For all drivers, blind spots are a huge hazard and are often the cause of many auto collisions and this is especially true for collisions that occur with commercial truck drivers. These drivers have a problem with blind spots because of the sheer size of their vehicles, eliminating a rear view and making side views nearly impossible. Combining the restricted vision with aggressive or careless drivers, we see many collisions, oftentimes, life-threatening. Knowing that these truck drivers have these problems is important, but it’s also important to know what to do if you’re ever in a collision with a truck driver. Ensure that you’re reaching out to a local auto accident attorney to learn how to navigate this collision. Learn more below about how to avoid these collisions.

What are Blind Spots on Commercial Trucks?

In general, a blind spot is an area that is not visible to the driver, particularly by using mirrors. This is extremely dangerous, as it can cause collisions when changing lanes or turning.

While semi-truck drivers have a better view of what’s in front of them, it is significantly more difficult for them to see what is behind or on the side of them and while they have much larger mirrors on their vehicles, this does not guarantee that they’ll see everything. Here are where their more dangerous blind spots occur

Directly in front of them for about 20 feet.
Directly behind them for about 30 feet
On both sides of the truck and extending diagonally backward
Immediately below and behind the truck driver's passenger side window

Why Do Truck Drivers Have Bigger Blind Spots?

There are a few reasons for this. First is because they lack rear-view mirrors but when you consider the sheer size of a semi-truck, their height is much taller than normal cars, making it much harder for them to see what is around them. Another reason trucks have bigger blind spots is the length of their vehicles. A semi-truck is 70 to 80 feet long, creating an entire area where the driver has limited to no visibility. Additionally, trucks can reach up to 100 feet long when towing multiple trailers, creating the largest blind spot on the road.

Truck drivers should be professionally trained to know how to handle the size of their vehicle and are hyper-aware of their blind spots, however, if a truck driver does not proceed with caution, this can cause serious injury to other drivers and sometimes even death. If you’re ever a victim of an auto collision with a truck driver, it’s important to first contact an injury attorney to make sure you get the care and compensation you deserve.

Have You Ever Heard of “No Zones?”

Oftentimes, the blind spots of semi-trucks are referred to as no-zones. These are areas in which the industry has informed other drivers not to drive near when they are driving around a semi-truck.

Why Choose Our Auto-Accident Attorney?

Working with an experienced attorney is of the utmost importance and here at Lloyd Thomas Law, you can rest assured that you’ll be working with an injury attorney who has plenty of experience with semi-truck accidents. Give us a call at (404)848-8898 or click here to get started.