Truck Accidents Caused by Unsafe Lane Changes in San Jose

Negligence may be the most common cause of vehicle accidents in San Jose and the United States. Several actions and inactions could be considered negligence, including speeding, carelessness, and distracted driving that could put a driver at fault for a truck collision.

Truck drivers must especially operate their vehicles safely because semi-trucks are larger and heavier than regular cars. Because of their size, trucks have more significant blind spots, and big rig drivers must be careful when making lane changes. Overlooking drivers in 18-wheeler blind spots can result in truck accidents caused by unsafe lane changes in San Jose. The aggressive tractor-trailer accident lawyers at Solution Now Law Firm could help you pursue the compensation you deserve if you have been hurt by a truck driver who made a reckless lane change.

Adhering to the Duty of Care

In personal injury cases, negligence is a broad term that refers to the duty of care. If a driver fails to operate their vehicle safely, resulting in a collision, the driver may be held liable.

Drivers must maintain concentration and be aware of their surroundings while driving standard passenger vehicles. Some examples of safe driving practices include the following:

• Checking blind spots
• Using proper turn signals
• Driving at a reasonable speed

However, due to the significant size difference, truck drivers need a higher level of skill and awareness. A truck’s blind spots are substantially bigger than a regular car’s, so a truck driver must always check to ensure it is safe to make a lane change. Drivers who make dangerous lane changes, causing truck accidents in San Jose, could be held responsible for damages.

Knowledgeable truck accident attorneys could help determine if a truck driver was negligent and if the individual can recover compensation.

Risky Lane Changes

There are several ways in which a truck could violate the duty of care with an unsafe lane change. A commercial big rig has an extended trailer that could hide any smaller cars at the sides or behind the vehicle. Trucks also have a blind spot right in the front. It is the driver’s responsibility to check these blind spots for other cars and make sure that it is safe to make a lane change. Failure to do so could be a breach of the duty of care.

Truck drivers spend hours at a time in their vehicles, making it difficult to maintain concentration. Still, it is the driver’s responsibility to drive safely and avoid distractions. Texting, changing the radio, or eating could divert their attention from the road, leading the truck to drift into another lane.

Speed limits are meant to keep everyone on the road safe. Driving above the speed limit is always dangerous, but this is particularly true for large trucks. Due to their massive size, big rigs traveling at high speeds generate more force and require significantly more time and space to slow down. To avoid slowing down, a semi-trailer might start weaving between lanes to maintain speed, creating dangerous conditions for other drivers.

The skilled lawyers at Solution Now Law Firm could review a specific truck accident in San Jose and determine if it was caused by an improper lane change.

Enlist the Help of San Jose Attorneys After a Truck Accident Caused by a Risky Lane Maneuver

Truck accidents caused by unsafe lane changes in San Jose can lead to severe injuries. Work with the hard-working lawyers at the Solution Now Law Firm. Our attorneys handle a limited number of cases at a time, so we could help you get a quick resolution for your damages.

We believe in prioritizing client service, so we offer streamlined communication, allowing you to text our main phone number at any time. Contact us today to begin working on your claim and have a group of experts assigned to your case.