Failure to Check Blind Spots Can Result in Tragic North Carolina Car Crashes and Pedestrian Deaths

June 30, 2009, by Michael A. DeMayo

A blind spot is the area that the driver can’t see from his or her seat. While some motor vehicles, such as large trucks, pickup trucks, minivans, buses, and SUV’s have larger blind spots than others, all motor vehicles have blind spots. Cars that have higher rears, large headrests, and small windows also have blind spots that make it difficult for drivers to see certain areas around them.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 18% of US traffic crashes involve drivers that were changing lanes but did not see that there was a motor vehicle next to them. This type of traffic accident is called a “sideswipe” collision, which frequently occurs because a motorist had a blind spot and did not check and/or failed to see the other vehicle.

Failure to ensure that there is no one in a vehicle’s blind spot can also lead to a motorist backing over a person. Kids and Cars says about two children a week are killed in back-over accidents, with at least 49 others injured. Between 2001 and 2006, 474 kids died in backover incidents.

It is the responsibility of all motorists to make sure that there is no one in their blind spot when changing lanes, backing out of a driveway or parking space, or driving their vehicle in reverse. A driver that causes a North Carolina injury accident can be held liable for personal injury or wrongful death.

Steps that North Carolina motorists can take to reduce or eliminate blind spots:
• Adjust your mirrors so that you will be able to see as much of the view to the side and back of your vehicle as possible.
• Make sure that you still look over your shoulders so that you don’t miss anything that your mirrors don’t allow you to see; check that it is safe to take your eyes off the front of the road when you do this.
• Make sure that your car is not in another vehicle’s blind spot. Slow down or pull ahead if you do find yourself in another motorist’s blind zone.
• If you are backing up, do so slowly and if you feel even the slightest bump, stop your vehicle. You may have hit a young child.

If you or someone you love was injured because a motorist didn’t see what was in their blind spot, you may be entitled to personal injury compensation.

Driver Training: Managing Blind Spots, National Safety Commission, June 25, 2009

Keeping Kids Safe – Backover, NHTSA

Related Web Resources:
Kids and Cars

Vehicle Blind Spots Pose Dangers, ABC News, May 30, 2007