Blind Spot Accidents Involving Large Trucks: Proving Truck Driver Negligence in Alabama

A blind spot accident with a large commercial truck can be devastating. Due to the immense size of these vehicles, the impact on a smaller passenger car is often catastrophic, leaving victims with severe, life-altering injuries. The moments after such a crash are filled with confusion, physical pain, and the overwhelming reality of medical bills and lost wages. When a truck driver’s failure to check their blind spots leads to such a collision, it’s a clear case of negligence. Proving this negligence, however, requires a deep understanding of trucking regulations, accident reconstruction, and Alabama’s specific legal hurdles, including its strict contributory negligence rule.

What Are the “Blind Spots” on a Large Commercial Truck?

Unlike passenger vehicles, commercial trucks have several large blind spots, sometimes referred to as “no zones,” where the driver cannot see other cars. An average car has a few blind spots that are easily checked with a glance over the shoulder or a properly adjusted mirror. A large tractor-trailer has four distinct blind spots, and they are much larger and more dangerous.

• Front Blind Spot: Directly in front of the truck’s cab, extending about 20 feet. If you can’t see the driver’s face in their side mirror, they can’t see you.
• Rear Blind Spot: A significant area directly behind the trailer, extending about 30 feet. The truck driver has no rearview mirror in the cab, so they cannot see any vehicles directly behind them.
• Left Side Blind Spot: Extends from the driver’s side door to the middle of the trailer, and out a lane or two.
• Right Side Blind Spot: The largest and most dangerous blind spot. This area runs along the entire length of the truck on the passenger side and out three lanes. A car can disappear from the driver’s sight here in an instant.

How Do Blind Spot Accidents Involving Trucks Happen?

Blind spot accidents commonly occur during lane changes, turns, and merges. Here are some typical scenarios:

• Unsafe Lane Changes: The truck driver fails to properly check their mirrors or a blind spot, and merges into a lane already occupied by a smaller car. The car is either pushed off the road, crushed between the truck and another vehicle, or forced into a barrier.
• Right-Turn Collisions: A truck driver, particularly in an urban area, may swing wide to the left to make a right turn. A driver of a smaller vehicle might mistakenly try to pass on the right, putting them in the truck’s huge blind spot. The truck then turns, crushing the car against a curb or object.
• T-Bone Accidents: A truck driver, turning from a cross-street, may not see a car traveling in an adjacent lane because it is in a blind spot, leading to a direct side-impact collision.

These accidents are not mere “mistakes.” They are often a direct result of a driver’s negligence, such as distracted driving, failure to use mirrors correctly, or violating federal and state regulations.

What Federal and State Regulations Govern Truck Driver Safety?

The trucking industry is heavily regulated at both the state and federal levels to prevent these types of accidents. These regulations place a high degree of responsibility on the driver and the trucking company to operate safely.

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Regulations: The FMCSA sets forth rules that all commercial drivers and companies must follow. These include rules on driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle maintenance, and pre-trip inspections.
• Mirror Requirements: The FMCSA requires commercial trucks to have specific mirror systems designed to reduce blind spots. Failure to have or use properly adjusted mirrors is a violation of these safety standards.
• Safe Driving Practices: Truck drivers are required to perform a thorough check of all mirrors and their surroundings before making any lane changes. They must signal their intention and ensure the lane is clear. An accident that occurs during a lane change almost always suggests a failure to follow these basic safety protocols.
• Alabama State Law: In addition to federal laws, Alabama state law, specifically §32-5A-83, governs safe lane changes, requiring drivers to ensure the move can be made safely before changing lanes.

Proving a violation of these rules is a key component of establishing negligence in a blind spot accident.

What Evidence is Needed to Prove Negligence in an Alabama Truck Accident?

Building a solid case requires more than just your word against the trucking company’s. You must prove two things: that the truck driver was at fault and that their actions caused your injuries. A meticulous investigation is vital.

Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Data: Nearly all commercial trucks are equipped with ELDs that record a wealth of data, including the driver’s hours-of-service, location, and speed. This data can show if the driver was fatigued or speeding at the time of the accident.

Black Box (Event Data Recorder) Data: The EDR, or “black box,” records critical information in the seconds before an accident, such as:

• Vehicle speed and braking
• Steering wheel angle
• Whether the turn signal was on
• Engine performance

Dashcam Footage: Many commercial trucks now have dashcams, and the footage can be invaluable in a truck accident case. This footage may show exactly what happened and could provide a definitive view of the driver’s actions—or inaction—before the collision.

Witness Statements: Eyewitnesses who were not involved in the crash can offer unbiased accounts of the accident, confirming that the truck made an unsafe lane change or turn.

The Police Report: The official accident report provides an objective narrative, documents road conditions, and may include citations issued to the at-fault driver. While it may not be directly admissible in court, the information is often essential to building your case.

Driver Qualification Files: A driver’s personnel file can reveal if they had a history of accidents, traffic violations, or failed drug tests. This can prove that the trucking company was negligent in its hiring or retention practices.

Accident Reconstruction: In complex cases, we work with accident reconstruction experts who use the physical evidence—skid marks, vehicle damage, and crash data—to create a scientific, animated model of how the collision occurred, clearly illustrating the truck driver’s fault.

How Does Alabama’s Contributory Negligence Rule Affect a Blind Spot Claim?

This is one of the most significant legal hurdles in any Alabama personal injury case. Under Alabama’s rule of contributory negligence, if you are found to be even 1% at fault for the accident, you are legally barred from recovering any compensation. This is a very different and much harsher standard than in many other states.

• The Defense Strategy: Trucking companies and their insurers are well aware of this rule and will use it aggressively. They will investigate every detail to try to assign a fraction of the blame to you.
• Common Arguments: Defense lawyers might argue that you were speeding, that you failed to yield, or that you were distracted. They may even claim you were driving in the truck’s blind spot for too long, implying you should have known to get out of the “no zone.”
• Why a Strong Case is Vital: Because of this rule, a case must be built with the goal of proving that the truck driver was 100% at fault. Any and all evidence must be gathered and presented with this objective in mind. Failing to do so can result in an entire claim being dismissed, leaving you with no compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

Compensation You Can Pursue After a Blind Spot Truck Accident

An Alabama truck accident claim seeks to hold the at-fault party financially responsible for all damages you have suffered. This can include both economic and non-economic damages.

• Medical Expenses: This covers all costs related to your injuries, from emergency room visits and surgeries to physical therapy and prescription medications. It can also include the cost of projected future medical care if your injuries are permanent.
• Lost Wages and Diminished Earning Capacity: This includes the income you lost because your injuries kept you from working. If your injuries are so severe that you can never return to your old job or work at the same level, you can seek compensation for the future income you will lose, known as diminished earning capacity.
• Pain and Suffering: This compensates for the physical pain, emotional trauma, and overall loss of enjoyment of life caused by your injuries.
• Property Damage: This covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any other personal property damaged in the crash.

What if an Alabama Truck Accident Was Caused by a Driver Working as an Independent Contractor?

This is a common legal tactic used by trucking companies to try and shield themselves from liability. A company may classify its drivers as independent contractors to argue that they are not responsible for the driver’s negligence.

• The Legal Challenge: Proving that the driver was, in fact, an employee despite their classification can be a complex legal battle. It requires a detailed analysis of the company’s control over the driver’s schedule, equipment, routes, and pay structure.
• The Legal Principle: Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior (Latin for “let the master answer”), an employer can be held vicariously liable for the negligent actions of their employees. Showing that an employer-employee relationship existed, despite the “independent contractor” label, is a vital step in holding a trucking company accountable for its driver’s actions.

Fair Resolution for Your Alabama Truck Accident? Let Us Help

The financial aftermath of a serious truck accident can be just as difficult as the physical recovery. Worrying about medical bills and how to pay for daily expenses while you are unable to work adds an enormous layer of stress to an already trying time. Navigating these claims on your own against a large trucking company and its experienced legal team is incredibly challenging. The legal team at Jones, Cobb, Wadsworth & Davis, LLC is prepared to offer guidance and strong advocacy throughout this process. We have the resources and experience to investigate complex truck accident cases, counter the tactics of large corporate insurers, and fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve.

If you have been injured in a truck accident in Alabama and are facing lost income, contact us today for a free consultation. We can review the specifics of your case and help you take the first steps toward protecting your rights and financial stability.

Adam Jones,
Managing Partner
Jones, Cobb, Wadsworth & Davis, LLC
206 N. Lena St.
Dothan, AL 36303
Tel: 334-699-5599
Fax: 334-699-5588