Truck Blind Spot Accidents in South Carolina

 

The blind spots on a commercial truck are huge compared to the standard passenger vehicle. Visibility is impossible in certain places on all four sides of a tractor-trailer. Truck drivers also cannot look out of rear windows directly into their vehicle’s blind spots. Instead, truckers are trained to check their blind spots carefully before making any maneuvers.

The threat of a blind spot truck accident is so severe that blind spots have earned a nickname from transportation officials — the No Zones. When truckers fail to check their No Zones and cause a collision, they could be held liable for any injuries caused by the wreck.

Were you hurt in a truck blind spot accident in South Carolina? Turn to the attorneys of Wilson Law Group, LLC. We have over 40 years of experience fighting on behalf of injured accident victims in the Midlands and throughout The Palmetto State. Our SC truck accident attorneys have the knowledge and skills needed to pursue maximum compensation for your losses.

When you choose our firm to help you after a truck blind spot accident, you can rest easier knowing that you’re in good hands. We’ll handle all of the legal legwork and push for the justice you deserve. We’ll also work to find resolutions to many of the pressing issues you may be facing after an accident, such as getting quality medical treatment for your injuries and managing ongoing expenses if you cannot work.

Leveraging our firm’s experience and resources, we thoroughly prepare thoughtful, targeted legal strategies aimed at success as the main priority. While most truck accident cases settle, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial.

Call or contact us online today for a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable attorneys.

What Is a Blind Spot?

A “blind spot” refers to the areas around a motor vehicle where the driver cannot see other vehicles or objects.

With proper care, a driver can check their vehicle’s blind spots by looking into their mirrors or turning their head around briefly to look directly into the vehicle’s blind spot.

While all enclosed or semi-enclosed vehicles will have blind spots, semi-trucks and 18-wheelers have the largest and most dangerous blind spots.

The threat posed by blind spots has led to the development of equipment to help drivers know whether vehicles or other objects are located in their way. Many newer passenger vehicles are equipped with blind-spot sensors that flash a light to warn the driver when someone is in a blind spot. Some vehicles are also equipped with cameras that can display a video feed of the blind spot on a screen within the vehicle.
For decades, truck drivers have been relying on an array of mirrors installed on the side view mirror, with each mirror helping to give the truck driver a view at a particular angle in their truck’s blind spot. Some commercial trucks are now equipped with blind-spot sensors and cameras, too.

Where Are Trucks’ Blind Spots?

Commercial trucks have blind spots located all around the vehicle. The size and shape of a particular truck’s blind spots will depend on the structure of the truck itself and its configuration (e.g., whether and how many trailers the truck may be towing). The seating position of the driver in the cab also impacts visibility.

The No Zones around a truck include:

• Front: Many people believe that the high seating position of truck drivers offers them a commanding view of the road ahead. Unfortunately, the high driver seating position and the length of the nose or engine bay of the truck creates a blind spot in the front of the truck that can extend as far as 20 feet. A passenger vehicle that cuts directly in front of a truck could get lost in the driver’s front blind spot. If the truck accelerates for any reason (such as going downhill), it can put that vehicle in front at risk of a rear-end collision or catastrophic underride accident.
• Right side: The right blind spot is the largest blind spot on a truck. This blind spot begins at the passenger cab and extends down the length of the truck or trailer. The blind spot increases in width as you move towards the back of the truck. The rear portion of the right-side blind spot can, for some trucks, extend into two or more lanes of traffic
• Left side: The left blind on a truck is smaller than the one on the right. This is because the driver sits on the left and has a better view down the left-hand side of the rig. Although the left-side blind spot also extends down the entire length of the truck or trailer, it usually does not span several lanes of traffic.
• Rear: As most trucks have an enclosed cargo space behind the cab, truck drivers cannot see directly behind the truck and trailer.

As a general rule of thumb, if you cannot see a truck driver’s face in their mirrors, the driver likely cannot see you.

If you remain inside a truck driver’s blind spots for an extended period, the driver may lose track of you. Motorists are encouraged to move up or slow down if they ever find their vehicle sitting in a truck’s blind spot. When passing, try not to linger in the driver’s blind spot. Other drivers can be held liable for truck blind spot accidents, too.

How Far Is the Blind Spot Behind a Truck?

Many drivers don’t realize how large the blind spot behind a tractor-trailer can be. Depending on the length of the truck and the positions of the driver’s side mirrors, the blind spot behind a truck can stretch back as far as 30 feet. This gap can often prove to be a much longer distance than many drivers give between themselves and the back of a tractor-trailer, especially in heavier traffic.

Although some trucks may be equipped with rearview cameras that can give the driver a view into this blind spot, these cameras may only be activated when the truck is backing up and may not be turned on while the truck is traveling down the highway.

Motorists should always remember to maintain a following distance of at least 20 car lengths between themselves and the rear of an 18-wheeler. If a driver is tailgating, they increase the chances of a rear-end accident if the trucker needs to brake suddenly or another road emergency arises.

Unfortunately, the rear overhang of a truck or trailer often sits high enough that the occupants of a passenger vehicle that rear-ends the truck can face the risk of serious or even fatal head injuries.

Contact a South Carolina Blind Spot Truck Accident Lawyer

If you were hit by a truck driver who failed to check their blind spots, compensation is possible in South Carolina. You’ll need a tough truck accident lawyer to oversee settlement negotiations with the truck company’s powerful insurance companies and corporate lawyers, so let Wilson Law Group, LLC be your guide. We’re looking out for your best interests, not the insurer’s bottom line.

Call or contact us to get started. The first consultation is always free, and there’s no fee unless we win your case.