Truck Sideswipe Accidents – What Are They and How Do They Happen?

Sideswipe accidents, also called blind spot accidents, happen when the side of one vehicle collides (or “swipes”) the side of another. Often, these accidents occur during lane changes and merges, or when a tractor-trailer sideswipes a vehicle coming from the other direction. When a sideswipe accident happens between a passenger car and a truck, the outcome can be catastrophic.

Tractor-trailer trucks have a much bigger risk of being involved in or causing sideswipe accidents due the blind spots on the front, back and sides of the vehicle. Truckers can’t always see what’s directly in front of them or right next to them, which can make turning or changing lanes dangerous when not paying attention to mirrors and traffic conditions.

According to Truckers Report, “A truck’s blind spots, also referred to as no-zones, extend far beyond the right and left lanes. If the passenger cannot see the trucks mirrors, then the chances are the trucker cannot see the passenger car. Two other no-zones exist in the rear and front of the truck.” The majority of sideswipe truck accidents tend to happen on the right side of the truck.

Although many passenger cars and semi-trucks have blind spot detection systems to warn drivers when a vehicle enters their blind spot, older vehicles don’t have this technology and drivers shouldn’t depend on it.

What causes sideswipe accidents?

Blind spot accidents are different than other types of truck accidents. In collisions or rear-end accidents, a truck crashes directly into a vehicle, which can often cause serious or fatal injuries and significant property damage. With a sideswipe accident, the vehicles make more of a glancing contact off of each other, usually causing less property damage, but still serious injury – pushing the vehicle into another vehicle, off the road, or overturning it.

Some of the more common causes of sideswipe truck accidents include:

• Blind spots
• Driver inattention
• Failure to stay in lane
• Improperly adjusted mirrors
• Not anticipating merges
• Not signaling lane changes
• Unfamiliarity with route

When truckers engage in risky driving behavior, they’re more likely to cause a sideswipe accident. Risky driving behavior can include driving while distracted or drowsy, unsafe lane changes, or speeding.

If you were injured in a truck accident, talk to the injury attorneys at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP. We help victims of negligent drivers seek compensation for their injuries. To arrange a free consultation about your case, call us today at 732-777-0100, or leave us a message through our contact form. We handle cases throughout the state from our offices in Red Bank, Toms River, and Edison.