Blind spot accidents are generally preventable accidents. Kentucky traffic laws require drivers to use their turn signals and check their blind spots to make sure it is safe to change lanes. When a blind spot accident occurs, it usually means a driver has failed to turn their head and check their blind spots to make sure the lane is clear.
If you have been injured in a blind spot car accident in Lexington, the attorneys of Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer can help you seek compensation from the at-fault driver. We have recovered more than $300 million in compensation for injured Kentuckians and we are ready to use our legal experience to assist you. We will be at your side to answer your questions and provide guidance throughout the case. We will not charge a legal fee unless we secure compensation for you through an insurance settlement or court award.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a Lexington blind spot car accident lawyer by calling (877) 809-5352. We are available seven days a week and are eager to learn more about your case and discuss how we can help.
How Do Blind Spot Accidents Happen?
All vehicles have blind spots. Sport utility vehicles, big pickup trucks, and larger commercial trucks have bigger blind spots than smaller vehicles. In most cases, the blind spots are in the right-rear and left-rear areas around the vehicle. Larger vehicles also have blind spots directly in front of or directly behind them.
Regardless of what you drive, checking your blind spots is crucial when maneuvering in traffic.
Drivers who do not check their blind spots might cause an accident in some of the following circumstances:
- Backing up – Most passenger vehicles are equipped with rear-view mirrors. But these mirrors do not always provide a full view of what is happening behind the vehicle. Drivers should always check their mirrors and turn their heads to check rear blind spots before going in reverse. If you don’t check the blind spots, you risk colliding with a pedestrian, cyclist, or motor vehicle. Looking over your shoulder is a good way to check a blind spot. Rear-mounted cameras can provide a partial view of what is behind a vehicle, but a driver should not rely solely on the backup camera. It has a limited viewing angle.
- Merging – When a driver merges into traffic, the driver is required to yield the right of way to vehicles already in the traffic lane. The merging driver must check their blind spots before entering traffic to reduce the chance of an accident.
- Changing lanes – Drivers need to be extremely careful when changing lanes, especially when traveling at highway speeds. A driver who is changing lanes should check their mirrors and make a manual check of their blind spots before moving out of their lane. They should follow the same procedure when they move back into their original lane after overtaking another vehicle.
Types of Blind Spot Accidents
Some common types of blind spot accidents in Kentucky include:
- Sideswipe accidents – If a driver fails to check blind spots when merging, passing, or changing lanes, the driver risks colliding with a vehicle already occupying the lane. These are among the most common types of blind spot accidents.
- Accidents while reversing – A driver who does not keep an eye on the rear blind spot while reversing risks hitting a pedestrian, cyclist, or another motor vehicle. Drivers should be especially careful when backing up in a parking lot where people on foot may be walking behind the vehicle.
- Turning accidents – Semi-trucks, busses, RVs, and other large vehicles have large blind spots on all sides, especially on their passenger’s side. If the driver of one of these large vehicles does not keep track of surrounding traffic and does not check blind spots before changing lanes or turning, the driver might collide with another vehicle or cause an accident.
- Rear-end accidents – Semi-trucks have blind spots in front that can extend up to 20 feet in front of them. A distracted truck driver who cannot see a vehicle in front of them could cause a rear-end blind spot collision.
How Common Are Blind Spot Accidents?
Many sideswipe accidents result from a driver’s failure to check blind spots before changing lanes.
According to information from the Kentucky Department of Transportation, in a recent year, roughly 20 percent of all accidents involving two vehicles were sideswipe crashes. Many of these were caused by failure to check blind spots. This is likely just a portion of the total number of blind spot-related collisions.
Causes of Blind Spot Accidents
The common causes of Lexington blind spot accidents include:
- Impaired driving – Drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs may have reduced situational awareness of nearby vehicles. An impaired driver may not check their blind spots before merging, passing, or changing lanes
- Distracted driving – Driving demands a driver’s total concentration. A driver talking on the phone, texting, snacking, grooming, or using a navigation device may neglect to check their blind spot before moving over or may not see a vehicle in their blind spot if they check.
- Driver fatigue – Driving without adequate sleep can be as risky as driving while impaired. A severely fatigued driver may not notice someone in their blind spot before merging and may have impaired recognition of hazardous situations. Similarly, a dangerously fatigued driver may forget to check their blind spots, leading to a collision.
- Speeding – The faster a driver moves, the harder it is for them to see other vehicles in their blind spots and react to any potential hazard, making an accident much more likely.
How To Avoid a Blind Spot Accident
You can help avoid blind spot accidents by following these tips:
- Put on your turn signal and turn your head to check your blind spots when passing, merging, or changing lanes. Sideview and rearview mirrors may not give a complete view of what is happening around the vehicle.
- Look over your shoulder when backing up to have a clear view of anyone behind your vehicle
- Obey posted speed limits to stay in control and give yourself more time to recognize hazards and avoid a blind spot collision.
- Avoid lingering in the blind spot of other vehicles, especially large trucks. Truck drivers may have difficulty seeing you.
- Never drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol. These substances make it harder to see and react to other vehicles
- Don’t drive while fatigued. Fatigue can mimic the effects of intoxication
- Watch out for aggressive drivers on the road and give them plenty of room if they fail to check their blind spots
What To Do After a Blind Spot Car Accident
If you are involved in a blind spot accident in Lexington, the following steps can help you protect yourself and your ability to seek compensation:
- See a doctor right away to have your injuries evaluated and treated
- Report the accident to the police so they can investigate the crash and summon emergency medical assistance
- Get the other driver’s name, driver’s license number, license plate number, address, phone number, and insurance information
- Use your phone to take pictures of the crash scene
- Do not give any formal statements to insurance companies until you have spoken to a personal injury attorney
- Do not post any comments or photos on social media regarding the accident. Insurance companies may use information posted on social media to deny or minimize your injury claim.
- Contact a blind spot accident lawyer for a free initial consultation with an attorney
Who Is Responsible for a Blind Spot Accident?
The driver who failed to check their blind spot is generally liable for any resulting collision. Kentucky law requires drivers to make sure it is safe before merging, passing, backing up, or changing lanes. If a driver fails to check their blind spot and causes a collision that leaves you with injuries, then you may have grounds for a personal injury claim.
Contact a Lexington Blind Spot Car Accident Lawyer
The Lexington blind spot car accident lawyers at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer want to help you seek the full compensation available after a traffic collision that wasn’t your fault.
We pride ourselves on our commitment to our clients and the Kentucky Courage we rely upon to stand up to big insurance companies on behalf of injured people. The attorneys you see in our television commercials are the same ones you’ll work with on your case.
To make our services affordable, we offer free consultations and do not charge fees unless we are successful in obtaining compensation for your injuries. Call our Lexington office at (877) 809-5352 or contact us online for your free initial consultation with a blind spot attorney. We are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
