Driving any vehicle comes with a set of challenges, one of which is the limited view from the driver’s seat. Yes, we are talking about blind spots, which refer to the areas on both sides of a motor vehicle that you cannot see in the rear-view or side-view mirrors.
While every vehicle has blind spots, those blind spots for trucks are much larger and can significantly limit the truck driver’s vision in front, back, and to the sides of the truck. In fact, blind spots, also known as “no-zones,” are responsible for thousands of truck accidents in Pennsylvania per year.
CAUSES OF BLIND SPOT-RELATED TRUCK ACCIDENTS
A large percentage of blind spot-related truck accidents are caused by the truck driver’s inability to properly check blind spots or forgetting to check blind spots altogether, while many other truck crashes are caused by the trucker’s failure to properly adjust the rear-view and side-view mirrors on the vehicle.
“Let’s also not forget that rear-view and side-view mirrors, as well as other equipment on trucks that minimize blind spots, can be defective or faulty,” warns our Pittsburgh blind spot truck accident attorney at Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman.
WHERE ARE A TRUCK’S BLIND SPOTS?
While most motorists know for a fact that trucks have large blind spots, many of them do not know where those blind spots are. A truck’s blind spots are:
- On the left side under the cab mirror
- On the right side under the cab mirror (most of the right side of the truck is a blind spot)
- In front of the truck’s cab (at least 20 feet) and
- The area behind the trailer (at least 30 feet)
Since the area in front of the truck’s cab can be as big as at least 20 feet while the area behind the trailer can reach more than 30 feet, it means that the truck driver may not notice entire vehicles in these blind spots (the average passenger car is about 15 feet in length).
“When there are multiple vehicles lingering a “no-zone” of a truck, the risk of a blind spot truck accident is substantially higher,” warns our experienced blind spot truck accident attorney in Pittsburgh. Since trucks have larger blind spots than passenger cars and are much bigger in size overall (a truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds), truck drivers in Pennsylvania are held to a higher standard of care compared to drivers of passenger cars or other motor vehicles.
TRUCK DRIVER’S NEGLIGENCE IN TRUCK ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY BLIND SPOTS
If you have ever been in a truck accident before, then you probably know how difficult it is to be dealing with an at-fault truck driver and his or her employer (trucking company).
In truck accidents caused by blind spots, the truck driver will be held liable for the crash in the vast majority of cases due to his or her negligence or carelessness. “How can you prove that a truck driver was negligent in a blind spot-related truck accident?” you may be wondering.
You may be able to recover damages from a truck driver and his or her trucking company if you can prove the following acts of negligence on the part of the trucker:
- Lack of training and qualification to drive this type of truck
- Failure to properly adjust side-view and rear-view mirrors
- Failure to properly check blind spots when operating the truck
- Performing a dangerous maneuver when there was another vehicle lingering in the blind spot
- Failure to remain vigilant of the surroundings
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and
- Driving while drowsy or fatigued
You may be able to sue the truck driver’s trucking company if you can prove that the trucker did not receive proper training or the company failed to conduct proper background checks when hiring the trucker. Also, the trucking company can be held liable for your damages and losses if the company failed to install backup cameras or other technology to minimize blind spots.
If you have been in a truck accident caused by blind spots, do not hesitate to contact our Pittsburgh truck accident lawyers at Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman to determine liability and identify negligence in your case. Call our offices at (412) 391-7610 for a free case evaluation.
