Tractor-trailers are dangerous vehicles for many reasons, including their size and weight. Fully loaded, these rigs can weigh 40 tons, more than enough to completely crush a lighter vehicle which unfortunately gets in the way.
But these trucks are also huge. And their size creates massive blind spots on all four sides. Any motorist who is trapped in one of these blind spots is at risk of getting run over in a lane change accident.
Call Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. to discuss any accident involving a tractor-trailer or other commercial vehicle. Our Cedar Falls truck accident lawyer can discuss your injuries in a free consultation. We regularly travel from our offices in Iowa City and Waterloo to meet with injured victims, when circumstances allow.
Where Are the Blind Spots Located?
There is a blind spot on all four sides of a truck, but they do vary in size.
- Front. The blind spot here is roughly 20 feet. This is large enough for a regular-sized car to disappear into.
- Back. This blind spot is around 30 feet in length. The typical SUV is about 17 feet long, so almost two vehicles could be in the blind spot in the back.
- Left-hand side. This is the side where the trucker is located. Nonetheless, there is a blind spot extending about three-quarters of the way to the rear, which is about one lane in width.
- Right-hand side. This is the largest blind spot on the tractor-trailer, and it typically extends across two lanes.
These are substantial blind spots. At any given moment, a trucker might not see a dozen vehicles on the road around the vehicle.
Accidents Increase in Blind Spots—Drivers Beware!
Any motorist in a blind spot is at serious risk of an accident. For example, a trucker could decide to pass another car on the highway, so he turns on his blinker and immediately starts pulling into the lane to his left. Unfortunately, a vehicle is already there, but the trucker doesn’t see him. It is possible the truck runs right over the smaller vehicle, or else this driver must take sudden, defensive action and could go flying off the road.
As a motorist, you should always be leery of tractor-trailers. Never assume the trucker is watching out for you. Instead, always anticipate the worst.
How to Reduce Blind Spot Accidents
It’s up to drivers to prioritize their own safety. Yes, we should expect truckers to be careful, but in any crash, they won’t end up with horrific injuries—you will.
Thus, motorists should remember the following:
1. Never tailgate. Give the trailer plenty of room. In fact, hang back until you can see the trucker in his side mirror.
2. Pass quickly. Don’t linger in a blind spot for several minutes. If you intend to pass, then pass.
3. Never pass on the right. That is illegal—and the blind spot is largest there.
4. Remember your car has a horn. The horn is there to tell other motorists where you are located.
5. Always try to keep the trucker in sight. If you can see them, they can probably see you.
Can Truckers Really “Check” a Blind Spot?
Yes. There are ways a trucker can reduce the odds of an accident. Truckers can:
- Look over their shoulder to see if a car is in the blind spot. This helps with the left-hand blind spot.
- Regularly check mirrors. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recommends that truckers check their mirrors every 8-10 seconds to catch vehicles entering a blind spot. Once the trucker sees them, then he knows they are there until he sees them exit.
- Angle their mirrors to cover more of the blind spot. This way, the mirrors cover more of the road and reduce the chances of striking a car.
- Avoid tailgating. On the highway, a trucker should never follow a car too closely, because it’s possible it slips into the blind spot.
Trucking companies can also use the latest technology on their rigs to help truckers. Some emerging technology includes sensors which will detect a vehicle in the blind spot. This technology is already available for SUVs and sedans, so trucking companies have access to it, as well. Of course, many trucking companies object to technology because of the expense. They don’t want to pay to outfit older rigs with the newest safety technology.
Truckers can take other steps to reduce an accident. Most obviously, they should avoid driving while distracted. Reading a text message while driving is illegal. But it also distracts from seeing cars enter the blind spot or even hearing a driver use their horn to alert them of their presence.
Who is Responsible for a Blind Spot Accident?
To answer this question, we need more information about the accident. If you were tailgating or cut off a truck, then you are probably to blame for the wreck. It will be hard to obtain compensation if your fault is more than 50%.
However, if a trucker just made an illegal lane change, then you have a stronger chance of obtaining compensation. The same is true if the trucker was tailgating, distracted, or chemically impaired. These are all examples of negligence.
In Iowa, we can hold an employer liable when their employee is negligent on the job. That means the trucking company will likely be on the other side of the case, and we will submit injury claims to their insurer.
Watch Out for a Big Rig’s Blind Spots!
Truck accidents happen so quickly that many victims are unsure of why it happened. Call Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. The trucking company will have a fleet of investigators combing through the accident scene looking for evidence. You deserve an experienced law firm in your corner.
If you hire us, a Cedar Falls truck accident lawyer can negotiate compensation on your behalf for medical bills and other damages. Call us to schedule a free consultation. We pride ourselves on our service to clients, and we are available 24/7 to talk about their case.