Blind Spot Accidents in Pittsburgh
Every vehicle has blind spots. It is a driver’s responsibility to be aware of areas of the road that are not visible in the car’s mirrors and to navigate these blind spots safely. If blind spots are not properly handled, it can lead to serious car accidents in Pittsburgh. At Dallas W. Hartman, P.C., our Pittsburgh injury lawyers have years of experience helping victims seek compensation for blind spot accidents. Find out how we can help you during a free consultation.
What Is a Blind Spot? How Should Drivers Navigate Them?
A “blind spot” refers to a section of the road that a driver cannot see in his or her rearview and side mirrors. It is a hidden area outside of a car or truck driver’s line of sight while in the cab of a vehicle. Blind spots can hide other cars, smaller vehicles such as motorcycles and bicycles, and pedestrians walking near a car.
If a driver isn’t careful, he or she can overlook a blind spot and fail to recognize that another road user is present. The driver may try to switch lanes or merge on top of the “invisible” vehicle, causing a blind spot accident. Drivers have a duty to prevent blind spot accidents as much as possible.
Drivers can prevent this type of crash by being familiar with a vehicle’s blind spots, looking over their shoulders for better visibility instead of only relying on mirrors and sensors, using proper signaling, and exercising caution when changing lanes to ensure they see all surrounding vehicles.
Common Types of Blind Spot Accidents in Pittsburgh
When a motor vehicle accident in Pittsburgh involves a blind spot, it may take one of the following common forms:
- Lane-change accident
- Merging accident
- Sideswipe collision
- Commercial truck accident
- No Zone accident
- Wide-turn accident
- Motorcycle accident
- Bicycle accident or pedestrian accident
- Backing-up accident
The most frequent example is a driver moving into another lane and striking a vehicle in the blind spot. This is most likely to occur on highways, such as I-579, I-376 and I-79.
How to Prove Liability for a Blind Spot Accident in Pittsburgh
If you get injured or your vehicle is damaged in a Pittsburgh blind spot accident, you may be eligible for financial compensation from the at-fault driver. Under Pennsylvania’s choice no-fault law, however, your recovery options could be limited.
If you have “full tort” insurance or are permitted to file a claim outside of the no-fault system based on the severity of your injuries, you will need evidence proving that the other driver is at fault. Your goal is to show that the other driver did not check his or her blind spots or handle them correctly, and that this caused your collision.
The Benefits of Hiring a Car Accident Attorney in Pittsburgh
Recovering after a blind spot accident can be tough. You may have painful or debilitating injuries on top of expensive medical bills, lost wages and property damage. The way forward is to contact a car accident attorney to discuss your legal rights and options.
The attorneys at Dallas W. Hartman, P.C. can carefully investigate your crash, determine who is at fault, explore your outlets for recovering financial compensation and help you collect evidence to prove your case. A Pittsburgh accident lawyer can take over insurance claim settlement negotiations or bring your car accident case to trial in Allegheny County, if necessary.
To learn more about your recent blind spot crash and how to move forward, contact our law firm at (800) 777-4081 for a free case evaluation.