Back Over Truck Accidents
Commercial vehicles like tractor-trailers spend most of their time on the road. But at the beginning and end of each trip, the truck often picks up or drops off freight. Any time a trucker needs to put a big rig in reverse there is the risk of an accident. A big truck has a huge blind spot in the back, and a trucker can accidentally run over dock workers or even members of the public who are inadvertently behind the wheels when the truck starts moving.
If you were hurt in a back over accident, call Karnas Law Firm to speak with a Phoenix truck accident lawyer. Our firm can discuss legal options, including a personal injury claim for financial compensation for your injuries.
Why Backing Up a Truck is Dangerous
Back over accidents are difficult to eliminate. Throwing a truck into reverse is dangerous for several reasons:
- Blind spot. The blind spot in the back might be up to 30 feet long. There is no easy way for the trucker to see what is back there, and older trucks lack cameras in the back.
- Trucker fatigue. A trucker is probably tired at the start of the haul, possibly because they only recently woke up. Or a trucker is backing up to a loading dock at the end of a grueling drive. Either way, a tired trucker is more likely to make a mistake and run over a person.
- Distraction. Truckers can also be distracted while backing up. A trucker might be looking at their phone or sending a message back to the trucking company and not paying close attention to people who approach the rear of the vehicle.
- Lack of a spotter. Many loading docks have a spotter standing behind the truck who can see if anyone is in the way. Unfortunately, some docks don’t have a spotter, or truckers are in such a hurry they don’t wait for a spotter to show up before throwing the truck in reverse.
- Excessive speed. A trucker might misjudge how much speed they need while backing up. If they go too fast, then someone crossing behind the truck could be surprised and run over.
- Backing into traffic. Truckers should back into the loading dock or parking area, so they will pull into traffic by going forward. Backing into traffic is extremely risky, especially if the truck is pulling out of an alley. A trucker won’t be able to see any pedestrians crossing behind the truck.
Back Over Injuries
These are very dangerous accidents, even if the truck isn’t going 65 miles per hour down the highway. A fully loaded tractor-trailer, for example, weighs up to 80,000 pounds (which is 40 tons). That amount of weight can crush anyone who gets caught by surprise.
Traumatic injuries include:
- Crush injuries. A heavy weight lying on the body can mangle bones but also lead to crush syndrome, which is potentially deadly.
- Amputations. A limb might be damaged beyond repair, in which case a doctor will recommend amputating it.
- Concussions. Anyone thrown to the ground can suffer a concussion, along with whiplash.
- Chest injuries. The ribcage isn’t strong enough to prevent damage to the heart or lungs.
- Back injuries. A person could break their back when run over or even suffer paralysis.
These are also deadly accidents. The weight is just too much, and anyone run over by a big rig could die at the scene or later from grievous injuries.
Receive all medical treatment and then call Karnas Law. Our team will help you document the cost of medical care, as well as the severity of your pain. We can negotiate a settlement with the party that has liability for the accident.
Who is Responsible for Reversing Accidents?
Injured victims should reach out to our Phoenix truck accident lawyers to review whether they have a legal claim. Our legal team is also focused on identifying the correct defendant.
Negligent Truckers
A trucker could be legally liable for:
- Failing to check a blind spot.
- Failing to walk behind the truck to check that no one is behind it.
- Neglecting to wait for a spotter or ignoring the spotter’s commands.
- Reversing too quickly.
- Misjudging distance and speed.
- Texting or talking on the phone while trying to reverse a truck.
- Reversing while fatigued or after driving too much.
- Driving while chemically impaired by drugs or alcohol.
Another common defendant is the trucking company which owns the truck and employs the truck driver. They could have liability for a reversing accident for one of several reasons:
- Failing to train or supervise truckers.
- Neglecting to maintain the truck in a safe condition.
- Failing to comply with state and federal regulations.
A trucking company is also liable when an employee hurts someone negligently while on the job. This type of automatic liability is called “vicarious liability” or “respondeat superior” liability.
In other cases, the loading dock could be to blame for an accident which takes place at their premises. Some reasons include:
- Lacking necessary signage to warn truckers and pedestrians.
- Failing to employ a spotter to assist backing-up truckers or failing to train a spotter properly.
- Negligently designing or maintaining the loading dock.
Figuring out the correct defendant is difficult—but it’s one of the main benefits of working with an experienced truck accident lawyer. We can carefully sift through the evidence to identify the correct defendant and open settlement negotiations. Our job is to obtain favorable compensation to cover all sorts of losses.
Schedule a Free Consultation Today
Truck accidents leave many people sidelined for years with disfigurement and agonizing pain. The good news? Injured victims can receive compensation when a trucker or another party is responsible for the crash. Call Karnas Law Firm, PLLC to get started on your case.
Our firm has obtained compensation for medical care, lost wages, property damage, emotional distress, and pain and suffering. You need an experienced lawyer who isn’t afraid of the insurance companies and their tactics for denying claims. Our consultations are free.