Commercial trucks making unsafe lane changes are a major cause of highway accidents. It is bad enough when an ordinary car makes an unsafe lane change. When a truck weighing 10,000 pounds and up does it, the result is often catastrophic.
Truck drivers in a hurry to reach their destination may make frequent lane changes. The small amount of time truckers try to gain from constant lane changes could prove fatal to other drivers and their passengers in smaller vehicles.
Anyone involved in a truck accident in Louisville caused by unsafe lane changes needs a Louisville truck accident attorney to represent them and get them the compensation they deserve.
Truck Driver Responsibility
Large trucks have large blind spots, making lane changes problematic in the best of circumstances. It is always the truck driver’s responsibility to drive in a safe manner.
If an accident occurs because of an unsafe lane change, it may occur because the truck driver did not follow some basic rules of the road. These include:
- Failure to signal lane change
- Failure to check the blind spots
- Risky merging
- High-speed lane changing
- Changing multiple lanes
- Splitting lanes
- Weaving back and forth between lanes
- Lane changing at an intersection
Driver distraction and/or negligence contribute to unsafe lane changes. Such lane changes also amount to reckless driving. Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs may make unsafe lane changes, as do those dealing with fatigue.
Any sort of impairment increases the risk of truck accidents caused by an unsafe lane change. That includes inexperience, when novice truckers or those who did not receive adequate training get behind the wheel of these huge rigs.
The No Zone
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) explains the No Zone for commercial truck drivers. These are the large blind spots “around the front, back, and sides of the vehicle.” Truck drivers usually cannot see smaller vehicles located in these areas.
While the FMCSA cautions other drivers on the road to watch out for these no zones, many times truck accidents caused by unsafe lane changes result from the truck driver’s error, not another driver. The no zone does not abrogate a truck driver’s responsibility when changing lanes.
The truck has rear-view, often convex; mirrors allowing the driver to see nearby vehicles. It is the trucker’s responsibility to make sure these mirrors are properly aligned so that they have an accurate view of traffic.
How a Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
Not every personal injury attorney is equipped to handle Louisville truck accident cases. Louisville accident attorneys know how to conduct investigations of truck accidents. Their work includes interviewing witnesses, reviewing police reports and hiring experts to determine accident causes or recreation of the accident.
Nothing can bring back a loved one killed in such an accident or restore the health of a seriously injured victim, but skilled attorneys will fight aggressively for compensation on their client’s behalf.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a truck accident caused by an unsafe lane change, or any type of truck accident, you require the services of a truck accident attorney. Contact an experienced Louisville attorney to review your case and get informed of your options.
