What You Should Know About Truck Blind Spots

Avoid driving in a truck’s blind spots

Truck blind spots are a major cause of semi-truck and passenger car accidents. It is vital for passenger car drivers to know how vulnerable they are. That way they can take precautions.

Understanding truck blind spots

A blind spot is an area around a vehicle where drivers cannot see while driving down the road. While different types of vehicles have blind spots, semi-trucks have more spots where they cannot view other vehicles. In addition, their blind areas are also larger in size than most other vehicles.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) has a video on its website that shows you exactly where the blind areas exist around a semi-truck. The largest blind spot is on the right side of the truck. For this reason, passing a truck on the right side is something every driver should avoid doing. However, big rigs also have a blind spot on the left side even though not quite as large. In addition, there are blind areas in the back and in front of the truck. Each extends for about 20 feet. The height and size of large trucks results in large areas of blindness where they cannot see other vehicles. As a result, the FMSCA recommends truck drivers check their mirrors every 8-10 seconds to ensure they’re aware of other vehicles.

A Deadly Combination

Being blind to the presence of other vehicles while driving a massive truck can be deadly for other vehicles. A fully loaded truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. By comparison, passenger cars typically weigh between 2,000 to 5,000 pounds. And, when you add the weight of a massive truck to a high speed velocity, the impact during collision can be tremendous.

Have you suffered serious injury or lost a loved one in a large truck accident?

At the Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz, we handle serious truck accident injury and fatality cases. We have successfully represented victims in accident cases throughout Texas—in Royse City, Port Arthur and Galveston along with other locations. Arrange a free consultation today to evaluate your potential case.