New York City Truck Blind Spot Accident Lawyer
Accidents involving commercial motor vehicles such as semi-trucks often inflict fatal and catastrophic injuries on innocent victims. A common cause of these accidents, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), is the truck driver’s “inadequate surveillance” of their vehicle’s blind spots prior to a crash. Indeed, FMCSA statistics suggest that one-third of all crashes between a large commercial truck and a passenger car occur in these blind spots, which are commonly referred to as “No Zones” in the industry.
Regularly checking their No Zones is a basic safety practice that every commercial trucker must follow. Failure to do so is negligent, and when such negligence leads to an accident, those affected have the right to seek compensation under the law. A New York truck blind spot accident lawyer can investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding your commercial motor vehicle accident and advise you on what steps to take next. Michael Gunzburg, P.C., is a dedicated New York personal injury firm that represents commercial vehicle accident victims through the city.
What Are a Commercial Truck’s “No Zones”?
Every commercial truck has blind spots or “No Zones” on all four sides of their vehicle. On your typical 18-wheeler, these No Zones can be described as follows:
- Front: Due to their height from the ground, most Big Rigs have a blind spot of as much as 20 feet in front of them.
- Sides: Trucks have significantly longer side-view mirrors than passenger cars. Even still, there are still substantial blind spots on both sides of a truck, especially the right side.
- Rear: Commercial motor vehicles generally do not have any rear-view mirrors, which forces drivers to rely on their side-view mirrors. This can create a blind of up to 200 feet from the back of the truck.
A critical consideration when discussing truck blind spot accidents is New York’s comparative negligence rule. This rule enables a defendant to argue the plaintiff’s own negligence was a contributing or primary cause of an accident. In the context of a truck accident case, the truck driver or trucking company can claim the victim engaged in reckless activity near the truck’s blind spot. For example, a driver who abruptly cuts off a commercial truck may cause an accident as the truck driver has no way of knowing another vehicle has pulled into their front No Zone.
Reach Out to Our New York City Truck Blind Spot Accident Lawyers
Sorting out comparative fault is just one of many potential considerations a truck accident victim needs to address when seeking compensation. This is where working with a skilled New York City truck blind spot accident lawyer who understands these types of crashes can prove invaluable. At Michael Gunzburg, P.C., our team knows how to fully investigate an accident involving an 18-wheeler or other commercial motor vehicle and ensure that you are treated fairly by the legal system
So if you, or someone that you love, has been injured due to an accident involving a truck’s blind spot, call us today at 212-725-8500 today to schedule a free initial consultation.
