Avoiding the Truck’s Blind Spots While Driving

Truck accidents in the United States are nothing uncommon. In fact, in 2011, there were some 635 fatalities recorded in which large trucks were involved. Said figure was a 20-percent increase from the previous year. Incidentally, a large drop in large truck accident deaths happened from 2008 to 2009. Nearly 23,000 more were injured, which was a 15-percent increase from the previous year.

Such road occurrences happen mostly because of fatigue, especially on the part of truck drivers. With truck drivers feeling lethargic behind the wheel, it increases the risk of other motorists of getting entangled with those large vehicles, therefore resulting in serious injuries and untimely death.

However, there are other reasons why truck accidents happen, and one of them is the occurrence of so-called “blind spots.” Basically, every vehicle has its own blind spots. But where are they located? Imagine you are seated on the driver’s side of a sedan and your friend is standing behind it. You can see him on the rear-view mirror, but you will not see him anymore as he moves towards the side-view mirror. The vehicle’s blind spot is where you cannot see a moving object with your peripheral vision glued straight ahead on the road.

Large trucks have the same blind spot as the one example above, only it is much larger. Not only does it apply on the left side of the truck, but also on the right side. Since trucks are huge, drivers are unable to see if there are smaller vehicles passing through that blind spot. When that happens, any maneuver going to the left or to the right may catch the smaller vehicle off guard, therefore causing an accident.

If you are driving along on the highway along with a large truck, it is important that you recognize its blind spots. Always assume that the truck driver does not see you either on the left or right side, so it is imperative that you proceed with caution. Also, it is not advisable to pass directly in front of the truck as the driver cannot see over you.

But then again, even the most careful drivers get involved in accidents sometimes. If ever you get involved in a collision with a large truck, seeking medical attention should not only be your only one priority. You must also consult with a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer in order to obtain damages from the liable truck driver or the trucking company.


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