Blind-Spot (No-Zone) Semi-Truck Collisions Causes, Dangers, Injury Data, and What Victims Should Do

What Are Blind-Spot (No-Zone) Truck Collisions?

Blind-spot collisions occur when a semi-truck strikes a vehicle that is located in one of the truck's large blind areas, also known as No-Zone collisions. These areas exist on all four sides of a truck, especially the right side, directly behind the trailer, and close to the cab. Limited visibility makes these crashes extremely dangerous.

Why Blind-Spot Crashes Happen, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

• Semi-trucks have large right-side blind spots that extend for multiple lanes

• Trucks swing wide for turns

• Many times, semi-trucks make unsafe lane changes

• Semi-truck driver fatigue or distraction

• Improper mirror use by the semi-truck driver

• Poor weather or nighttime visibility, and

• Vehicles lingering alongside trucks

Severity & Government Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Traffic Safety Facts 2023:

• 5,472 people killed in large-truck crashes

• 153,452 injured (NSC analysis)

• 71-75% of victims were occupants of other vehicles

Blind-spot crashes are especially severe because trucks frequently run over, crush, or override smaller vehicles.

Common Injuries from semi-truck blind-spot collisions

• Traumatic brain injury

• Spinal injuries

• Crushing injuries

• Internal trauma

• Wrongful death

Semi-truck blind-spot accident risks in Chicago and the Midwest

High-risk corridors include:

• I-90/94,

• I-55,

• I-80,

• I-290

• I-294

These highways see heavy traffic, complex interchanges, and frequent lane merges.

What to Do After a Blind-Spot Accident

1. Call 911

2. Photograph the blind spot position, the truck lane position, and the DOT number

3. Seek medical care

4. Do not give recorded statements to insurers

5. Contact an attorney such as the Vrdolyak Law Group to secure ECM/EDR data, driver logs, and camera footage. Big trucking companies will send out teams of professionals after a crash to collect data and prove that the accident was your fault. You need a law firm that understands the games played by big trucking and that has the resources, knowledge, and skills to fight on your behalf.

While many accidents with semi-trucks can't be avoided, FMCSA recommends the following steps to minimize your contribution to an accident:

• Check your rear- and side-view mirrors

• Monitor your blind spots

• Use your turn signal

Sources

- NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Large Trucks

- National Safety Council Injury Facts

- FMCSA Large Truck Crash Causation Study

- FMCSA No-Zone Program