Truck Accident Blind Spots

Truck Accident Lawyer

Licensed drivers everywhere should be aware that all motor vehicles have blind spots— the area on a vehicle where the driver loses sight of other vehicles.

On a semi-truck, blind spots are much larger, and more dangerous, than the blind spots of a car or passenger vehicle. For a smaller vehicle or a motorcycle caught in a semi-truck’s blind spot, if the driver fails to check before making a maneuver, then the consequences can be a life-altering event.

Lawyer Brian Steed Tatum has years of experience in helping North Carolina and South Carolina’s injured drivers and their families in dealing with the devastating consequences of truck collisions. His experience helps all clients to receive the compensation they deserve.

Blind Spot Truck Accidents

The motor carrier industry is highly regulated in order to ensure safety on the roads and prevent accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has campaigned to increase the public’s awareness of the “No Zone”—a truck’s blind spot. Due to the size and weight of 18-wheelers, semi-trucks cannot maneuver quickly and their blind spots present a dangerous hazard for smaller vehicles on the road. Many drivers falsely assume that truck drivers can see the road better because they sit up so much higher than the drivers in a regular passenger vehicle. On the contrary, truck drivers have much larger blind spots due to the huge size of their trucks.

The four main blind spots on an 18-wheeler are: (1) directly in front of the truck cab, (2) below and behind the driver-side window, (3) the right side of the cab extending to the back end of the trailer, and (4) directly behind the truck trailer. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety notes that it is a good rule of thumb to remember that if you cannot see the truck driver in his mirrors, then the truck driver cannot see you.

Truckers are required to check their blind spots before braking, changing lanes, or turning. Even when a truck driver acts with reasonable care, the driver may not see everything in his or her blind spots. On the other hand, if the truck driver fails to follow standard operating procedures and checks before making a maneuver, then the truck driver may be at fault for causing the accident.

In North Carolina, a negligent driver who may not be at fault for causing the accident still may not be able to recover compensation because of his or her contribution to the accident. This is why it is so important to contact an lawyer in order to evaluate your case and represent your rights.

North Carolina and South Carolina Truck Accident Lawyer

Being involved in a collision with an 18-wheeler can be devastating. An insurance company telling the injured party that they are at fault because they were driving in a truck’s blind spot makes a bad situation worse.

The Tatum Law Firm knows that your case can be complicated. We have years of experience in litigating and representing clients who have been involved in commercial vehicle or truck accidents. Our experienced truck accident lawyer, Brian Steed Tatum, can manage your case and pursue your claim to ensure that you are justly compensated.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a truck accident, please contact our office at (704) 307-4350 or reach out online for a free case evaluation.