Know a Trucker’s Blind Spots to Avoid Accidents

For most types of vehicles, such as SUVs, cars, vans, and small trucks, blind spots are common and often small. While people driving passenger vehicles can eliminate the blind spots by correctly positioning their side mirrors, the same cannot be said for a semi-truck or 18-wheeler driver. This is because the side of a truck is so large that some of its blind spots extend to its entire length, and stretch to multiple lanes. Such huge blind spots obstruct the truck driver’s line of sight and make it difficult for them to see the incoming vehicles.

A good way to determine whether a truck driver can see you is look in the truck’s side mirror. If you can see the driver’s face, that means that they can also see you, otherwise, they most likely cannot. It is very important for passenger vehicle drivers to have complete information about potential blind spots in order to be vigilant in avoiding them and reducing the probability of accidents.

Common Locations of a Truck’s Blind Spots

The following are the four most common blind spots of a truck you should keep in mind when sharing the road with an 18-wheeler or a semi-truck:

• The Right Side: This is the longest and most dangerous blind spot that spans to the entire length of the truck. It can extend to almost 3 traffic lanes, which may vary with the truck’s size.
• The Left Side: Just like the right side blind spot, it starts from the left edge of the cab and runs down till its end.
• The Front: Since the height of a truck is so big, there is a large blind spot in its front. This blind spot may extend to more or less 20 feet.
• The Back: The rear of the truck has a huge blind spot that extends to approximately 30 feet or more.

Safety Tips

Here a few tips to ensure that you don’t get into an accident with a truck:

• Although the sides of a truck have huge blind spots, always attempt to pass it from the left side, instead of right. This is because truckers expect other vehicles to pass them from the left side.
• Never try to cut a truck or drive your car right in its front. Since there is a significant blind spot in the front, the trucker may not know that you are there and crash into your car. Moreover, if they do notice you, they may not be able to stop the truck in time to avoid the accident.
• Tailgating can put you in a truck’s rear blind spot. Not only that, it will block your line of sight, due to which you may miss important traffic lights or road signs.
• If you are attempting to pass a truck, make sure you do it quickly. Don’t linger alongside the truck in its blind spots, as there is a chance the driver may assume that you have already passed them.

No matter how careful you are and take safety measures, people make mistakes which may result in an accident. In such a case, you should consider hiring a reliable attorney to get the compensation for your damages. Contact Fisk & Monteleone LTD. today at 815-209-9030 to schedule a free case consultation with one of our experienced truck accident lawyers.