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Where a truck’s blind spots are
Big trucks have large blind spots, sometimes called no-zones, directly in front of the cab, right behind the trailer and along both sides. The right side is the largest, often covering more than one lane. A car that sits beside the cab or just behind the side mirror can disappear from the driver’s view.
Most blind spot crashes happen during lane changes, merges and right turns. Sideswipes on the freeway are common, as covered in sideswipe crashes on the freeway. Right turns into a car or bike on the right are covered in wide right turn truck accidents. Backing trucks at loading docks and parking lots create a third kind of blind spot crash.
Who is at fault
A blind spot is a known feature of a truck, so drivers are trained to check mirrors, signal early and move over slowly. A driver who changes lanes without seeing you does not get a pass because you were hard to see. Insurers often argue the car was speeding up or hanging in the no-zone. Read recovering when you were partly at fault.
Pedestrians and cyclists are at special risk near trucks. California drivers must yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection (Vehicle Code 21950), and that applies to truck drivers as well. See hit by a truck while walking or biking. Video from nearby businesses often helps in those cases.
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Evidence that helps
Many trucks have side and forward cameras, and some have blind spot sensors that log warnings. Those records can show whether the driver had a warning and moved anyway. Damage location matters too: a dent on your front door versus your rear quarter panel helps show where you were. Photos taken right after the crash preserve that detail.
Driver fatigue and distraction often play a role. Federal rules bar a driver from operating while too fatigued or ill to drive safely (49 C.F.R. 392.3). A side impact that pushes a car under the trailer is covered in underride truck crash claims. Ask a lawyer to request the camera footage before it is overwritten.
What to do now
Get medical care and keep every appointment. Photograph the damage on both vehicles, the lanes, the truck’s mirrors and any camera you see mounted on it. Get witness names and numbers, the police report number and every claim number. Write down which lane each vehicle was in and what the truck did before impact.
Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement to the trucking insurer before talking to a lawyer. Keep receipts for medical care, repairs and missed work. The general deadline to file an injury lawsuit in California is two years (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). In Washington it is generally three years (RCW 4.16.080).
How Beverly Law can help
We request the truck’s camera footage and sensor data, find witnesses and push back when the insurer tries to put the blame on you for being in the no-zone. We also look at the driver’s training and history through the carrier’s driver qualification file (49 C.F.R. 391.51). A driver with past lane-change crashes or little training can tell part of the story.
You owe no fees or costs unless we win. Learn more on our California truck accident lawyer page or our Washington truck accident lawyer page. The first conversation is free, and our team speaks Spanish. We explain each step in plain language and keep you updated, and you can call with questions at any point. Call (310) 552-6959 or use the form on this page.
Common questions
Is it my fault if I was in a truck’s blind spot?
Not automatically. The truck driver is still expected to check mirrors and make sure the lane is clear before moving. If the insurer says you shared some fault, California’s comparative fault rule reduces your recovery by your share but does not bar it.
Where are a semi truck’s blind spots?
Directly in front of the cab, right behind the trailer and along both sides, with the right side being the largest. A common rule of thumb is that if you cannot see the driver’s face in the truck’s mirror, the driver probably cannot see you.
Do trucks have cameras that show blind spot crashes?
Many do. Side cameras, forward dashcams and blind spot sensors can record what the driver saw or was warned about. That footage can be overwritten, so a lawyer should send a written request to preserve it as soon as possible.
What if a truck merged into me on the freeway?
A truck driver changing lanes or merging is expected to make sure the space is clear. Photos of where your car was damaged, witness accounts and truck camera footage help show what happened. Our freeway truck crash pages cover the next steps.
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Car and truck accident lawyer — Beverly Law
If you were hurt in a car or truck crash in California and Washington, talk to a personal injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
Can I sue a truck driver for hitting me? · Who is liable in a truck accident: the driver, the trucking company or the broker? · Rear-ended by a semi truck: what to do · Hit by a semi truck on the freeway: your rights · Jackknife truck accident: who is at fault? · All car and truck accident questions
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Important: This page is general information about California and Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026.