Why Blind Spots are a Serious Car Accident Risk
Blind spots, as all motorists know, are the areas to the rear and side of a vehicle where a driver cannot see other motorists approaching, even when checking the rear view or side mirrors. Although there are blind spots in every car, these zones are even more pronounced in larger vehicles and have been linked to thousands of accidents. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) attributed as many as 85,000 car accidents and 55,000 injuries to blind spot-related issues in 2015 alone.
For help determining whether your own collision was the result of another driver’s failure to account for a blind spot, please contact an experienced Florida car accident lawyer who can help you investigate your claim.
Crashes Attributed to Blind Spots
According to the IIHS, most collisions resulting from a failure to check a blind spot occur when one driver is attempting to merge into another lane. This can result in sideswipe crashes, in which two vehicles scrape alongside of each other, as well as both head-on and rear-end collisions. Blind spots have also proven problematic for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcycle riders, who are much more at risk of sustaining serious injuries if a driver fails to check his or her blind spot.
Commercial Vehicles
Commercial vehicles, as one of the largest vehicles on the road, also have the most pronounced blind spots. Known as no zones, blind spots on commercial vehicles are located at the front, rear, and both sides of the tractor. Due to the size and height of commercial vehicles, these blind spots tend to be much larger, which in turn means that other motorists can be in a truck driver’s blind spot for a much longer period of time than they anticipate.
Blind spots have proven to be especially dangerous for truck drivers who are attempting to change lanes, merging in traffic, or making a turn. In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) estimates that as many as one-third of all collisions between large trucks and passenger vehicles occur in no zones.
Establishing Negligence
Blind spot accidents are almost always the result of at least one driver’s negligence. Proving this, however, can be a difficult task, as it involves determining the location of the vehicles in question at the time of the accident. Fortunately, this can be achieved by gathering evidence, including police reports, eyewitness statements, video recordings, and photos from the scene of the accident. Plaintiffs who can successfully prove that their crash was the result of another driver’s failure to use reasonable care or that person’s violation of a traffic law, are often entitled to damages compensating them for accident-related losses, including medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.
Schedule a Free Case Review Today
If you were injured in an accident through no fault of your own, you need the assistance of an experienced attorney who can help you seek compensation for your losses. Please call 866-930-1238 today to speak with one of the dedicated Orlando auto accident lawyers at the Payer Law about your case.
Resource:
iihs.org/news/detail/lane-departure-warning-blind-spot-detection-help-drivers-avoid-trouble
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