Blind Spots
Truck Accident Lawyer Serving Massachusetts Residents
Truck accidents are often devastating for the victims because of the massive size and weight of these vehicles. Even the smallest fender bender can result in painful injuries and permanent disabilities for the occupants of the vehicle that was struck. One of the primary causes of truck accidents is the blind spot that trucks have. Large tractor trailers and even vans often have blind spots that prevent the truck driver from seeing whether there are motorists, pedestrians, or bicyclists near the truck. A seasoned Massachusetts truck accident attorney at our firm provides compassionate and responsive legal counsel to victims of crashes caused by blind spots, driver fatigue, and other issues. Contact us today to start exploring your right to compensation from the truck driver or trucking company that caused your injuries.
Truck Accidents Involving Blind Spots
Each truck driver knows or should learn through proper training and education programs that a truck has blind spots that can create serious dangers. A truck driver’s blind spots are typically in the areas that flank the vehicle as well as the areas immediately around the cab. The driver is often sitting so high off the ground that they cannot see whether there are vehicles, pedestrians, or other obstacles in their path of travel. When trucks make turns, merge, or change lanes, they can collide with anything that is in these blind spots.
There are some things that you can do to protect yourself from being involved in a blind spot accident, including refraining from driving in these blind spots. Sometimes, however, there is nothing you can do. Truck drivers are supposed to comply with a wide variety of regulations and traffic laws, such as ensuring that the way is clear and signaling their intention to merge or change lanes with enough time to alert other drivers, but they do not always adhere to these laws. Sometimes, truck drivers engage in substance abuse in order to stay awake to drive long hours or are not honest about whether they have completed their training.
Bringing a Personal Injury Claim
Although you may have a claim against the driver of the truck that caused your blind spot accident, you may also have a claim against the trucking company that employed the driver, assuming there is an employment relationship. Trucking companies are vicariously liable for the tortious acts that their drivers commit in the course and scope of employment. This includes things like failing to comply with traffic laws, being intoxicated behind the wheel, and not performing routine safety inspections according to trucking laws and regulations.
The trucking company may also be independently liable based on a few different theories, including negligent hiring and retention. If the trucking company did not diligently assess whether the truck driver was a responsible, reliable, and diligent employee, he or she may be liable for your damages. Truck companies know what’s at stake when they send a driver out onto the road. They usually perform serious background checks and require that drivers complete rigorous truck driving education programs before they get behind the wheel. In some situations, the company may overlook this responsibility in favor of its own financial gain while in others it may not have a good enough background check program in place. A knowledgeable injury attorney can review the facts of your case to determine whether you may have a claim for vicarious liability.
If you can successfully show that the truck driver and/or trucking company acted in a negligent manner and thereby caused your accident and injuries, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your past and future medical bills, lost earnings, reduced earning capacity, diminished quality of life, and more.
Dedicated Truck Accident Attorney for Massachusetts Residents
A skilled accident lawyer at our Massachusetts firm is prepared to help you fight for the treatment and outcome that you deserve after an inexcusable and devastating truck accident. We understand how intimidating this can seem, especially if your injuries are debilitating and painful, or if you have lost a loved one. We are available to assist clients located in areas around Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Waltham, Lowell, Quincy, Dedham, Newton, Norwood, Brookline, and Peabody. To schedule your free consultation, call (800) 262-9200 or contact us online to set up your appointment.
