Blind-Spot Truck Accidents in Los Angeles

Serious injuries and other damages can occur to those involved in a commercial truck accident. These types of accidents can happen under a variety of circumstances and due to a host of potential causes, one of which is carelessness by truck drivers in navigating their blind spots. CD Law proudly represents those injured in blind-spot truck accidents in Los Angeles in proceedings to recover compensation and obtain resolution after these traumatic experiences.

The Size of a Truck’s Blind-Spots

Semi-trucks and other large commercial motor vehicles have longer blind-spots than other cars because of their size. For example, the driver of a standard semi-truck has blind-spots within 20 feet of its front and 30 feet of its rear. The passenger side of an 18-wheeler contains one of a commercial vehicle’s biggest blind-spots, which begins just behind the right side of the cab and extends back at an angle spanning as many as three lanes. A truck driver’s vision from the left side is also heavily obscured. Driver-side blind spots are slightly smaller and begin directly behind the left-hand side of a truck’s cab and extend back at an angle to cover as many as two lanes. These areas of obstruction can make it easy for truck drivers to overlook traffic within these areas, which can create a serious risk for a Los Angeles blind-spot truck accident when changing lanes, turning, or coming to a stop.

Fault and Liability in a Blind-Spot Truck Accident

California requires truck drivers and others to maintain awareness of their surroundings when driving, which includes checking blind-spots when necessary. A truck driver could be at fault for a blind-spot truck wreck in Los Angeles when the accident results from their failure to be aware of their surroundings. This includes distracted driving, not having working mirrors, and other forms of carelessness.

In some blind-spot truck accidents, several parties could have fault for the related damages, including an injured plaintiff. California requires other drivers to safely share the road with pedestrians, large trucks, and other non-passenger vehicles. A driver could be equally negligent in causing a blind-spot accident by sitting in a truck’s “No Zone” and engaging in other dangerous behaviors, such as encroaching on a truck’s turn radius. In this case, an injured motorist could still seek damages, but their reward amount would be reduced by their percentage of fault.

Potential Damages After a Commercial Truck Wreck

Motorists who are injured in a blind-spot semi-truck wreck in Los Angeles can generally claim several types of damages. However, the amount of these damages will vary based on the severity of a person’s injuries and other factors. Common damages claimed in motor vehicle accidents include both economic and non-economic forms of loss. Economic damages cover the financial impacts of a wreck and are meant to restore a person back to where they were economically prior to the event. Things like past and future medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and a diminished working capacity all count towards economic damages. Non-economic damages are the more subjective losses a person experiences after an accident, including pain and suffering, emotional trauma, disfigurement, and a loss of enjoyment of life.

Statute of Limitations

A two-year statute of limitations applies to personal injury cases in California under Code Section 335.1. Filing a claim for damages must generally occur within two years from the date of a blind-spot truck accident to successfully file a lawsuit for an opportunity to recover compensation in court and avoid dismissal of the case for failing to meet this requirement.

Contact Our L.A. Blind Spot Truck Accident Attorneys for a Free Initial Consultation

At CD Law our truck accident attorneys aim to provide a personal, one-on-one experience for motorists who are harmed by negligent truck drivers. We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning we do not receive payment until we win or settle your case. Get started with a free and confidential consultation from our office after a blind-spot truck accident in Los Angeles. We are always available.