When you hit the road, you trust that other drivers take the necessary precautions to ensure everyone’s safety. However, despite their extensive training, commercial truck drivers sometimes overlook a critical aspect of safe driving: checking blind spots.
This oversight can lead to severe accidents with devastating consequences.
How does ignoring blind spots cause accidents?
Commercial trucks have more prominent blind spots than regular vehicles due to their size and shape. Truck drivers have obstructed views in these “no-zones” along the sides and rear of the truck.
It is important that commercial motor vehicle operators adequately check blind spots before merging into another lane. This step is necessary to avoid collisions with other vehicles. Accidents with big trucks can result in serious injuries or even fatalities for the occupants of the smaller cars.
Similarly, when making turns, commercial truck drivers must be vigilant about their blind spots. Failure to do so can result in sideswiping or crushing vehicles adjacent to the truck. Pedestrians and cyclists are also at risk if they are in the blind spot when a truck makes a turn.
What are your rights after a truck accident?
If a truck driver’s failure to check blind spots caused you to sustain injuries in an accident, you have legal rights. You can seek compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering and lost earnings resulting from the accident. It is important that you know the rules and procedures for filing a personal injury claim. For example, New Jersey laws have a two-year statute of limitation for truck accident injury claims.
Staying safe on the road is a collective responsibility. Commercial truck drivers must prioritize checking their blind spots to prevent accidents and protect other road users.