Blind spots are a common cause of accidents that result in personal injury to drivers. Read on for important information about the common blind spot locations present on semi-trucks.
Common Semi-Truck Blind Spots
One of the primary blind spots of a semi-truck lies directly in front of the truck’s cabin, extending for approximately 20 feet. This blind spot can inhibit the truck driver from seeing people or objects that attempt to cross in front of the truck when it is parked or moving at low speed. Therefore, no person should attempt to maneuver in front of a truck that is parked or maneuvering at low speed.
Another blind spot that semi-truck drivers must deal with lies directly behind the truck’s trailer, extending for a length of approximately 30 feet. The longer the truck’s trailer, the more comprehensive the blind spot coverage will be. This blind spot can inhibit the truck driver from being able to see any person or object that attempts to maneuver behind the truck as it is backing up or otherwise maneuvering. Therefore, drivers and pedestrians should avoid making these kinds of movements behind a truck.
A third and fourth blind spot present on semi-trucks lie along the sides of the truck, extending backward at a diagonal. These blind spots are often a major source of stress for truck drivers, as they cannot always spot cars traveling alongside them while at high speeds on highways or other roadways. To reduce the risk of serious accidents, truck drivers should take every precaution to provide sufficient warning before changing lanes while also being constantly cognizant of incoming and passing traffic on each side of their vehicle. It is also imperative for drivers of passenger vehicles to be aware of their positioning relative to a semi-truck while passing or otherwise engaging with these vehicles on the road.
Another common blind spot for semi-trucks is directly below and behind the driver’s side window. Any person or object that stands directly underneath this window is effectively invisible to the driver, which can present a critical risk of personal injury if not accounted for.
Establishing Negligence in Cases with Semi-Trucks
Victims of accidents involving overloaded semi-trucks often employ the services of an experienced local personal injury attorney to assist them in recovering compensation for their injuries. To accomplish this objective, the attorney must be able to prove that the truck driver and/or the company they work for was negligent. Proving negligence to a court often requires four components to be in place:
- The defendant (truck driver and/or company) owed a duty to another individual to ensure their safety. In the case of traffic accidents, this duty extends to all drivers who are expected to follow the rules of the road.
- The defendant breached this duty by acting in a negligent manner, and this behavior caused injury to the plaintiff.
- The defendant’s action was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury, meaning the defendant should have known that his or her breach of duty was likely going to cause an injury.
- As a result of the defendant’s behavior, the plaintiff suffered actual, quantifiable damages.
Professional Counsel in Las Vegas
For years, the attorneys at H&P Law have been helping accident victims throughout Las Vegas as they fight for compensation for their injuries after an accident. Contact H&P Law today to discuss your case.
