With millions of semi-trucks registered in the United States, hundreds of thousands can be on the road at any one time. No matter where you encounter these massive vehicles, ignoring semi-truck blind spots can be deadly. Knowing and avoiding driving these “no-zones” is essential to road safety in California.
Blind spots are not unique to semi-trucks. Every vehicle has one or more blind spots that make it difficult for drivers to see nearby traffic. This can increase the chances of a car collision, and given the immense size and weight of even unladen tractor-trailers, any such crash can cause severe or life-threatening injuries.
But what are no-zones exactly, and what can you do to protect yourself if you encounter one? Here is what Fresno drivers need to know about blind spots when it comes to commercial trucks.
Understanding Semi-Truck Blind Spots
A “blind spot” is an area or zone around a vehicle that is in motion where the driver’s mirrors cannot see. If that vehicle’s driver is only using their rear-view and side mirrors to check for vehicles around them, they may not see any other car, truck, or other road user who is in a blind spot.
Being in a blind spot is dangerous because if the truck driver attempts to change lanes or suddenly stops, they might inadvertently collide with you. If this happens, it does not matter who is at fault — you will be the one most likely hurt. Despite representing a small portion of all vehicles, semi-trucks are involved in an outsized number of fatal accidents.
Where Are the Blind Spots on a Semi-Truck?
Unfortunately, there is no warning light or alarm in your car that will alert you when you are in semi-truck blind spots. You must pay attention to your position in relation to nearby tractor-trailers and determine for yourself if you are in a truck’s blind spot.
The blind spots on a semi-truck are generally located in these areas:
- Directly behind the trailer
- Behind and to the side of the trailer, at approximately the five o’clock and seven o’clock positions on the truck
- Directly adjacent to the truck’s driver and passenger side doors
- Immediately in front of the truck
The exact size and placement of these blind spots will depend on the truck and trailer’s size and how the truck’s mirrors are positioned. Generally, if you cannot see your vehicle in the reflective surface of one or both of a truck’s side-view mirrors, you are in the truck’s blind spot.
What About Video Cameras?
Some modern trucks are equipped with video cameras specifically designed to address blind spots and their dangers. These video cameras are positioned so that areas around a truck that a driver would not have been able to see in the past are visible on a screen in the cab. This technology has effectively reduced the number of truck accidents.
However, it’s important not to take safety for granted when it comes to a truck’s blind spots, even with the existence of this new technology. There is often no way for you to accurately tell on the road whether the truck next to you has these cameras installed. Additionally, even if the truck does have cameras, the driver may not be closely monitoring them while driving.
Therefore, you should always be cautious about driving in a truck’s blind spots, no matter the make or model of the truck or trailer.
What Is a “No-Zone” in Driving?
Despite the dangers, some motorists may continue to drive in semi-truck blind spots because they are unaware of what the term “truck blind spots” means. As a result, safety literature and announcements often instead use the term “no-zones” to refer to these hazardous areas.
In other words, the answer to the question, “What is a no-zone?” is simple: it is the same thing as a blind spot. The “no-zone,” meaning the area around a commercial truck where the operator cannot see you, is where you want to avoid driving whenever possible.
Types of Accidents Caused by Trucks and Blind Spots
Several different types of collisions can result when a car or other vehicle is in a truck’s blind spot. Some of the most common include the following:
Sideswipe Crash
If you are in one of the no-zones on the side of the truck, the vehicle could collide with you in a sideswipe crash if it attempts to change lanes. This type of crash could cause you to lose control and collide further with the truck or run into other vehicles on the road.
Side-Impact or T-Bone Crash
Hovering in a truck’s blind spot can also put you in a risky situation if the truck decides to turn right. Many tractor-trailers must make wide right-hand turns from lanes close to the center of the road to navigate city intersections. If you are in a no-zone and a nearby truck suddenly turns right, you could strike the side of the truck or trailer.
Rear-End Crash
Driving directly in front of or behind a truck is also dangerous. If the truck is immediately behind you, it may fail to see you if you suddenly slow down. As a result, the truck may collide with the rear end of your vehicle. Similarly, if you’re following the truck too closely, you could suffer a collision if the truck abruptly slows down.
No matter what amount of negligence is attributable to you and the truck driver, you can expect to sustain greater losses in a rear-end crash with a semi-truck. These crashes can come with a significantly higher likelihood of serious injury or death in addition to greater property damage.
Common Injuries From Blind Spot Trucking Crashes
Like other motor vehicle wrecks, truck accidents involving a driver in the truck’s blind spot can lead to injuries like:
- Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord trauma
- Broken bones
- Lacerations from broken glass
- Burns from spilled chemicals or leaking fuel
There is also a risk of crushing injuries if your car travels under the trailer in the crash. This situation is often fatal and can easily occur if the truck sideswipes you or if you rear-end the trailer.
Why Do Blind Spot Accidents Happen?
Given the dangers of traveling in trucks’ no-zones, one might wonder why these accidents happen in the first place. While some drivers simply aren’t aware of these zones, in other cases, it comes down to attentiveness or recklessness.
Driver Inattentiveness
Driver inattentiveness is one of the biggest contributing factors to blind spot wrecks. A trucker might be preoccupied with a cell phone or other tasks and not take extra time and care to look for traffic that might be in their blind spots before turning, stopping, or switching lanes.
Similarly, an inattentive motorist who is on their phone, eating food, or otherwise distracted might not know they are in a truck’s no-zone until a crash happens. Similarly, they could miss seeing the truck’s turn signal or brake lights, thereby missing an opportunity to act and avoid a crash.
Recklessness
In other situations, either the trucker or motorist may be driving without due regard for their safety or the safety of others on the road. These drivers could be in a hurry to reach their destinations and, as a result, be swiftly changing lanes without looking, driving over the speed limit, or engaging in other risky practices.
Uncovering what led to a truck accident involving a motorist in a blind spot can be crucial to determining what rights the injured parties have. Often, a skilled and experienced Fresno truck accident law firm can help victims gather crucial evidence and take appropriate legal action after a crash.
What to Do if You Find Yourself in a No-Zone
Even if you already know that “no-zones,” or blind spots, of a semi-truck are places around a commercial vehicle you should avoid entering or remaining in, it’s not always easy to do so. On the busy streets and highways of Fresno, it is nearly impossible to stay out of all no-zones.
If you do find yourself driving a truck’s blind spot, here’s what you can do:
Find a Way to Safely Get Out of the No-Zone
No matter how you got into a semi-truck’s no-zone, do not spend any greater amount of time there than necessary. Drive out of the no-zone as quickly as possible without endangering yourself or other drivers. Some ways to exit the no-zone include:
- Slowing down and putting more space between you and the truck
- Switching lanes and putting an additional lane of traffic between you and the semi, if possible
- Speeding up, especially if the tractor-trailer is driving slower than the posted speed limit
- Moving to a different position where you can see your car in the reflective surface of one or more of the truck’s mirrors
As a last resort, you may wish to consider taking a break or an alternate route if you are constantly finding yourself in the same truck’s blind spot despite these efforts.
Keep Your Eyes on the Truck
Suppose that you are passing a truck and, to do so, you must travel through the truck’s blind spot. As you make your passing maneuver, keep a close eye on the truck. Watch for turn signals indicating an imminent turn or brake lights that suggest the truck is slowing down. Be prepared to have to take sudden action to protect yourself.
Give Visual or Audible Signals to Alert the Truck Driver
If you are in a no-zone and it appears the truck driver may be making a maneuver without first seeing you, make use of your car’s lights and horn. Flashing your brights and using your car’s horn may be enough to alert the trucker to your presence.
At worst, these sights and sounds could cause the truck driver to delay their movement long enough for you to either become visible or exit the blind spot entirely.
Staying Out of Semi-Truck No-Zones in Fresno
Every vehicle you encounter on the road has at least one blind spot. Drivers are unable to see any vehicles or other road users in these zones. The larger the vehicle, the bigger the blind spot is. When it comes to commercial trucks, their blind spots are both large and dangerous to find yourself in.
Keep in mind that a truck’s blind spots are on its sides, to the rear, and directly in front. Truckers cannot see vehicles in these locations, which raises the risk of a serious or fatal crash.
The best way you can protect yourself in Fresno is to avoid these zones as much as possible. Remember that if you cannot see your car in the truck’s mirrors, neither can the trucker.
Our Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help
Should you or a loved one be involved in a truck accident, it’s critical to seek medical and legal help as soon as possible. The experienced team at Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers can fight for the compensation you deserve for your losses through either a settlement or a trial verdict.We take pride in providing exceptional service to our clients, clearly explaining the process at every step and personalizing our strategy for each unique case. To take the first step in protecting your rights and future, contact us to schedule a consultation today.
