Avoiding Blind Spots & No-Zone Accidents (And What to Do When Injured)

Every truck driver needs to know where their truck’s blind spots are and how to ensure that they can make safe driving decisions when any vehicles, pedestrians, or bicycle riders are nearby. Generally, blind spots refer to the places on a truck where the driver cannot see to the front, sides, or rear of the truck. While cars have blind spots, too, trucks tend to have more blind spots, and the spots cover bigger areas.

A truck’s blind spots are due to several factors. Many trucks, such as tractor-trailers, only have windows in the front of the tractor or the very front sides of the truck. The length, width, and height of a truck can make it harder to see outside the truck. As cargo fills the truck, it can reduce visibility.

Truck drivers often rely on the driver’s side mirrors, the mirrors on the passenger side, and fender mirrors to see when there are blind spots. These mirrors are often far from perfect. The mirrors may provide some help, but many vehicles, people, and objects may still be invisible. Truck mirrors include side view mirrors, flat mirrors, convex mirrors, and West Coast mirrors.

Simply put, if a truck driver can’t see you, that increases the odds the truck will hit your car if the truck changes lanes, passes, turns, or changes its path in any way. That a truck driver couldn’t see you does not excuse any accidents the driver causes. All truck drivers have a duty to make sure they use proper caution to avoid blind spot accidents.

What are no zones?

No zones are blind spots where truck drivers still can’t see around their truck – even with the help of mirrors.

Generally, there are four dangerous no zones:

• The area in front of the truck driver: Truck drivers often can’t see directly in front of their trucks due to their position in the truck and the height of their truck. The first 20 feet directly in front of a truck is considered a no zone.
• The rear of the truck: Even with mirrors, many truck drivers cannot see directly behind their trucks. The first 30 feet behind any truck is considered a no zone.
• The right side of the truck: Truck drivers, even with the help of a right-side mirror, often have difficulty seeing along the right full length of their truck in the next lane on the right, and the lane two lanes over on the right.
• The left side of the truck: Even with various mirrors, truck drivers will likely have difficulty seeing vehicles in the lane to the left of the driver for an extended distance.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has some visuals that help show the dangers of blind spots. Other drivers should be aware of a truck’s blind spots. Generally, being on the right side of a truck is the most dangerous place to be. You should either speed up or slow down to avoid the truck driver’s no zone. Being on the right side of a long truck can be especially dangerous when a truck is turning right.

Car and motorcycle drivers should avoid moving in front of a truck because if you’re too close, the driver may not see you or may not be able to stop quickly enough to avoid an accident. Trucks require more time and distance to come to a complete stop.

Tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, compared to cars, which weigh about 4,000 pounds. If a truck strikes you, the consequences can be deadly, or you may suffer severe injuries.

What types of accidents do blind spots cause

The answer depends on where your vehicle is in relation to the truck. As we mentioned above, if you’re too close to the front of a truck that is behind you, then there’s a chance the truck driver won’t be able to see you, which means the truck could slam into the rear of your car when he/she does finally see you. If you are directly behind a truck, the driver may not see you. If the driver has to stop for construction, an emergency, or any other reason, your vehicle could rear-end the truck.

Rear-end collisions are especially dangerous if you drive a small car because your vehicle may slide under the truck, causing the truck to crush your vehicle. For many compact cars, the truck’s height from the ground is about the height of a small car’s windshield.

Sideswipe accidents can occur if a truck tries to pass on the left or move into a slower lane on the right if your vehicle is to the truck’s immediate left or right.

Precautions for truck drivers

Trucks should be installed with the latest hardware and software to help truck drivers manage blind spots. Advanced technology can help drivers by using cameras, sensors, and other devices to see around all sides of their truck. This technology is known as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Not only can ADAS help with a truck driver’s vision, but ADAS may even provide warnings of nearby cars and start braking for the truck driver.

Drivers should be especially cautious when they shift lanes or when there’s heavy traffic. Be sure to use signals before making any movements.

Precautions for drivers near a truck

Drivers should be aware of a truck’s blind spots and no zones. If you can’t see the truck driver’s face in the side mirror, assume the driver can’t see you. Otherwise, it’s likely the truck driver can’t see you.

Be cautious when moving in front of or behind a large truck. Make sure there’s as much distance as possible between you and the truck. Use your horn.

 

Precautions for pedestrians and bicycles near a truck

The front of a truck’s no zone is especially dangerous to pedestrians and bicycles crossing the street at an intersection. If you are crossing the street and you are walking in the no zone, there is a chance the truck driver cannot see you. Sadly, I have worked on a case where an elderly gentleman was crossing the street in the crosswalk, but the truck driver had passed the stop bar and was so close that the driver could not see the crosswalk. And due to the elder’s slow walking, was in the crosswalk when the truck started to move forward, causing his unfortunate death.

The no zones of a truck are especially dangerous when a truck makes a right turn at a red light. As bicyclists and pedestrians are crossing streets, there is the risk of the driver not seeing people on the truck’s right blind spot, as well as the front no zone.

To be safe in this situation consider the following:

• Make sure you catch the driver’s eye before crossing. Look and wait for some acknowledgement the driver sees you before crossing.
• Waive your hands or lift them up to waive to the driver to make sure they can see you.
• Or, when in doubt, wait until the truck leaves the intersection before crossing.

Who is responsible for blind spot accidents?

Our Tampa truck accident lawyers file claims against everyone responsible for your accident or the death of a loved one. Often, it’s not just the truck driver who’s liable. The defendants may include:

• The truck driver
• The truck driver’s employer
• The owner of the truck
• A trucking company involved in the shipment
• Other defendants

Our Tampa truck accident lawyers fight to obtain all the compensation you deserve when truck drivers are negligent. Call us today or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis.