Car drivers and their passengers are likely to suffer serious injuries after being struck by a large commercial vehicle. Even without a head-on collision, the impact may force your vehicle from the roadway or into the path of oncoming traffic. At New Mexico Accident Firm (NMAF), we are experienced in handling cases involving blind-spot truck accidents in Rio Rancho. Our seasoned truck crash attorneys could guide you through the legal process and help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
Because commercial trucks are significantly larger than passenger cars, they have larger blind zones that Rio Rancho drivers must navigate to avoid a collision. While passenger cars have blind spots on each side, trucks have four different no-zones:
Although trucks are equipped with mirrors and technology to assist drivers, these do not replace their duty to exercise great care to avoid colliding with another vehicle.
Determining liability after a collision with a semi-trailer requires a thorough investigation of driver actions, company policies, and industry standards. Despite knowing their vehicles have extensive blind zones, truckers bear primary responsibility when they fail to perform proper head checks, monitor mirrors, or ensure clearance before changing lanes, merging with traffic, or making a turn.
Trucking companies may face liability for neglecting driver training on blind-zone awareness, failing to equip semi-trailers with proper mirrors and blind-zone detection systems, or pressuring drivers to operate unsafely. Maintenance companies may be liable when broken or improperly adjusted mirrors compromise a driver’s visibility. Truck manufacturers can face product liability claims when design defects create unnecessarily large blind zones or when defective blind-zone warning systems fail to alert drivers to nearby vehicles. Our Rio Rancho attorneys could investigate the circumstances of your semi-trailer no-zone crash and determine who is responsible.
Legal representation is essential after a blind-zone big rig collision due to the complexities of these cases and the tactics trucking companies employ to avoid liability. A claim often involves multiple parties, including:
Each of these parties will endeavor to avoid responsibility and attempt to minimize your claim.
Our attorneys could immediately preserve critical evidence, including the vehicle’s camera footage and maintenance records, driver training files, and electronic logging data before companies destroy or lose them. We use our understanding of the federal trucking regulations that govern mirror requirements, blind-zone monitoring systems, and driver responsibilities to strengthen your liability claim.
Our Rio Rancho firm retains accident reconstruction experts to analyze vehicle positions, sight lines, and driver actions to demonstrate how the trucker failed to check blind zones properly before maneuvering. We also calculate your full damages beyond your immediate medical bills, including your future treatment costs, lost earning capacity, and your pain and suffering that insurance adjusters typically undervalue.
Without legal representation, you may accept an inadequate settlement offer before you fully understand the severity of your injuries. Additionally, insurance companies may argue that you were at fault for failing to avoid the vehicle’s blind spots. Our lawyers could counter these arguments by showing that truckers bear professional responsibility for checking blind zones before any maneuver.
At NMAF, we advocate for the rights of our clients injured in blind-spot truck accidents in Rio Rancho. Our attorneys understand the devastating consequences when commercial drivers fail to check their blind zones. We investigate thoroughly, hold negligent truckers and companies accountable, and pursue full compensation for your injuries and losses. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us protect your rights after a blind-spot collision.
