As a driver on California roads, the more you can know about a truck’s blind spots, the easier it will be to avoid accidents. Many people wrongly assume that a truck driver has a bigger view of the road because of their higher state off of the ground. Truck drivers do have a clear view of the roadway in front of them but visibility on the sides and rear is really limited.
Knowing these dangerous blind spots can help you maneuver around them and decrease your chances of serious injuries in an accident. Truck drivers, of course still have a responsibility to evaluate the area around them to determine if they are exposed to an accident. Common areas of limited visibility include those along each side of the truck, the area directly in front of the truck up to 20 feet forward, the area directly behind the truck and the right side of the truck.
This is typically because many truck drivers expect drivers to switch lanes on the left side and truck drivers tend to take evasive action on the right side of the road.
Truck blind spots can lead to far too many motor vehicle collisions, including those in which a truck turns and a nearby vehicle collides with the side or rear, cars driving in front of the truck stopping suddenly, and vehicles following behind too closely. However, even if you were not in a truck’s blind spot, you could find yourself in the midst of a serious vehicle accident.
Since passenger vehicles are so much smaller than trucks, a person inside a passenger vehicle could be significantly injured in a crash.
Many truck accidents happen when the driver is not paying attention or when the truck hasn’t been maintained. This can leave the victim with life-changing consequences.
If this applies to your recent truck accident situation, schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer who has extensive experience in managing trucking accidents. This may be the only way for you to recover compensation.