Every motor vehicle has blind spots, which are areas in which the driver has limited or no visibility.
In most vehicles, rear and side-view mirrors are standard equipment that keep drivers safer by minimizing the number and size of their blind spots. In newer vehicles, backup cameras and electronic sensors improve visibility further by reducing the size of any potential blind spots.
While large commercial trucks have much of the same equipment as smaller passenger vehicles, mirrors and sensors tend to be less effective in minimizing a truck’s blind spots. This is because a truck’s blind spots are significantly larger than the blind spots of an average passenger car.
In addition, the massive size of a large truck makes it impossible for drivers to see all areas of the road surrounding their cabs. Some trucks lack rearview mirrors or enhanced technology to help increase their ranges of visibility. It’s no surprise that these rigs are particularly vulnerable to being involved in blind spot truck accidents.
Some 18-wheelers are equipped with extended side-view mirrors, exterior cameras, and blind spot sensors that reduce the impact of a truck’s blind spots. However, depending on the size, shape, and safety features of a given truck, its blind spots may extend along the entire length of the truck and span one or more lanes of adjacent traffic.