Columbus motorists often assume that truck drivers can see traffic clearly and have a much better view because they’re so high above road level. That isn’t the case. In fact, there are many truck blind spots that prevent truckers from seeing vehicles in those no-zones. When you drive in these areas, you are invisible to truck drivers. If drivers cannot see cars when making a turn or any other maneuver, motorists are at a much higher risk of collisions with trucks.
In any accident involving a passenger vehicle and a tractor-trailer, it is the occupants of the smaller vehicle who are at a much higher risk of suffering injuries or fatalities in an accident. Defensive driving and courteous driving is important when you’re sharing the highway with a tractor-trailer. Below is important information about truckers’ blind sports and tips for avoiding them.
Where are truck blind spots?
If you are driving at either side of the truck, you have a very high risk of falling into the blind spot of the truck driver. Much of the right side of the truck is a blind spot to the driver, and the portion around the side of the cab is a blind spot on the left. If you are driving alongside a large truck, don’t linger. Safely pass the truck on the left and get out of those blind spots.
Blind spots also exist in the rear of the truck. If you’re driving right behind the truck, you are invisible to the truck driver. To find out whether the driver can see you, look at his mirror. If you cannot see the driver in the mirror, then he cannot see you. If you cannot see the driver, it means that you are tailgating or driving too close to the truck. Leave appropriate stopping distance between you and the truck.
Avoid driving right in front of the tractor-trailer, too. Not only can the truck driver not see you because you are in one of the truck blind spots, but his risk of crashing into your car is very high. The required braking distance for a truck is much greater than for a lighter passenger vehicle. Don’t cut in front of the truck. It can be frustrating to be stuck behind a large truck, but losing a couple of minutes on your trip is worth it compared to speeding up and cutting right in front of a truck to get around it. And if a trucker is driving too close to you, change lanes to allow the truck to pass.
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Trucking Claims if the Trucker Causes an Accident
Don’t treat a truck like any other vehicle — a loaded tractor-trailer can weigh approximately 80,000 pounds, and when a vehicle of that bulk and size collides with your car, the consequences for the occupants of your car can be devastating. But in some cases, it’s not the driver of a passenger vehicle responsible for an accident, but the trucker who is to blame for a truck blind spot-related crash.
A truck driver might change lanes right behind a passenger car, placing the vehicle in the truck’s front blind spot. If the car has to brake suddenly, the truck driver might not see the brake lights. If the truck driver is to blame for an accident, victims of the collision can file a claim for compensation.
If you suffered injuries in a trucking accident in Columbus, discuss your options for compensation with David Bressman. Call (614) 538-1116 to schedule an appointment so you can review your case and avenues to recover damages.
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