Indiana Blind Spot Truck Accident Lawyers

Trucking is an essential part of life in Indiana. But at a maximum weight of 30 times more than the standard passenger vehicle, the sheer size of commercial trucks and semi-trailers can make truck accidents some of the most destructive events on Indiana roads. Trucks are involved in one out of nine deadly crashes nationwide, and they accounted for 11.8 percent of the vehicles involved in fatal Indiana collisions in 2020.

A truck accident could occur for a variety of reasons, though certain design elements could make trucks more likely to get into accidents, including their pronounced blind spots. Motorists who end up in a trucker’s blind spot may suffer devastating injuries that could stretch the budgets of most Indiana families to the breaking point.

If you have been hurt in a blind spot truck accident, you may be eligible to recover compensation from the parties responsible. To increase your chances of success, get in touch with the blind spot truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who have been fighting for the everyday people of Indiana for more than 25 years.

You can schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Indiana blind spot truck accident lawyer by calling or texting us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form.

What Is a Blind Spot?

A blind spot is any area where a driver’s view is obstructed, usually located just behind and to the sides of the driver’s vehicle.

Drivers are expected to be aware of their blind spots and check them regularly to avoid collisions, though far too many neglect to do so. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that there are about 840,000 blind spot accidents and 300 blind spot deaths annually throughout the country.

What Causes Blind Spot Truck Accidents?

Commercial trucks and semi-trailers have significantly larger blind spots than most passenger vehicles. The three main truck blind spots are:

· Side Blind Spots – A truck’s worst blind spots are on its sides, particularly the right side, where the blind spot could run the entire length of the trailer, potentially obscuring vehicles that are two lanes over.

· Front Blind Spots – Truck drivers sit in elevated cabs, so they typically cannot see objects that are immediately ahead of them, with the front blind spot extending about 20 feet from the truck’s grille.

· Rear Blind Spots – A truck driver may be unable to catch sight of anyone within 200 feet of the rear of the truck.

Given how much can be hidden inside a truck’s various blind spots, it may be unsurprising that blind spot truck accidents are frequent occurrences. According to a study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, failing to check blind spots contributes to 14 percent of trucking collisions.

Blind spot truck accidents can take different forms. For example, a truck that changes lanes without a blind spot check may sideswipe vehicles in that lane, pushing them into another lane, sending them off the road, or causing them to roll over.

Because of their limited range of vision in the front, truck drivers may not stop in time or at all when smaller cars directly ahead of them do, resulting in rear-end collisions. Furthermore, a truck driver who stops suddenly without regard for vehicles who may be in the rear blind spot could cause an underride accident, in which a car slides beneath the truck’s body.

Blind spot truck accidents can happen anywhere, though they may be more common in locations that already offer reduced visibility, such as multi-lane roads, intersections, or roundabouts. Other factors that may make a blind spot accident with a truck more probable include:

· Distraction

· Fatigue

· Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

· Improperly installed or adjusted mirrors

· Poor training

No matter what the cause of your truck accident is, our Indiana blind spot truck accident attorneys can advise you of the best course of action if you are contemplating a case.

How to Prevent Blind Spot Truck Accidents

The consequences of a blind spot truck accident can be dire. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent blind spot truck accidents from happening, including the following:

· Stay out of blind spots – Try to stay more than 20 feet ahead of a truck or more than 200 feet behind it so that you the truck’s driver can see you. If you believe you are in a truck’s blind spot, slow down or accelerate until you get out of it.

· Pass carefully – A truck’s biggest blind spot is on the right, so try to pass trucks on their left. Truck drivers generally expect to be passed on the left-hand side and tend to veer right when making evasive maneuvers.

· Merge gradually – You may be most in danger of a blind spot truck accident when you merge into a truck’s lane. Take care to merge gradually only after you are sure that you are not in a truck’s blind spot and consider signaling to or making eye contact with the driver.

· Maintain a safe distance – Tailgating a truck could lead to a deadly underride accident, while traveling too close to the truck’s side could expose you to a sideswipe collision if the driver makes an overly wide turn.

But even if you take every precaution, truck accidents may still happen. When they do, Hensley’s Indiana blind spot truck accident lawyers will be there for you.

How Our Blind Spot Truck Accident Attorneys Can Make a Difference

A blind spot truck accident can turn your world upside down, forcing you to deal with skyrocketing bills while your injuries may curtail your ability to earn a living. It can quickly become difficult just to make ends meet, much less meet the newfound demands on your finances.

You need attorneys with the compassion to support you during this crisis and the wisdom to guide you through it. You need the Indiana blind spot truck accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who are committed to ensuring that the average Hoosier enjoys the same protections under the law as the rich and powerful.

If you decide to hire Hensley, we will launch a comprehensive investigation into your truck accident and everyone who may be at fault for it, such as the truck’s driver, its owner (if separate from the driver), and any company making use of the truck (if separate from the owner), among others. If evidence of wrongdoing exists, we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to find it while amassing all the materials needed to build your case, including:

· Police reports

· Citations and dispositions

· Crash scene photos

· Traffic light, dash cam, and surveillance footage

· Black box data

· Eyewitness accounts

· Cellphone records

· Driver histories and timesheets

· Truck servicing logs

· Accident reconstruction and forensic analysis

After putting together an airtight case against all the at-fault parties, our Indiana blind spot truck accident lawyers will attempt to negotiate a settlement that compensates you for the totality of your losses, including:

· Medical bills

· Lost income

· Pain and suffering

· Mental and emotional distress

· Diminished quality of living

· Permanent impairment

· Loss of consortium

· Punitive and wrongful death damages (if applicable)

And if we do not receive an offer that reflects the true of value of your case, we are not afraid to take it before a judge and jury to secure a verdict that does, unlike some of our competitors, who rarely, if ever, see the inside of a courtroom.

No Cost to You Until We Win Your Case

If you are concerned about spending more money at a time when you may be least able to afford it, you may be pleased to learn that our firm works on a contingency basis. This means that you will not have to pay us anything until our Indiana blind spot truck accident attorneys win your case.

Hensley is willing to assume the risks associated with getting you the resources to become whole again.

Reach Out to Our Blind Spot Truck Accident Lawyers

Hensley Legal Group built its practice on getting justice for the innocent victims of negligence. If you are still reeling from your truck accident injuries, reach out to our blind spot truck accident lawyers now to explore the legal remedies available to you.

Please call or text (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form for a complimentary case review with an Indiana blind spot truck accident attorney.