Blind-Spot Truck Accidents in Rockaway Beach

Getting in an accident with a big truck is terrifying. When fully loaded, they are more than 10 times as large as passenger vehicles, which means every truck collision comes with a considerable risk of injuries. Unfortunately, their vast size makes accidents more likely.

Blind spots surround all four sides of big trucks. They prevent them from seeing many of the vehicles around them. Ideally, truckers try to keep themselves surrounded by empty space in their blind spots. Unfortunately, that is not always possible in high-traffic conditions, leading to blind-spot truck accidents in Rockaway Beach. A truck accident attorney could help you seek compensation after a collision.

What Are Blind Spots?

Blind spots are any spots around a vehicle with obstructed visibility. All vehicles have blind spots. Drivers should be aware of the blind spots surrounding their vehicles and take steps to check—and double-check—their blind spots before moving into areas where they cannot see. For passenger vehicle drivers, this is relatively easy since the blind spots are small. By turning their head and using mirrors, these drivers can generally check their blind spots.

For large trucks, this is a much more difficult proposition. Their blind spots are massive. For a standard 18-wheeler tractor-trailer, the blind spots extend entirely along the passenger side of the vehicle, several car lengths behind the vehicle, several car lengths in front of the vehicle, and from the driver’s door and back on the driver’s side of the vehicle.

Truckers use mirrors to help them see around the truck. While these mirrors can increase visibility, the blind spots are still massive. When a driver cannot see the truck’s mirrors, the trucker cannot see the driver. These large blind spots can often lead to severe crashes in Rockaway Beach.

Driving Safely Around Big Trucks

Part of trucker education classes is to teach truckers how to avoid blind spot wrecks in Rockaway Beach. They do have special skills. However, these truckers also get tired, distracted, or bored, which can cause them to neglect to check these spots. That is why defensive driving is so essential.

To avoid getting in a truck’s blind spot, a driver can take some safety steps. The driver can try to avoid being in the truck’s blind spot, use signals to indicate any potential turns, and avoid following trucks too closely. However, these precautions are not always possible in heavy traffic conditions, which can lead to the risk of collisions.

Injuries from Blind-Spot Truck Accidents

The injuries from Rockaway Beach blind-spot truck accidents can range from lacerations, bumps, bruises, and contusions to severe injuries or even death. It depends on the location of the accident.

Because of their size, truck accidents may cause several types of severe injuries, such as:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Burns
• Crush injuries
• Neck injuries
• Broken bones
• Whiplash
• Amputations
• Internal injuries

The recovery from these injuries can be painful, lengthy, traumatic, and expensive. If the trucker is responsible for the injuries, then the victim should be able to recover for those damages.

However, it can be challenging to estimate the lifetime value of a blind-spot truck accident claim. Many struggle to estimate the economic costs and evaluate the type of compensation they should receive for intangible damages like trauma or pain and suffering.

Talk to a Lawyer About Blind-Spot Truck Accidents in Rockaway Beach

The damages available in blind-spot truck accidents in Rockaway Beach depend on a person’s specific injuries and the circumstances of the wreck. A lawyer can help you assess whether you have a claim against the trucker and how to proceed with that claim. Schedule a consultation to learn more about your rights, remedies, and responsibilities after one of these accidents.