A blind spot accident is a collision that occurs when a driver fails to see another vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist because they are positioned in an area around the car that cannot be seen through mirrors or direct vision. These "blind spots" or "dead zones" exist on all vehicles, typically located beside and slightly behind the driver where the side mirrors and rearview mirrors cannot provide visibility, and larger vehicles like trucks and buses have much bigger blind spots than regular cars. Blind spot accidents commonly happen when drivers change lanes, merge onto highways, or make turns without properly checking these hidden areas, resulting in crashes with vehicles or people they simply didn't see.
In personal injury cases involving blind spot accidents, determining fault often depends on whether the driver took reasonable steps to check their blind spots before making their maneuver, such as physically turning their head to look or using additional safety technology. While drivers have a legal duty to check their blind spots before changing lanes or turning, the injured party might also share some responsibility if they were lingering in another driver's blind spot for an extended period or failed to take evasive action when possible. Modern vehicles increasingly include blind spot monitoring systems, backup cameras, and other safety technologies designed to help drivers detect objects in these dangerous areas, and the presence or absence of such safety features can become important evidence in determining whether an accident was preventable and who should be held responsible.
