If you’ve driven in and around Naperville and Aurora, you’ve probably seen a sign like this on the back of a semi-truck: “If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you!”
This message is a reminder to be cautious when driving near big commercial trucks because of the large and numerous blind spots they have. Despite all of the technological advances in vehicle safety that have occurred in recent years, large truck blind spots are still a huge problem and the cause of many accidents on Illinois roadways.
Why Do Large Trucks Have Such Big Blind Spots?
Blind spots are areas around a vehicle where a driver has limited or no visibility. If a driver is unable to see a vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist that’s in their blind spot, an accident can happen that can result in severe injury or death.
Passenger cars and trucks have blind spots, but large commercial trucks have bigger and more blind spots than passenger cars. This is due to many factors.
Large commercial trucks are high off the ground, so drivers can’t see the area directly in front of them. Semis are also much longer than passenger cars are — they can be over 70 feet long — making the blind spots on both sides of large trucks huge. Commercial trucks also don’t have rear-view mirrors like passenger cars have, so the area behind large trucks is also a huge blind spot.
Commercial trucks’ blind spots are often referred to as “No Zones” because if you’re driving in one of the blind spots, there’s no way that the truck driver can see you. Truck driver fatigue, distraction, and driving under the influence can make driving in a truck’s blind spot even more dangerous.
Why Hasn’t Technology Solved the Problem of Truck Blind Spots?
While advanced safety features have improved blind spot visibility in passenger cars to some extent, the same can’t be said about large trucks. There are many reasons for this.
One reason is that many large trucks on the road today are older vehicles. It’s not uncommon for commercial trucks to be 15 years old and have over 750,000 miles on them. The cost of installing technology such as sensors or cameras to improve blind spot visibility on older vehicles might be prohibitive.
Another reason is that, even if new technology is installed on older vehicles, it must be installed correctly, maintained, and used properly to be effective. New technology installed on an older truck might have limited use. For example, a rear-view camera installed on an older semi-truck won’t improve visibility in the truck’s rear blind spot during highway driving.
In addition, technology can only do so much to reduce the large size of trucks’ blind spots. Even with all of the latest advancements, such as cameras, extended mirrors, and blind spot sensors, truck drivers can’t see all around their enormous vehicles.
And, assuming that a new truck is equipped with the latest technology, truck drivers must prioritize keeping their eyes on the road. Having to constantly monitor cameras and screens would be a huge distraction that could lead to dangerous driving conditions and accidents as well.
The Experienced Cullotta Bravo Legal Team Can Help Victims of Trucking Blind Spot Accidents
If you or someone you know has been injured in a trucking blind spot accident, consult a knowledgeable personal injury attorney with a proven track record of success. If you’re facing the difficult loss of a loved one from a fatal trucking blind spot accident, you need a supportive legal team that will fight to hold the responsible parties accountable.
The attorneys at Cullotta Bravo Law have over 30 years of experience representing clients in truck and car accident personal injury cases throughout Illinois. We’ve obtained millions of dollars in settlements and awards for our clients. We’ll fight to protect your rights and help you get the compensation that you deserve and are entitled to under the law. Call us at 630-898-7800, or contact us online.
