Commercial Trucks and Blind Spot Accidents

Tractor-trailers and commercial trucks are massive machines on wheels. Due to their size, it is impossible for drivers to see every area around their truck, like drivers of passenger vehicles are able to do. These areas are called “blind spots,” and are very dangerous for smaller automobiles. Although drivers of passenger cars should understand how to avoid blind spots, truck drivers also have a responsibility to drive safely and protect other drivers on the road.

Truckers who fail to check their blind spots can cause serious car and truck crashes. Here’s why. The average length of a semi-truck is between 70 and 80 feet long. Some trucks pull more than one trailer, making them even longer. The standard height of an 18-wheeler is 13.5 feet tall, which makes it difficult for a trucker to see vehicles or objects below them. Tractor-trailers also do not have rear-view mirrors, as their cargo beds and trailers make it impossible to see behind them.

Blind spot accidents can cause serious injuries. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) notes in a safety video that commercial trucks have blind spots on all four sides, specifically:

• Directly below and in front of the cab portion of the truck
• The immediate right and slightly behind the driver
• The majority of the right side of the truck
• The lower left side of the truck
• The area directly behind the back of the trailer

The FMCSA also offers some safety tips for sharing the road with 18-wheelers:

• Be extra careful when passing and being passed by large trucks
• Avoid blind spots when large trucks are turning, changing lanes, or backing up
• Pass commercial trucks and large vehicles on the left
• Trucks need a longer following distance to see vehicles behind them – if you cannot see the trucker in their side mirror, they can’t see you either

Blind spot truck crashes often occur due to truck driver’s failure to completely check their surroundings.

How do blind spot truck crashes happen?

Truckers have a responsibility to properly check their mirrors and blind spots when driving and maneuvering on the road. They must do so when turning, changing lanes, backing up, and even braking. A truck that suddenly brakes when a car is following too closely can cause a catastrophic crash. Negligence can play a large part in why some blind spot truck accidents occur, including:

• Driver negligence – driving while distracted, fatigued, or under the influence; failure to align mirrors before starting a trip; or failure to check mirrors and surroundings before changing lanes or turning.
• Trucking company negligence – failure to properly install or maintain mirrors; failure to properly install safety or collision avoidance systems; failure of the company to provide proper driver training about blind spots.

The truck accident attorneys at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. can help if you were injured in a blind spot truck crash. We seek financial compensation for your injuries and pain and suffering. To schedule a free consultation about your case, give our Maryland offices a call today at 410-730-7737 or use our contact form.