Like virtually every motor vehicle, tractor-trailers have “blind spots” immediately beyond their front bumpers, immediately behind their rear bumpers, and along both their driver’s and passenger’s sides. This makes it so that the driver cannot easily see pedestrians, obstacles, and even entire other vehicles from their position in the driver’s seat. Because semi-trucks are so much bigger than the average commuter car, though, their blind spots are much bigger than normal as well, to the point that more than one entire vehicle can be hidden within them under the right conditions.
This makes it especially important for commercial truck drivers to be diligent about using their mirrors, collision detection systems, and anything else available to them to check their blind spots before turning, merging, or switching lanes on a highway. If you were hurt in a blind-spot truck accident in Summerlin because a truck driver failed to act responsibly, our 18-wheeler crash lawyers at Shook & Stone could help you demand financial recovery for your losses.
Proving a Truck Driver Liable for a Blind-Spot Crash
Every person who drives any kind of motor vehicle on public Nevada roads assumes the same “duty of care” requiring them to protect others around them from preventable harm by:
- Obeying traffic laws
- Paying attention to their surroundings
- Generally acting like a reasonable person behind the wheel
Anyone who “breaches” this duty by doing something reckless or careless and causes an otherwise preventable collision as a direct result is legally “negligent” and, based on that, may be held financially liable for all injuries and losses that wreck causes to anyone involved.
While failure to check blind spots is not a traffic offense in Nevada in the same way that speeding or not yielding the right-of-way is, it still counts as a “breach of duty” because it is something a responsible driver should know better than to do. Among other things, the capable truck accident attorneys at Shook & Stone could help collect and make effective use of evidence like:
- Witness testimony
- Crash scene photos/videos
- Surveillance or dashboard camera footage
- Input from accident reconstruction experts
Any of this evidence could help prove that a truck driver caused a crash in Summerlin specifically by not checking their blind spots appropriately.
Recovering for All Available Damages
A successful lawsuit or settlement demand against a truck driver or trucking company found liable for a blind-spot truck wreck in Summerlin can seek compensation for both past and future, economic and non-economic consequences of the crash. This can include, but is not strictly limited to things like:
- Medical expenses
- Lost enjoyment/quality of life
- Psychological and emotional distress
- Physical discomfort and pain from injuries
- Lost work income, benefits, or earning ability
- Personal property damage, including car replacement/repair costs
Technically, Nevada civil courts have the right to impose additional “punitive damages” against a civil defendant and award them as extra compensation to an injured plaintiff. However, this is a fairly rare act reserved for cases involving extremely egregious negligence or intentionally malicious conduct.
Get Help from a Summerlin Attorney With a Blind-Spot Truck Accident Claim
Checking your blind spots regularly is a simple but important action that every responsible driver should turn into a habit while on the road. Most truck drivers are good about checking their blind spots just like regular drivers are—but unfortunately, the exceptions to that trend can and all too often cause catastrophic harm.
In the wake of a blind-spot truck accident in Summerlin, Rhodes Ranch, Sovana, or Sun City, your top priority after getting necessary medical care should be contacting an experienced lawyer to explore your legal options. Call Shook & Stone today for a free consultation.
