Truck Blind Spots: Who Is Liable For An Accident?
Posted on January 12, 2022 in Truck Accidents
Accidents involving large commercial trucks occur in a wide variety of ways throughout the state of Oregon. Often, these incidents occur when a vehicle is inside of large truck’s blind spot. When an accident occurs as a result of a vehicle inside a truck’s blind spot, it is crucial to determine who caused the incident. By determining liability in these situations, we can figure out who, if anyone, will recover compensation for injuries and property damage expenses.
Commercial Trucks Have Large Blind Spots
Large commercial trucks play a major role in the supply chain of the United States, and they are critical for ensuring that citizens of the state of Oregon have goods on their shelves. However, these larger vehicles also have significant risks on our state roadways. Each of these vehicles has significant blind spots, much larger than the average passenger vehicle. A large commercial truck can reach 65 to 75 feet, and they sit much higher on the roadway than other vehicles.
Information provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) indicates that there are four “No-Zones” or blind spots around all commercial trucks:
- One blind spot directly in front of the truck
- One blind spot directly behind the truck
- Two blind spots along both sides of the truck
Common Causes of Blind Spot Accidents in Oregon
Blind spot accidents occur in a wide variety of ways, and they can be the fault of either the truck driver or other drivers on the roadway. However, it is not common to discover that a blind spot accident was caused by the driver not seeing a smaller passenger car inside a blind spot when they were changing lanes or turning. However, some of the other common ways that blind spot accidents occur include:
- Other vehicles following a commercial truck too closely
- Truck drivers disregarding surrounding traffic when they are changing lanes or making a turn
- Passenger vehicles purposely traveling inside a truck’s blind spot
- Road rage incidents on the part of the truck driver or other drivers on the roadway
- A larger truck following other vehicles too closely
Who is Responsible After a Blind Spot Accident?
Unfortunately, the aftermath of a blind spot accident with a larger commercial truck often results in all parties involved blaming others for the incident, and determining fault is a challenge.
If a passenger vehicle driver chooses to operate their vehicle inside of a truck’s blind spot, this does increase the chance that an accident will occur. However, there are no laws in Oregon that say a person cannot travel inside the blind spot of another vehicle. Ultimately, it is up to a truck driver to check their blind spots before they turn or change lanes. If a truck driver strikes a vehicle in their blind spot, they will likely be held liable for the incident.
Contact an Attorney
If you or somebody you love has been injured in a blindspot accident involving a large commercial truck in Oregon, reach out to an attorney immediately. These incidents must be thoroughly investigated, and an attorney will have the resources necessary to gather the evidence needed to prove liability. A Portland truck accident lawyer will engage in vigorous negotiations with the truck driver or company’s insurance carrier to recover maximum compensation for their client.