Blind Spot Accidents in Oklahoma City
Large commercial trucks are critical links in the nation’s supply chain, bringing necessary goods and services into Oklahoma City and surrounding communities. Unfortunately, as much as we rely on large trucks, their immense size and weight pose a significant danger to others on the roadway.
Over 70% of truck accident injuries happen to motorists in other vehicles, not to the driver in the larger, heavier truck. The size and extended length of a truck and trailer cause substantial blind spots on both sides and behind the truck, making blind spot accidents in Oklahoma City one of the most common causes of commercial truck accidents.
Understanding Truck Blind Spots
Semi-tractor-trailer trucks lack interior rearview mirrors because of the high trailer directly behind the truck’s cab. Instead, trucks have large mirrors on each side of the cab. Unfortunately, these mirrors leave extended blind spots that sometimes lead to accidents.
A truck’s blind spots extend about 30 feet behind the trailer and 20 feet directly in front. Each side of the truck also has extensive blind spots. On the driver’s side, the blind spot covers the entire lane on the driver’s left and extends from below the driver’s window to about half the length of the trailer. On the passenger side, the blind spot crosses two lanes to the right and extends from below the window down the entire length of the trailer and up to ten feet behind the trailer.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Blind Spot Accidents?
Steering clear of the four blind spots around a large commercial truck is the best way to avoid an accident; however, most blind spot accidents happen when a truck driver changes lanes while unable to see another vehicle in the lane. The most common causes of blind spot accidents in Oklahoma City are the following:
- Unsafe lane changes, or failing to check blind spots before changing lanes
- Improper merging
- A car follows too closely behind a truck, or the truck follows too closely behind another vehicle (tailgating)
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
Some of today’s trucks have assistive technologies, such as cameras, to provide views of their blind spots. These monitoring systems create a wider field of vision and help prevent blind spot accidents.
Injury Damages in Truck Blind Spot Accidents
Large trucks like 18-wheelers can outweigh smaller cars by as much as 76,000 pounds. A blind spot accident leaves motorists in smaller vehicles vulnerable to serious or catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, fractures, internal organ injuries, spinal injuries, and burns. Common damages after a truck blind spot accident in Oklahoma City include the following:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future income loss
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Diminished future earning capacity
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for catastrophic injury damages, such as loss of limb, disfigurement, the loss of one of the senses, scarring, organ loss, or diminished quality of life due to disability
- Wrongful death benefits
Proving liability in a truck blind spot accident requires an experienced investigation to determine the cause of the accident and the at-fault party. Liability could rest with the driver, the trucking company, or the manufacturer of a defective part.
How Can an Oklahoma City Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
A compensation claim after a serious truck accident is essential to relieve the related expenses and allow an injury victim time to focus on their recovery. Leaving your claim in the hands of an insurance company ready to protect its profits at your expense isn’t the best course of action. Instead, call the Dan Davis Law truck accident attorneys at (405) 930-4210 for experienced representation throughout your legal claim process.