Greenville Truck Blind Spot Accident Lawyer

When a semi-truck or other large commercial vehicle merges into your lane and hits you in one of the truck driver’s blind spots, you may wonder who the law holds responsible for the crash. In many cases, a truck driver can be found at fault in a blind-spot crash, since federal and state rules require motorists to check for other vehicles before changing lanes.

The Melonakos Law Firm has recovered more than $50 million for injured clients since 2018. A Greenville truck blind-spot accident lawyer on our team can put that experience and knowledge to work on your claim from the very first call.

Before attorney Michael Melonakos represented personal injury victims, he defended trucking companies for two Atlanta insurance defense firms. That means he knows how insurance companies build defenses against blind-spot claims. He is ready to use that knowledge to your advantage now.

Contact us today for a free consultation with a Greenville truck accident attorney at our law firm.

Where a Semi-Truck’s Blind Spots Are and Why Other Vehicles Disappear into Them

A semi-truck has four blind spots, known as no-zones. Each one is large enough to hide an entire passenger car. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration warns drivers to stay out of these areas whenever possible:

• Front no-zone – This extends about 20 feet in front of the cab, so a truck driver cannot see a car sitting too close.
• Right no-zone – This is the most significant blind spot, stretching diagonally across up to three lanes to the right behind the cab.
• Left no-zone – This area is smaller than the right side but still wide enough to hide a car for several seconds.
• Rear no-zone – This blocks the truck driver’s view for about 30 feet behind the trailer, since large trucks have no rear-view mirror, only side-view mirrors.

Drivers can use a simple rule to check whether a trucker can see them. If you cannot see the truck driver’s face in the truck’s side mirror, the truck driver cannot see you.

How Blind-Spot Truck Crashes Happen on I-85, I-385, Woodruff Road, and Other Busy Areas in Greenville

Greenville motorists share the road with heavy truck traffic, especially on and near I-85, I-385, and Woodruff Road, where freight moving to and from the Inland Port Greer creates constant lane changes and merges.

Our guide to high-risk truck accident areas in Greenville covers these corridors in greater depth. In general, blind-spot truck crashes tend to cluster wherever trucks merge on and off busy interstates. Our Greenville 18-wheeler blind-spot crash lawyer can review dashcam videos, surveillance camera footage, and other evidence from these corridors to help determine which vehicle left its lane first.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a No-Zone Crash in South Carolina?

The truck driver who merges into an occupied lane is usually at fault for a no-zone crash. Trucking companies are also vicariously liable for the truck drivers they employ.

Our no-zone truck accident attorneys in Greenville can also assess whether the trucking company had direct liability, since carriers have a duty to train drivers on blind-spot checks and to keep mirrors and blind-spot sensors in working order.

When determining liability, The Melonakos Law Firm investigates both the driver and the carrier in every no-zone case. Our semi-truck blind-spot accident attorneys in South Carolina can request the carrier’s training and maintenance records to determine whether the driver or the trucking company violated a trucking regulation. We know which records to request first.

Evidence a Trucking Company Can Erase Before You Call a Lawyer

A trucking company can lawfully destroy some of the most important evidence in your case within months, so acting quickly matters. Mike Melonakos spent years defending trucking companies before switching sides, so he knows which records carriers frequently let expire. Examples include:

• Engine control module data – The onboard black box records the truck’s speed, braking, and steering inputs in the seconds leading up to a crash.
• Electronic logging device records – These can show the truck driver’s hours and locations. Federal rules require carriers to keep this data for only six months.
• Dashcam and nearby surveillance videos – Trucks and nearby businesses often record footage, but the system erases it within weeks or even days unless someone requests it.
• Driver qualification files – This shows the driver’s training, licensing, and safety record. Carriers must keep it for as long as the driver works for the company, plus three more years.
• Physical damage on both vehicles – The paint transfer, the angle of the impact, and the tire marks on the road can show which vehicle crossed the lane line first, but both vehicles are often repaired or scrapped within weeks.

Our truck blind-spot accident lawyer in Greenville, SC, can send a litigation hold letter, sometimes called a spoliation letter, that legally requires the trucking company to preserve evidence rather than allowing it to disappear. An experienced attorney from our law firm can send the notice within days of taking your case. We can also investigate the truck accident scene to preserve physical evidence and interview eyewitnesses to obtain their accounts.

Shared Fault, Filing Deadlines, and Where a Greenville Truck Case Is Heard

South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule that can reduce or bar your compensation if you share fault for the truck blind-spot crash. Our guide to modified comparative negligence in South Carolina explains how the rule works. In general, your compensation can be reduced by the percentage of fault the court attributes to you. An attorney from our law firm can explain how it applies to your claim.

You generally have three years from the accident date to file a lawsuit to seek compensation under South Carolina law. Most Greenville truck cases start in the Greenville County Court of Common Pleas, part of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. However, an out-of-state trucking company can sometimes move the case to the federal court’s Greenville Division.

Get a Free Case Review from The Melonakos Law Firm in Greenville

The Melonakos Law Firm has handled truck accident claims that recovered significant financial compensation. For example:

• We secured a $2 million settlement for a client who suffered severe spinal injuries and needed multiple surgeries after a negligent truck driver rear-ended him, even though the trucking company and driver denied fault until the firm filed suit.
• We recovered $1,004,658 for a client who was hit by a box truck and needed lower back surgery.

While prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in a future case, they do demonstrate our experience with handling complex truck accident cases. We want to put our experience to work for you now. You may be entitled to money for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

If a truck driver’s negligence has injured you or someone you love in a Greenville blind-spot crash, do not wait to get legal help with your personal injury claim. Evidence disappears fast, and the trucking company’s insurer is already building its defense.

Contact The Melonakos Law Firm today for a free case review from an experienced truck accident lawyer.