truck hauling highway that stretches over the entire United states.
The most common causes of blind spot accidents are:
Lane Changes– When a driver changes lanes, even legally but they don’t check the mirrors or don’t see the other car in their blind spot. The lane changer can crash into the other car causing an accident. Always check all your mirrors and your rear view mirror multiple times before you change lanes.
Merging- Merging into traffic is similar to lane changes and can be just as dangerous if the driver is not aware of the blind spots. This happens so much more when there is new construction or drivers are in areas they don’t know.
Rear Ending– Not being able to see another vehicle in a blind spot can cause a vehicle to be hit from behind if the driver in front can’t see. Sometimes this leads to chain reaction accidents involving more than one or two vehicles.
Side Swiping- Sometimes when a car or truck changes lanes and doesn’t see the vehicle in the next lane the accident that occurs is a side swipe and can cause serious injuries and damage to both parties involved.
If you have been involved in any of these accidents you need to speak with an attorney right away.
They can investigate the accident and help file a claim on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve.
Blind Spot Accident Related Injuries
Serious, life changing injuries can occur when involved in a major car accident that occured from a blind spot accident.
Some more common injuries also can be caused by blind spot accidents.
These accidents occur because someone can’t see when changing lanes, entering traffic, or even backing out of a parking spot the accident can cause a variety of injuries including:
- Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Lacerations and bruises
- Internal bleeding and injuries
- Concussions and whiplash
There are also injuries that can not be seen or cared for with bandages.
People who suffer in severe accidents often develop anxiety, depression and stress after a major accident.
Some victims even develop Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder or (PTSD) after a serious accident.
Seek medical attention immediately after an accident to make sure you get the help you need.
Then call an attorney for a free case review.
Dealing With Blind Spots When Driving
Blind spots exist in all vehicles, they are areas around the vehicle that you can’t see using your mirrors.
Rear-end collisions and side-swipe collisions are the most common accidents that occur from blind spot lane changes.
Blind spots cause reduced visibility in multi-lane roads, intersections and in some cases roundabouts like in Summerlin can lead to blind spot crashes.
There are a few techniques that you can adapt when driving to avoid or limit blind spots.
Most drivers aren’t aware of these techniques or don’t have a need to learn them.
Here are a few things you can do you avoid a blind spot accident:
- Move to another lane where you can see the other cars from your mirrors
- Slow down and signal for a minute before changing lanes
- Wait until the cars either behind you or next to you move out of the blind spot and passes you before changing or moving lanes
Identify Your Car’s Blind Spot
All cars and trucks have blind spots like we have said before.
But identifying the blind spots in your vehicle are important.
You need to do this when you first get in any new vehicle.
Place your mirror so it’s adjusted to you.
Once the mirrors are in place, drive around your neighborhood and using your mirrors identify the spots you can’t see on either side of your car and the road.
These are the blind spots you should take note of and make an effort to double check before changing lanes or merging into traffic.
Knowing your blind spots and taking precautions to avoid these blind spots can help keep you and others on the road safe on the road.
Large Truck Blind Spots
We have driven on an interstate with large trucks and we know how scary that can be.
Large delivery trucks or tractor-trailers have more and larger blindspot zones based on size alone.
Sometimes driving next to a big rig you almost feel like you could fit under the truck.
We know you can see them but can they see you is the real question.
When driving on the interstate with large trucks you should be aware of the areas known as no-zones.
No-Zones are the areas around trucks where the driver cannot see you in their mirrors.
I use the guide.
If I can’t see the driver then he can’t see me.
Even though trucks are up high and have more mirrors than the average vehicle their blind spots are much more severe.
Also they are much heavier than the average vehicle and this makes it harder for them to stop at short notice if an accident does occur.
Commercial truck drivers are required by law to use their turn signals when changing lanes no matter what.
But always give them plenty of room to navigate the lane change.
Pursuing Compensation for a Blind Spot Accident
A truck driver’s failure to check the blind spots before changing lanes is a common reason for a truck, vehicle collision.
But what if the mirrors or computers in the tractor-trailer are broken than who is responsible?
Well in this case it may be the trucking company who didn’t maintain their trucks and not the driver.
In some cases the truck driver might not be at fault at all and the other driver may be the reason for the crash because of negligence.
If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a tractor trailer truck or delivery truck then you need to speak with a lawyer immediately to pursue filing a claim for compensation.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can investigate to determine if the truck driver or trucking company and their insurance company were negligent and therefore caused the accident.
Having experienced legal representation can help with:
- Gathering evidence through investigation from the crash scene
- A legal team will interview everyone involved including all witnesses
- Reviewing detailed police reports
- Lost wages
- Car repair bills
- Filing a claim within statute of limitations
Also, if the driver of the truck was violating any traffic laws at the time of the accident.
This can be used as evidence to support your accident claim.
Richard Harris Truck Accident Lawyer
In Nevada a blind spot accident that leads to significant injuries can be the subject of a personal injury claim against the negligent parties that caused your injuries.
Most insurance companies or negligent parties will try to settle out of court for a sum of money and a document signed admitting no guilt and no future action against the company.
The Richard Harris Law Firm has over 40 years of experience with trucking blind spot accidents.
We will build a case against the at fault parties and get you the compensation you deserve on a contingency basis.
If you have been injured in a blind spot accident in Nevada contact The Richard Harris Law Firm today for a free consultation.
We can review your case and let you know what to expect going forward.
