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Vehicle blind spots are safety hazards that can lead to serious car accidents. It is vital to be aware of these areas on your own vehicle as well as other motorists’ blind spots. This is especially true when it comes to large commercial vehicles that may have large “no-zones” in which the driver cannot see you.
What Is a Blind Spot?
A blind spot is an area on either side of your vehicle that is difficult to see while you are driving. Though using a rearview mirror or side-view mirror may help you observe most of the road beside you and behind you, there will almost always be areas you are unable to observe without turning your head to look behind and to the side of your vehicle. Blind spots tend to be on the sides of your vehicle near the rear of your car.
Collisions often occur when drivers fail to verify that another vehicle isn’t in their blind spot, particularly before changing lanes. Though your mirrors may show most of the road, the problem with blind spots is that they are often large enough to hide a vehicle from sight for a split second.
Where Are Trucks’ Blind Spots?
A large truck’s blind spots are bigger than those of a typical passenger vehicle because of the overall size and shape of the truck. Additionally, trucks do not have a rearview mirror to aid the driver in seeing what is happening behind the truck.
A truck blind spot diagram would demonstrate that a driver cannot see certain areas on the passenger side or the driver’s side, with the passenger side blind spot being larger. There is also a blind spot directly in front of the cab where short objects, such as people walking in front of the truck, cannot be seen.
How Do I Check My Blind Spots?
The first thing to do to address blind spots is to minimize the area that they take up. Adjust your rearview mirror so that you can comfortably see through your rear window when looking in the rearview mirror. Side-view mirrors should be adjusted so that you can see just a sliver of the side of your car on each side.
Check your rearview and side-view mirrors as you change lanes. Before moving into the other lane, be sure to take a glance over your shoulder toward the blind spot area.
A blind spot protection system can help with lane changes as well. These systems have been developed and installed in certain vehicles over the past several years. They use cameras or other sensors to alert the driver to vehicles in blind spots.
How Do I Avoid Other Drivers’ Blind Spots?
The best way to avoid other drivers’ blind spots is to understand where they are. Cars have a smaller blind spot area than large trucks. It is important not to linger in a blind spot for a long time. To avoid staying in someone’s blind spot, pass on the left side (which is particularly crucial for trucks because they have a larger blind spot on the right side). Passing another vehicle quickly so that you are not in their blind spot for long is also recommended.
Contact Us for Legal Help After a Blind Spot Accident
The accident attorneys of Tate Law Offices, P.C., are here to help if you have been in a blind spot accident. Contact us today by phone or online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Tim received a business degree in finance from Southern Methodist University and a Juris Doctor (law degree) from South Texas College of Law. Over the last two decades Tim has represented victims of injuries day-in and day-out throughout the state of Texas as well as in numerous other states throughout America. Tim’s mission on every case is always to get the insurance company of the defendant to pay top dollar for his client’s case, which allows his clients to put the maximum amount of money into their pocket.
