Truck Blind Spot Accidents on Georgia Roadways

Georgia’s roads see a steady stream of tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks that keep the national economy running. Whether they’re transporting raw materials, food, or finished consumer goods, trucks are essential in Georgia. Unfortunately, the same vehicles that the nation relies on are also capable of causing significant amounts of damage. In particular, blind spot accidents are very dangerous.

Learn more about why blind spot accidents are so disastrous and how they happen. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck collision, call Bailey, Javins & Carter at 678-210-3292.

What Makes a Truck’s Blind Spots Different from a Car’s

Accidents can occur in any vehicle’s blind spot, but commercial trucks are an entirely different beast from smaller passenger vehicles. They are dozens of times heavier than a passenger vehicle and several times longer. Their unique structure gives them a much larger blind spot than the one you’ll find on your car. Per the FMCSA, a truck’s blind spot includes 20 feet in front of it, 30 feet behind it, and space on both sides. On a truck’s left side, the blind spot only extends one lane; on the right, parts of two lanes are hidden from the driver.

What does this mean? It means that it is far easier to get involved in a truck blind spot accident than a car blind spot accident. When you pass a car, you are in their blind spot for a second or less. When you are traveling next to a truck, you can end up in their blind spot for much longer. You can even get stuck there if traffic is bad. Furthermore, cars don’t really have blind spots in front of or behind them. Since trucks do, that means that drivers have to be careful no matter where they are in relation to a tractor-trailer.

Causes of Blind Spot Accidents

Blind spot accidents are sadly common among truck drivers. One of the main causes is a general lack of awareness. While drivers with more experience may know that trucks have sizable blind spots, younger drivers and those new to the road may think that truck drivers can see far more than they really can. This often leads inexperienced drivers to hang out in a truck’s blind spot, completely oblivious to the fact that the other driver cannot see them.

Unsafe lane changes are another major issue. People may pass trucks and swerve in front of them, thinking that they are in clear view of the truck driver. However, if they are less than 20 feet in front of the driver, it’s entirely possible that the truck driver does not know they are there. Similarly, people driving behind a truck may not know that the truck driver can’t see them. That puts them in danger if the truck driver brakes.

Inadequate signaling on the part of the truck driver is another risk factor for collisions. When other drivers are caught off-guard, they do not have time to alert the truck driver or get out of their blind spot.

Why Blind Spot Accidents Are So Dangerous

These collisions can cause catastrophic damage. To start, they can happen in lots of different ways—and that makes it hard for drivers to avoid collisions. For example, a truck driver turning right may swing left before executing their turn. They risk hitting drivers in their left and right blind spots.

Another issue is the fact that any type of truck collision can lead to severe injuries. Imagine a truck driver switching lanes, realizing that they have hit a car in their blind spot, and jolting back to their initial lane. Despite their evasive action, they still could have crushed the smaller vehicle or severely injured those in the passenger position.

Hurt in a Truck Accident? It’s Time to Call Bailey, Javins & Carter

It’s no secret that truck accidents can cause lots of issues for victims. That’s why it’s so important to work with an experienced truck accident attorney. To find out how the team at Bailey, Javins & Carter can help you, give us a call at 678-210-3292 or send us a message online.