Compensation for truck driver blind spot accident in St. Louis

Blind spots, areas around a vehicle that the driver cannot see directly, are a major cause of accidents for several reasons:

Hidden dangers: Blind spots can conceal other vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, or pedestrians, especially smaller ones. When a driver changes lanes or merges without checking their blind spot, they risk colliding with a vehicle they didn't see.
Misjudging distance and speed: It's difficult to accurately judge the distance and speed of vehicles in your blind spot based on a mirror alone. This can lead to situations where a driver miscalculates a safe gap for merging or lane changes, causing accidents.
Unexpected maneuvers: Vehicles in your blind spot might make sudden maneuvers like swerving or braking, which you wouldn't be aware of if you haven't checked the blind spot beforehand. This can lead to a collision if the driver doesn't have enough time to react.
Limited field of view: Mirrors provide a wider field of view than just looking over your shoulder, but they don't eliminate blind spots entirely. Drivers who solely rely on mirrors without physically checking their blind spots are more likely to miss hidden dangers.
Focus limitations: Drivers can only focus on a specific area in front of them at any given time. Relying solely on mirrors to check blind spots diverts a driver's attention away from the road ahead momentarily, which can be risky.

How Blind Spot Accidents Happen:

Lane changes: This is a common scenario where drivers fail to check their blind spot before merging into another lane and collide with a vehicle already occupying that lane.
Right turns: Turning right at intersections without checking the blind spot can lead to accidents with motorcycles, bicycles, or pedestrians crossing the street that the driver didn't see.
Backing up: Reversing a vehicle without checking the blind spot can result in collisions with objects or pedestrians behind the vehicle.

Preventing Blind Spot Accidents:

Proper mirror adjustment: Ensure your mirrors are adjusted correctly to minimize blind spots. While mirrors shouldn't eliminate all blind spots, they should provide a good overall view of traffic behind and beside you.
Shoulder check: In combination with using mirrors, physically turn your head and look over your shoulder to check your blind spot before changing lanes, merging, or turning.
Signal effectively: Always use turn signals well in advance of lane changes or turns to alert other drivers of your intentions.
Maintain awareness: Be aware of your surroundings and anticipate the movements of other vehicles around you.
Minimize distractions: Avoid distractions like using phones or eating while driving to stay focused on the road and potential hazards.

By implementing these practices and remaining aware of your blind spots, you can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and create safer roads for everyone.