Every motor vehicle has blind spots around it that the driver cannot easily see from their position in the driver’s seat, and tractor-trailers are certainly no exception to that rule. Unfortunately, the blind spots for a commercial truck driver are also much bigger than the ones you likely have to contend with in your own personal vehicle—in some cases, big enough to hide more than one entire car from the truck driver’s view.
This, along with the obvious fact that semi-trucks are bigger and heavier than everything else on the road with them, means it is extra important for truck drivers to carefully check their blind spots before they merge, change lanes, or turn onto a side road. If you were hurt in a blind-spot truck accident in Pinellas Park because a truck driver failed to act responsibly, an experienced 18-wheeler collision attorney from Herman & Wells can help you seek compensation for your crash-related losses.
Just like everyone else who drives on public Florida roads, truck drivers have what is known as a duty of care behind the wheel. This is a legal obligation to act responsibly while driving by obeying traffic laws and paying close attention to nearby vehicles to minimize the risk of an accident.
A truck driver not properly checking their blind spots counts as a breach of this duty, and someone who injures another person through such a breach of duty is legally negligent. Proving that a truck driver was negligent in this way is the main goal of a lawsuit or settlement demand over a blind-spot truck wreck in Pinellas County. Our lawyers will help track down every piece of evidence necessary—from witness testimony to data from a truck’s onboard black box—to make your claim a success.
Another important thing that our attorneys can help you with during a case like this is fighting back against accusations of comparative fault. Comparative fault is the amount of fault you hold for causing your own injuries through your own negligent behavior—for example, by going over the speed limit while passing a semi-truck or failing to wear a seat belt.
Under Florida state law, anyone found to hold a percentage of fault for their own injuries will have whatever final damage award they receive reduced by that same percentage. Also, in Florida, for crashes that happened after March 2023, if the injured person is more than 50 percent at fault, they cannot recover at all.
As a result of these laws, trucking companies often try to accuse injured people of being to blame for blind-spot truck crashes in Pinellas Park in an attempt to minimize their own financial liability—something that our experienced team at Herman & Wells can ensure does not unfairly happen to you.
The average tractor-trailer outweighs the average commuter car by several thousand tons, so even a brief brush against the side of a semi can total your vehicle and potentially cause serious injuries to you and your passengers. Truck drivers who cause such collisions by not checking their blind spots can be held legally liable for their actions, but you may have serious trouble getting a positive case result on your own.
At Herman & Wells, we take pride in being accessible to all our clients from start to finish of every single case we take on, and we want to empower you with both knowledge and confidence about how to enforce your rights. Call today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your recovery options after a blind-spot truck accident in Pinellas Park.
