Big Rig Truck Blind Spots 101

By Eugene Bruno on April 10, 2023

With more big rigs on the roads than ever today, it is important to know about truck blind spots and how to avoid them. These are areas in which it is difficult for truckers to vehicles ahead, behind, and in adjoining lanes. Large trucks have substantial blind spots on all four sides, known as “No-Zones.” These large blind spots are located:

• Directly in the front of the cab, 20 feet ahead
• Behind the vehicle for approximately 30 feet
• Left side of the truck for one lane width
• Right side of the truck, extending out for two lane widths

Why Are Big Rig Blind Spots So Large?

All enclosed vehicles have blind spots. Semi-trucks have larger blind spots because they do not have rear-view mirrors and they are much taller than passenger vehicles. This makes it difficult for drivers to see other vehicles around them, except in front of the truck. The average length of a large commercial truck is 70 to 80 feet, which creates a larger area of limited visibility for the driver. A truck’s blind spots extend back at an angle on either side of the vehicle, covering an even larger area on the right. Blind spots on the sides of a truck can be up to 80 feet long.

How Do Truck Blind Spot Accidents Occur?

Truck blind spot accidents can happen when:

• A trucker changes lanes, sideswiping a vehicle in the truck’s blind spot
• A truck driver stops suddenly, causing a vehicle behind that the driver did not see to crash into the truck
• A trucker rear-ends a vehicle in its front blind spot
• A truck swings wide for a turn, hitting a vehicle in an adjacent lane

What Are Some Common Injuries in Truck Blind Spot Crashes?

Any collision between a passenger vehicle and a large commercial truck can cause serious or fatal injuries to passenger vehicle occupants. Common injuries in truck blind spot crashes include:

• Head and brain injuries
• Neck injuries and whiplash
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord damage
• Fractured bones
• Crush injuries and amputation
• Burns and scarring
• Internal organ damage

What Forms of Compensation Are Available for Truck Blind Spot Accidents

If you have been seriously injured in a truck blind spot accident, you may be entitled to seek compensation from responsible parties in a personal injury claim. Potentially liable parties may include the truck driver, the trucking company, a manufacturer, and/or other parties. Damages you may be entitled to claim will depend on the particular circumstances and the nature and severity of your injuries. Common truck accident damages include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages or earnings
• Loss of future earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Disability
• Loss of enjoyment of life

How Can a Lawyer Help Maximize Your Personal Injury Claim

After a serious big rig accident, your best chance of recovering full and fair compensation is to have an experienced San Diego truck accident attorney handling your claim. Truck accidents are complex cases involving state and federal regulations and multiple potentially liable parties. Trucking companies and their insurers have teams of lawyers to fight against your claim.

Truck accidents can cause serious or catastrophic injuries, requiring extensive medical treatment and time away from work. Our San Diego truck accident lawyers have the knowledge, skills, and resources to maximize the compensation you recover from at fault parties. We can thoroughly investigate your accident, secure, and preserve vital evidence to support your claim, assess the full extent of your damages, and fight effectively for the recovery you deserve.

We have a 99.7% success rate for our clients at Eugene Bruno & Associates. Call us at (619) 209-6066 for a free case evaluation after a truck blind spot accident.