Sharing the road with semitrucks is necessary, but it’s also dangerous. Most passenger cars are a mere fraction of the size and weight, so they can get obliterated in an accident between the two vehicles. Those in cars face far more danger than semi drivers in these crashes.
One way you can work to avoid a crash is by staying out of the truck’s blind spots. These are the areas where the driver cannot see you and may have no idea you’re there. The main ones are:
- Directly behind the truck
- Directly in front of the truck
- Along both sides, but especially back along the truck’s right side, farthest from the driver
The blind spots along the sides have mirrors that work to give the trucker some visibility. But he or she still has to drive the vehicle and can only give so much mental attention to checking the mirrors. The blind spots behind and in front of the truck are incredibly dangerous because there is simply no way for the driver to see if a car is there or not. It could be completely invisible.
People sometimes accidentally drive into these blind spots, such as a driver who cuts a truck off and slips in right in front of it or a driver who matches the truck’s speed and sits in the blind spot on the side for mile after mile on the interstate. This is very dangerous and massively increases the odds of a crash. Avoid it at all times.
Of course, you could still get injured in an accident caused by a truck driver, even when you do your best to avoid it. Be sure you know if you have a right to compensation for your medical bills.
