Alabama Injury Attorneys Blog

Motor Vehicle accidents occur every day in Alabama. Often the cause of the accident is clear, such as poor driving conditions, drunk drivers, driver negligence, texting or using cell phones, etc. The list seems endless. However, often enough, one of the leading causes of accidents is due to the vehicle's "blind spot." The blind spot is an area directly out of view near the rear of the vehicle. All vehicles have blind spots including, cars, motorcycles and especially 18-wheeler trucks. A Blind Spot accident typically occurs when merging in and out of traffic, or changing lanes in front of a closely tailing vehicle.

Tractor trailers are one of the leading causes of blind spot accidents, mainly due to the sheer size of the vehicle. Some drivers mistakenly believe 18-wheeler truck drivers have a better view because they are high off the ground. When in all actuality, truck drivers pose a major threat to other motorist because of their lack of visibility. Blind spot accidents can potentially effect 18-wheelers and other motorist, especially when they are traveling down congested Alabama highways such as Interstate 20/59 (I-59) and Interstate 65 (I-65).

While many Birmingham accidents can be preventable, blind spot accidents tend to be negligent.

The following are some tips on how to avoid an accident caused by blind spots:
• Always check your rear-view mirror and side mirrors before changing lanes
• Always pay attention to the traffic around you
• You should avoid hand held cell phone usage when operating a vehicle. While cell phone usage can cause accidents motorist are more likely to neglect blind spots when talking on a phone
• When merging into a lane always double check to make sure a car is not beside you

Remember: To avoid potential accidents with 18-wheelers, drivers should be aware of the "no-zone" driving laws around the front, side and rear of tractor trailers and 18-wheelers. These are areas around 18-wheelers where smaller vehicles should not travel next to large vehicles.