What to Know About the “No-Zone” and Truck Accidents

If you’ve ever stepped up into the cab of an 18-wheeler, you may feel like you’re incredibly high off the ground. Looking up from an ordinary car, it might seem that the truck driver, who is so far above you, should have a much better view of the road than you do. It is easy to imagine that truck drivers can see potential problems and act to avoid them more effectively than drivers of shorter vehicles.

Commercial trucks also have much bigger mirrors than passenger vehicles. The height advantage and large mirrors appear to give truck drivers a clear view of everything on the road around them. But that is a false impression, and the assumptions behind it can prove deadly for drivers and passengers in other vehicles. Trucks have very large blind spots where entire vehicles can be hidden from view. Some of these blind spots are in surprising places.

With so many trucks on the roads making deliveries for companies like Amazon and FedEx at all hours of the day and night, all drivers need to be aware of the dangers of being caught in a truck driver’s blind spots. The wrong location could lead to a collision with deadly injuries.

There’s More Than One “No Zone”

The “No Zone” is a term created to help drivers remember to avoid remaining in a truck driver’s blind spot for longer than necessary. But the term should actually be plural because there are four primary blind spots that other drivers need to be aware of. It’s often not possible to avoid these zones entirely, but drivers should aim to minimize the time they spend in them relative to their position near a truck.

To the Right

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the largest “No Zone” for tractor-trailers and other large trucks is the space to the right of the cab that extends diagonally to the rear. It is a space roughly shaped like a triangle that reaches all the way back to a corner two lanes away and back past the end of the trailer. This blind spot is bigger than the truck itself.

The National Transportation Safety Board reports that this blind spot on the right is the most dangerous because it impairs such a big part of the driver’s field of vision. More collisions involving passenger vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians occur in this No-Zone than in the other blind spots.

To the Left

The blind spot to the left of the truck (on the driver’s side) is also quite large, although it does not extend as far to the back or the side as the blind spot on the right. Space in the lane to the left of the driver extending back about half the length of the trailer is a blind spot for the truck driver. The full extent of this blind spot will depend on the configuration of the truck and the mirrors.

In the Rear

The space directly behind a truck is also a significant blind spot for the truck driver. In fact, the No-Zone extends a full 30 feet beyond the back of the truck according to the Department of Transportation. It seems hard to believe that an entire car or SUV can be invisible when directly behind a truck, but that is the unfortunate reality.

In the Front

Perhaps the most surprising blind spot for trucks is the space directly in front of the cab. The Department of Transportation reports a No-Zone extending 20 feet in front of the truck. While it would seem that a driver up high, with a good long-range view ahead, should be able to see a car directly in front of the truck, the height actually creates a dangerous blind spot that many people are unaware of.

Liability in Blind-Spot Accidents

Drivers in all types of vehicles are responsible for taking extra steps to check for vehicles in their blind spots before making maneuvers such as lane changes and turns. In most cases, the driver who initiates a change in direction is held responsible for a collision. 

However, corporate legal teams involved in truck accident cases will not miss an opportunity to shift the blame to the victim. They may claim that the driver of the vehicle hit by the truck should have known they were in a No-Zone and that they were negligent for being there.

It is important for truck accident victims to work with a personal injury lawyer who understands how to counteract the tactics used by commercial truck attorneys and insurance companies. These corporate attorneys and insurance company representatives often trick accident victims into making statements that can be used to deny their legal rights and establish the victim as the negligent actor. When victims allow their injury attorney to do the talking for them, they can avoid this and other potential problems.  

All motor vehicle accidents can be complicated to reconstruct and analyze, but those involving truck blind spots are particularly complex. It is important for the victim’s attorney to be experienced in accident reconstruction and prepared to stand up to the corporate interests involved.

DeKeyzer Law Understands How to Succeed in Truck Accident Cases

Even when motorists are aware of truck blind spots on the road, it is not always possible to avoid those No-Zones, particularly when traffic is heavy. It is up to trucking companies to ensure their drivers are properly trained and equipped to monitor blind spots and drive safely around other vehicles. When a company fails to live up to that responsibility, it should be held accountable for the harm it causes.

At DeKeyzer Law, we have extensive experience standing up for the rights of truck accident victims, and we know what it takes to succeed in recovering maximum compensation. To discuss the possibilities of truck accident compensation with us, schedule a free consultation by contacting us online or calling us at 713-904-4004.