What To Do After a Truck Blind Spot Accident in Jersey City, NJ

A semi-truck driver’s visibility is often extremely limited, making it challenging to see when other drivers are directly in front, behind, or adjacent to them. Knowing where a truck’s blind spots are can help you avoid these dangerous areas and potentially prevent an accident. But if a truck hit you while you were in its blind spot, the driver or another relevant party may still assume liability for the accident.

Keep reading to understand how a truck blind spot accident happens, who’s at fault, and how a Jersey City truck accident lawyer can help protect your rights.

Where Are Truck Blind Spots?

A semi-truck’s blind spots are much larger than those of passenger vehicles. Many passenger vehicle drivers are unaware of a large vehicle’s visibility, meaning they sometimes unknowingly linger in areas where a truck driver cannot see them.

Understanding a truck’s blind spots can help you avoid them whenever possible. Generally, the blind spots on a semi-truck are as follows:

• Front: A truck driver cannot see the area extending 20 feet in front of the tractor well. They might not be able to see a medium-sized passenger vehicle lingering in this front blind area.
• Rear: Semi-truck drivers also cannot see a 30-foot rear blind zone well. They may not notice one or two passenger vehicles located directly behind the trailer.
• Right side: While trucks have side blind spots on either side, the right one is larger, extending from the cab to the end of the trailer. This blind spot can encompass one or two lanes of traffic.
• Left side: The truck driver’s left-side no-zone is smaller, spanning between the driver’s side door and the middle of the trailer.

To help prevent blind spot accidents, stay out of these areas whenever possible. If you see a truck driver signal that they are moving into an adjacent lane, steer clear of these no-zones and give them plenty of extra room. If a driver starts to move into your lane while you are in their blind spot, tapping the horn might help alert them to your presence.

Who Is Responsible for a Truck Blind Spot Accident in Jersey City?

Semi-trucks often have warnings printed on the trailers that read, “If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you.” This signage attempts to reduce blind spot accidents and help drivers make safer decisions when navigating around trucks. However, these warning signs do not necessarily absolve a truck driver of liability for an accident.

Truck blind spot accidents are often the fault of the truck driver for failing to properly check their blind spots when changing lanes or merging. However, other parties might also share at least partial liability, such as:

• The trucking company: Trucking companies often assume vicarious liability for their drivers. The company may be directly liable if it failed to properly train the driver, suggesting that the driver might not have been aware of the truck’s blind spots.
• The truck manufacturer: Perhaps a faulty truck part contributed to the accident. The truck manufacturer may be liable for producing or installing the truck mirrors or other components incorrectly.
• Another driver: Another driver may have played a role in the accident as well. Perhaps a motorist cut the truck driver off, leading the trucker to swerve into an adjacent lane and strike a vehicle in their blind spot.

The insurance company involved in the accident will attempt to determine liability by assessing the police report, photos, and videos of the accident scene, and other relevant evidence. In New Jersey, insurers can assign partial percentages of fault to all parties involved in an accident. A party’s fault percentage impacts their payout, and no party that is more than 50% responsible for the accident can seek damages from other parties.

What To Do After a Truck Blind Spot Accident

If a truck driver struck you while you were in their blind spot, you may feel tempted to apologize or assume partial blame for the accident. However, truck drivers are generally liable for checking blind spots, and you might not share any of the blame for the accident.

Following the steps below after a blind spot crash might be a good place to start. For more personalized guidance, consult a truck accident attorney.

1. Seek medical attention to gain documentation of any injuries.
2. Take photos and videos of the accident scene to provide along with your insurance claim.
3. Take caution when communicating with insurers, the truck company, or any other party about the accident to avoid compromising your case.
4. Hire an experienced accident attorney to represent you.

Injured in a Truck Accident? Seek Legal Assistance With The Law Offices of Peter N. Davis & Associates, LLC

Accidents involving truck blind spots can result in serious, life-altering injuries and extensive property damage due to the sheer size and weight of commercial vehicles. Victims often face long-term medical treatment, emotional trauma, and overwhelming financial burdens in the aftermath.

Need an attorney you can rely on? At The Law Offices of Peter N. Davis & Associates, our New Jersey personal injury lawyers understand the complexity of these cases and will stand up to powerful trucking companies and insurers. Contact us at (973) 279-7246(973) 279-7246 to schedule a FREE case review.

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The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.

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