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Accidents In Tractor-Trailers’ Blind Spots Can Be Deadly

18Wheeler

Due to their large size and construction, large tractor-trailers have a number of blind spots that other drivers must be aware of while on the road. Data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) estimates that around one-third of all crashes involving large trucks occur within one of the truck’s blind spots. If you have been injured in one of these types of accidents, understanding the nature of blind spots can help to make the difference between recovering compensation and being denied.

Both Parties May Be Negligent

While passenger vehicles have blind spots, the sheer size of a tractor-trailer means that theirs are so large that a car may actually disappear. As one might imagine, this increases the likelihood of an accident simply because a tractor-trailer may not see the vehicle in the next lane over. If, for example, a tractor-trailer changes lanes because they believe the coast is clear, the impact can total a passenger car and cause serious injuries or death.

Every driver on Florida’s roads has the inherent duty to exercise care toward every other, and in general, being aware of one’s blind spots is considered the duty of the tractor-trailer driver. However, there are situations in which the driver of a smaller car should be aware that they are in a truck’s blind spots – for example, when a truck is changing lanes or backing up – and failure to do so may place some of the fault on their shoulders, even if they are injured severely.

You Can Likely Still Recover

Even if you are unsure as to whether you bear some fault for your own injuries, it may still be worth your while to file suit against the tractor-trailer (and, in some cases, their employer) if you believe that their behavior was negligent. Tractor-trailers play a disproportionate role in highway injuries – data from 2020 shows that in Florida, 7.2 percent of crashes involved large trucks, but a higher percentage of injuries and deaths could be laid at their door.

Florida also observes a legal theory called modified comparative fault, which states that if a person is ruled less than 50 percent liable for their own injuries, they can still recover for the remaining percentage of their damages. For example, if a plaintiff is found to be 20 percent responsible for their own injuries, they can still recover up to 80 percent of their damages from the defendant or defendants – but if they are found to have been 60 percent liable, they cannot recover a penny.

Contact A Tampa Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney

Tractor-trailers are large and often unwieldy, requiring a trained professional to operate, but even trained professionals can make mistakes. If you have been injured in a blind spot truck accident, a Tampa tractor-trailer accident attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group may be able to help you receive the compensation you deserve. Call our office today for a free consultation.

Source:

fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/driver-safety/cmv-driving-tips-inadequate-surveillance

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