Why did the trucker not see me?

Have you ever had one of those moments where you are driving and you could have sworn you saw a car behind you, but when you looked again it was gone? Most likely it didn’t just vanish; it either got off when you weren’t paying attention, slid into your blind spot, changed lanes, or it’s still there you just can’t see it. 

“Now you see it, now you don’t” may be a great act for aspiring magicians, but it isn’t something  you or truckers want to think about while driving down 29 in a summer storm or merging onto the Beltway at night. Unfortunately, poor visibility is one of the leading causes of truck accidents in the United States—causing an average of 600,000 accidents per year.

Truck Visibility Problems 

Semi-trucks have a clear disadvantage compared to normal cars when it comes to visibility. Not only does their size affect what they see, other factors can diminish their visibility making the potential for a collision that much higher. Here are a few examples:

• A truck driver’s elevation can make it difficult for him to see vehicles and pedestrians that are below his eye level.
• Absence of a rear window decreases visibility to just the side mirrors, increasing the size of a truck’s blind spot.
• Lack of adequate reflectors can cause other drivers not to see the semi-truck in tunnels or on winding roads.
• Poor lights can make it difficult to see in good weather, let alone bad weather—especially if surrounding cars do not utilize their lights. A truck could easily mistake you for dark empty space and collide right into you.
• Non-aerodynamic windshields make it difficult for truckers to see in bad weather. Most cars have slanted windshields that cause water to naturally roll off. However, semi-truck windshields are generally perpendicular to the hood, making water less likely to roll off.

When driving next to a truck, in good or bad weather, and when sunny or dark, try to remember how difficult it may be for the driver to see you. You can help by turning on your lights and staying out of any blind spots.

Do you think your truck accident was caused by poor visibility? Do you want to file a claim for your injuries? Contact us today to set up your free consultation. We are standing by to answer any questions you may have and to help you get the justice you deserve.

Don’t allow ignorance to hurt your family—help us spread the word by sharing this page on Facebook, Twitter, or at work to help raise awareness about poor visibility and truck safety.