The average semi-truck is 72 feet long. A semi-truck weighs up to 80,000 pounds. That means trucks are large compared to other vehicles on the road, and they can’t stop quickly. Semi-trucks have large blind spots.
The Elrod Pope Law Firm truck accident lawyers discuss a semi-truck driver’s blind spots below.
What is a blind spot?
A blind spot is an area surrounding a vehicle that cannot be seen by the driver when they look forward, through their rear-view mirror, or through their side mirror. Blind spots are dangerous because the driver may decide to change lanes or adjust their speed without being aware that another vehicle is nearby.
Blind Spots for a Semi-Truck Driver
A semi-truck driver has blind spots on all sides. Blind spots exist directly in front and behind the vehicle as well as at an angle behind the vehicle on either side.
Left side
The left side of a semi-truck can has a blind spot that runs the entire length of the trailer. There is a blind spot immediately to the left of the truck that is large enough for an entire vehicle. The blind spot gets wider further back from the truck.
Right side
The right side of a semi-truck has a blind spot that extends backwards and outwards from the vehicle. It extends beyond a single lane.
Front
Because a semi-truck cab is elevated, the driver cannot see directly in front of them. If a person changes lanes directly in front of a truck and then slows down, an accident may occur because of the blind spot. In addition, a truck driver has a responsibility to leave sufficient stopping distance for vehicles traveling in front of them. A semi-truck front blind spot extends about 20 feet from the cab.
Back
A semi-truck driver has a blind spot of up to 30 feet behind the trailer. When a truck stops suddenly, it may cause a rear-end or underride accident.
Blind Spot Accidents and Injuries
Types of blind spot truck accidents include:
- Sideswipes
- Rear-end, passenger vehicle striking truck
- Rear-end, truck striking passenger vehicle
- Rollover, from swerving to avoid a sideswipe
- Running off the road
- T-bone from a truck turning in front of a vehicle
Blind spot accidents are classified as accidents where the driver looked but did not see the danger. They do not occur because of inattention or distraction. Blind spot accidents occur because of an inability to observe. The driver isn’t aware that someone is in their blind spot. The person in the other vehicle may not be aware that they are in the blind spot and in harm’s way.
Trucks, blind spots, and related statistics
- 800,000 blind spot accidents happen each year in the United States among all vehicles.
- There are 38.9 million commercial trucks registered in the United States. (National Law Review, citing NHTSA).
- Registered commercial trucks in the United States traveled a combined 302.14 billion miles in 2020. (American Trucking Associations)
- Semi-trucks are 4.3% of highway traffic, but in busy transit corridors, as many as 25% of vehicles are trucks. (George Washington University Face the Facts).
- Vehicles with blind spot monitoring are 14% less likely to be in a crash and 23% less likely to be in a crash with injuries than vehicles without blind spot technology.
- If every vehicle had blind spot monitoring technology, up to 50,000 accidents and 16,000 injuries per year could be prevented. (IIHS).
Lawyers for Semi-Truck Blind Spot Accidents
If you have been involved in a semi-truck accident involving a blind spot, contact Elrod Pope Law Firm. We are lawyers for people injured in semi-truck blind spot accidents. Contact us for your consultation and to begin your case.
