Where Are Truck Blind Spots Located?
Due to their size, commercial trucks have a few large blind spots. They are located on all sides of the vehicle and can span across one or multiple lanes. Here are some points to note about each blind spot:
- Front: Because drivers of semi-trucks and other commercial trucks are seated so high up, they can rarely see what is directly in front of their vehicles. Front blind spots usually extend 20 feet in front of the truck.
- Back: There is minimal visibility directly behind a commercial truck. A safe assumption for the back blind spot range is 30 feet behind the vehicle.
- Left: The left blind spot typically begins at the driver’s back and ends about halfway down the truck’s trailer. It usually spans across one lane of traffic.
- Right: The right blind spot is the largest, starting at the front of the cab and extending beyond the end of the trailer. It spans across two lanes of traffic and widens the closer it gets to the back of the vehicle.
As important as it is for truck drivers in Lancaster to be aware of their blind spots, it is equally essential for the drivers around them to know these areas and to avoid them when possible.
Lancaster Trucking Laws
Truckers in Lancaster are subject to the laws set forth by the PA Department of Transportation to minimize trucking accidents. These laws limit the size of commercial trucks and trailers to 13-and-a-half feet high, eight feet wide, and 53 feet long.
Overloading of a commercial truck can cause the vehicle to tip during turns or inhibit it from decelerating quickly enough. For these reasons, the state also enforces strict load regulations, with a maximum weight of 80,000 pounds for a six-axle vehicle. The load must not extend past the front of the truck by more than three feet, nor beyond the back by more than six feet.
Driver Liability in a Blind Spot Truck Accident
Truck accidents are not always the truck driver’s fault. In many blind spot accidents, the at-fault driver is the one who did not have the right of way.
There are also instances in which more than one driver is at fault. For example, if another car unintentionally merges into a trucker’s blind spot and an accident occurs, that driver may be at fault instead of the trucker.
An experienced attorney could help truck accident victims in Lancaster determine who was at fault and guide them toward the necessary next steps. Whether the injured party is entitled to compensation may depend on their level of fault.
Seek Compensation with a Blind Spot Truck Accident Attorney in Lancaster
If you are the victim of a Lancaster blind spot truck accident and want to know if you have grounds to take legal action, an attorney at McDonald At Law could help you file, build, and negotiate your case. Contact our office to connect with a lawyer who has experience with car accident claims, then schedule a consultation to discuss your unique situation.