Blind Spot Accidents
Practically every vehicle has a blind spot. It is the part of the area surrounding your car that a person cannot see when looking at their side and rear view mirrors. For many vehicles, the blind spot is on the left rear—exactly where another vehicle might be on a multi-lane highway.
Blind spot accidents are easily avoidable if drivers take sufficient precautions. Unfortunately, too few do, and the end result is a devastating and sometimes fatal accident.
Common Blind Spot Accidents
Blind spot accidents can occur whenever a vehicle is in motion. However, there are some common situations:
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A vehicle is on a multilane highway and pulls into the left lane to pass. However, there is already a vehicle in the blind spot, and the two vehicles collide.
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A driver backs up out of a driveway or in a parking lot and strikes a pedestrian who is in the blind spot.
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A motorist slams on the brakes, assuming that no one is behind them. But a motorist or a motorcyclist is in the blind spot and ends up running straight into the car bumper.
Whichever way blind spot accidents occur, they can leave victims with serious injuries. Pedestrians in particular can suffer serious brain or spinal cord injuries and can often be killed. If a motorist never checks the blind spot, they can completely run over a pedestrian when backing up.
How to Eliminate Blind Spots
It is difficult to see 360 degrees around your motor vehicle at all times. Nevertheless, you can help eliminate most blind spots by doing the following:
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Adjust your rearview mirror so that it shows the entire rear window. Do not adjust it so that it shows more of one side than the other.
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Sit in the driver’s seat and touch your head to the driver’s side window. Now set the side mirror on the driver’s side so that you can only just see the side of your car.
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Still sitting in the driver’s seat, lean to the middle of the car. Set the mirror on the passenger’s side so that you can barely see the right-hand side of the car. There is no reason to see more of the side of your car.
Finally, you should always check over your shoulder before passing on the highway. With properly-adjusted mirrors, you might only need to take a quick peek over the shoulder to confirm no one is in the blind spot.
Before backing up, however, you should take a much longer look. In fact, there is really no reason not to look when your car is stationary, since you aren’t at risk of getting into an accident with your foot firmly on the brake. Remember it is better to be safe than sorry.
Auto Accident Attorneys in Daytona Beach
At Bundza & Rodriguez in Daytona Beach, we are proud to represent car accident victims who have been injured through someone else’s negligence. To find out whether you have a valid legal claim, please reach out to us today. We offer potential clients a free, confidential initial consultation, which you can schedule by calling 386-252-5170.
Resource:
pages.cs.wisc.edu/~gdguo/driving/BlindSpot.htm