Driving on the city's busy freeways is a harrowing experience at rush hour. Even ordinary cars sometimes come too close for comfort, but when big commercial trucks try to change lanes, there is no margin for error. A semi truck and trailer can be up to 50 feet long and may require more than 700 feet to safely change lanes on the average freeway.
Even if you personally give truck drivers the room they need, other drivers may not be so careful. When this combines with carelessness or unsafe driving on the part of the trucker, accidents due to unsafe lane changes become a common problem. At Singleton Schreiber Injury Law, our semi-truck accident attorneys represent victims of truck accidents caused by unsafe lane changes in San Diego and want to give you the best chance to get the compensation you need.
How Do Unsafe Lane Change Accidents Happen?
As many as 7 percent of all accidents involving big rigs are due to unsafe lane changes. The simple reason for these accidents is the size of a commercial truck's blind spots. Although everyone knows that trucks have big blind spots, few people understand just how large they really are.
On the right-hand side of a truck, the blind spot extends back and to the side over three lanes of traffic. If you are riding next to the trailer, the driver may be able to see you in their mirrors, but you should not count on it. To the rear, the driver cannot see anything until it is more than 200 feet behind the trailer. Another blind spot extends to the left of the trailer, about one lane of traffic wide.
Although truck drivers are liable for making unsafe lane changes, drivers of smaller vehicles must realize that if they have been traveling in a truck’s blind spot, the driver does not know they are there and cannot see them when they start to change lanes. To avoid a San Diego truck crash resulting from a dangerous lane change, a smaller vehicle’s safest course of action is to get out of a truck's blind spots as quickly as possible.
When the Truck Driver Is Liable
Truck drivers are responsible for driving safely and doing everything reasonably possible to avoid collisions. In heavy traffic, this may include staying in the right lane when feasible to avoid changing lanes too often. Truck drivers are also liable if:
- They use cell phones or other devices while driving—federal law prohibits using any non-hands-free devices in the cab
- They are intoxicated or using narcotics
- They have exceeded their state or federal Hours of Service for the day or week
- The truck was poorly maintained in a way the driver should have noticed (such as low tires or faulty signals)
If the truck driver is involved in an unsafe lane change accident that could have been avoided had they not been impaired or distracted, they are liable for the collision. A San Diego attorney could review the details of a truck crash resulting from a dangerous lane change and give you advice about how best to proceed in your case.
Consult a San Diego Attorney About Truck Wrecks Caused by Unsafe Lane Changes
The attorneys at Singleton Schreiber Injury Law know what evidence to look for when making a claim against a commercial truck driver, their employer, and others involved with a big rig accident. If you were injured in a crash due to a truck driver's unsafe lane change, we could help you get the compensation you need to recover.
Call our office today for a free and confidential consultation to discuss truck accidents caused by unsafe lane changes in San Diego.
