When we were taught to drive in driver’s education classes, one of the subjects on which a lot of time was typically spent was the concept of blind spots. Every car can have blind spots, and they are located just off the rear bumper on each side of the car. If the side mirrors are not properly set, the driver of the vehicle cannot see what’s happening in those spots, and both the failure to see what’s there by the driver and the failure to get away from these spots by the trailing driver could be considered negligent if an accident occurs.
Despite modern technology that allows for automatic adjustment of these side mirrors and the ability to set them so that almost every viewpoint can be seen from the driver’s seat, blind spot auto accidents are still extremely prevalent in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more than 800,000 blind spot crashes in the United States every year, and these accidents lead to approximately 300 fatalities.
Therefore, it should be clear to most how this statistic should be reversed. We are also taught in driver’s education to look around by turning our heads before changing lanes in either direction, and many people simply skip this step. Additionally, we are taught to either move ahead or drop off further behind a vehicle if we find ourselves just off their rear bumpers and in a spot where we may not be noticed.
If these steps are taken more often, these troubling statistics will surely drop. If an accident occurs, it depends on the facts that led to the injuries in regards to which driver would be liable. If you have been injured in an accident that involved a driver’s blind spot, you need to contact the auto accident attorneys at Phillips & Webster as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.
Thu, Aug 13, 2009
Car Accidents