Sideswipe Truck Accidents

Sideswipe accidents occur when one vehicle’s side hits, or swipes, the side of another vehicle. Large, commercial trucks are more likely to be involved in a sideswipe accident due to the number of blind spots that these types of vehicles contain. Unfortunately, sideswipe accidents between a smaller vehicle and a truck are more likely to result in serious injuries to the occupants of a regular-sized car or motorcycle. Miami truck accident attorney Robert Dixon, of the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, assists victims of these types of accidents in pursuing damages from the responsible parties. Liable parties may include not only a negligent truck driver, but also a trucking company that has failed to take proper measures to protect motorists. Many victims are intimidated by the idea of going up against such large companies, and that’s why having an experienced attorney by your side is important to make sure your rights are properly asserted. Our firm represents clients throughout South Florida, including Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties. If you’ve been injured, or lost a loved one, due to a trucking accident you believe was caused by negligence, contact our office to set up a free consultation to discuss your case.

Sideswipe truck accidents can sometimes be referred to as “blind spot accidents” or “glancing blows” due to the factors that often cause these collisions. Large trucks have higher rates of side swipe accidents compared to other types of vehicles due to their large blind spots on all ends of the vehicle, including the front, back, and both sides. The right side blind spot of a semi-truck often extends into two traffic lanes, which makes it more dangerous for trucks to change from a left lane to a right lane. As such, sideswipe crashes involving the right side of a truck are much more common than those involving the left side. Common factors involved in causing sideswipe truck crashes include:

• Blind spots
• Distracted or inattentive driving practices
• Improper merging and unsafe lane changes
• Driver fatigue
• Speeding
• Swerving into another lane on a two-lane road

Truck drivers are responsible for their own actions while on the road, but trucking companies are also required to adequately hire and train drivers in order to maintain road safety. Both issues can be causes of a sideswipe accident, and therefore both parties may be responsible for a victim’s injuries.

All motorists are required to use reasonable care behind the wheel, and act in a way a reasonable and prudent person would if faced with similar circumstances. When unreasonable actions lead to another’s injury and results in damages, there can be a case for negligence. For example, if a truck driver fails to check a blind spot before changing lanes, leading to a sideswipe collision, that driver could be found negligent, and therefore liable, for an accident victim’s injury. Additionally, if a trucking company has failed to train a driver, or make sure a driver had proper training when hiring him or her, that trucking company may be held directly liable for any harm caused by this lack of training. In Florida, victims who also act negligently can still recover compensation from other liable parties. Under the state’s pure comparative negligence scheme of liability, damage are awarded in proportion to each party’s degree of fault. Injured victims may recover compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost income, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering, depending on the extent of their injuries.

Being injured, or losing a loved one, in a devastating truck accident can be overwhelming, and a victims’ first priority should be healing. Robert Dixon and his team of injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon are available to help you take the legal steps necessary to pursue coverage of your medical bills and other injury-related expenses by the parties who have acted wrongly in causing your harm. Please call 877.499.4878 or contact us online to schedule a free, no obligation consultation to learn more about your legal options and how we can assist you. We serve clients in Miami, and West Palm Beach, among other communities.