Blind spot accidents happen when drivers fail to see vehicles, cyclists, or motorcycles in areas their mirrors cannot fully cover. In Alberta, improper lane changes contribute to an average of 290 casualty collisions each year, according to the AMA. Drivers can reduce this risk by properly checking their blind spots before changing lanes. AMA recommends a five-step process: check your mirrors, shoulder-check your blind spot, signal, shoulder-check again, and move when it is safe.
Taking these precautions can help prevent a motor vehicle accident and reduce the risk of serious personal injury. If you are injured in a blind spot collision, speaking with a Calgary injury lawyer can help you understand your legal options and potential claim.
What Is a Vehicle Blind Spot?
A blind spot is an area around a vehicle that a driver cannot see directly or through the vehicle’s mirrors or windows. These areas can hide other vehicles and vulnerable road users, increasing the risk of a collision or wrongful death.
Blind spots can cause vehicle accidents when drivers fail to see another vehicle, motorcycle, cyclist, or pedestrian before changing lanes, merging, turning, or reversing. Because these areas are not fully visible through the mirrors, a driver may move into an occupied space without realizing another road user is there. Common ways blind spots contribute to accidents include:
- Unsafe lane changes
- Merging collisions
- Turning accidents
- Sideswipe collisions
- Motorcycle and bicycle collisions
- Backing accidents
Every Vehicle Has Blind Spots
Blind spots are not limited to SUVs, trucks, or other large vehicles. Every vehicle has blind spots, although their size and location vary depending on the vehicle’s design.
Taller and longer vehicles tend to have larger blind spots. However, smaller vehicles can also have areas that block the driver’s view. The vehicle’s pillars, their width and shape, and the distance between the driver and steering wheel can all affect visibility.
Drivers should get familiar with their vehicle’s blind spots, especially when driving a new or unfamiliar vehicle.
Where Are Vehicle Blind Spots Located?
Their size and position depend on the vehicle’s design, but common blind spots are found:
- In front of the vehicle
- Behind the vehicle
- Along the sides
- Around the windshield pillars
How Windshield Pillars Create Blind Spots
The pillars on both sides of the windshield provide structural support for the vehicle, but they can also obstruct a driver’s view.
The width and shape of the pillars, along with the driver’s seating position and distance from the steering wheel, can affect how large these blind spots are.
These pillars can block a driver’s view when making either a left or right turn. As a result, pedestrians, cyclists, scooter or moped riders, and motorcyclists may temporarily disappear from the driver’s view while the vehicle is turning. Drivers should therefore check carefully around these areas before and during a turn.
With Sidhu Lawyers, you can seek personal injury services for your claim without paying upfront legal fees. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay legal fees if we successfully resolve your case.
How Can Drivers Prevent Blind Spot Accidents?
Drivers can prevent blind spot accidents by checking their mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes, signalling early, and making sure there is enough space to move safely. A proper blind spot check should be part of every lane change, merge, and turn. These precautions can help drivers avoid a motor vehicle accident and reduce the risk of personal injury claims.
1. Adjust Your Mirrors
Properly positioned mirrors can reduce blind spots and give you a wider view of the traffic around your vehicle. Incorrectly adjusted mirrors can leave areas where nearby vehicles, motorcycles, or cyclists are difficult to see.
A common mistake is positioning the side mirrors so that a large portion of your own vehicle is visible. While seeing the side of your car may feel helpful, it can create unnecessary overlap between the side and rear-view mirrors.
If your left side mirror shows a large section of your driver’s door, a vehicle travelling beside you may disappear from view before it becomes visible in the mirror. Moving the mirror slightly outward can provide a better view of the adjacent lane.
To adjust your mirrors:
- Rear-view mirror: Position it so you can see as much of the rear window as possible without obstruction.
- Side mirrors: Angle them outward so only a small portion, or just the edge, of your vehicle is visible.
- Check for overlap: Your side mirrors should expand your field of view rather than simply duplicate what you can already see in the rear-view mirror.
2. Use Turn Indicators to Alert Other Drivers
Using your turn indicators can prevent blind spot accidents by warning nearby drivers that you intend to turn or change lanes. However, a turn signal does not eliminate blind spots or make a maneuver automatically safe. Drivers should still check their mirrors, perform a shoulder check, and proceed only when the path is clear.
A Canadian court case illustrates why both signalling and checking for nearby traffic matter. In Martin-Vandenhende v. Myslik, the Court of Appeal found that a driver was negligent for failing to ensure that she could safely make a left turn and for giving inadequate warning of her intention to turn. The court found that her failure to check her mirrors or blind spot and her late signal contributed to the collision. However, the other driver was primarily responsible, so liability was apportioned 90% to the other driver and 10% to the turning driver.
What to do?
- If you are preparing to change lanes, activate your turn indicator
- Check your mirrors
- Shoulder-check your blind spot
- Move only when there is enough space
Signalling gives other road users time to react, but you remain responsible for ensuring the manoeuvre is safe.
3. Use Technology to Monitor Blind Spots
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can provide an additional layer of protection by helping drivers monitor areas around the vehicle that may be difficult to see. These technologies can improve a driver’s awareness of nearby vehicles and warn them of potential hazards.
One useful ADAS feature is blind spot detection. Sensors monitor the areas alongside the vehicle and alert the driver when another vehicle enters a blind spot. The warning may appear as a light on the side mirror or include an audible alert, particularly when the driver activates the turn signal while another vehicle is detected nearby.
Another helpful feature is the lane departure warning system. It can alert drivers when their vehicle begins to move out of its lane without a turn signal. However, ADAS should not replace proper blind spot checks. Sensors can have limitations and may not detect every vehicle, cyclist, or motorcycle in every situation.
4. Additional Safety Measures
Drivers can take additional precautions to improve visibility and reduce the risk of collisions. These include making safe lane changes, merging carefully, and using backup cameras when reversing.
| Lane Changes | Start by signalling your intention early so nearby drivers have time to respond. Check your rear-view and side mirrors to assess the surrounding traffic. Before moving, perform a shoulder check to make sure there is no vehicle, cyclist, or motorcycle in your blind spot. Once the lane is clear, move over smoothly while maintaining a steady speed. Avoid sudden movements that could surprise other road users. |
| Merging | When possible, adjust your speed to match the flow of traffic before reaching the merge point. Use your mirrors to monitor vehicles around you and perform a shoulder check before entering the lane. Look for a sufficient gap rather than trying to force your way into traffic. Signal your intention and merge smoothly without suddenly braking, accelerating, or cutting off another vehicle. |
| Use Backup Cameras When Reversing | Backup cameras can be particularly useful when reversing in parking lots, driveways, or other areas with limited rear visibility. A backup camera may help you spot pedestrians, vehicles, or objects directly behind your car. Drivers should still check their mirrors, look around the vehicle when possible, and remain alert for people or objects outside the camera’s view. |
How Do Blind Spots Affect Liability?
A blind spot does not automatically excuse a driver from responsibility for a collision. Drivers are expected to take reasonable precautions.
When a collision occurs, the circumstances can determine whether a driver’s actions contributed to the accident. Evidence such as dashcam footage, photographs, witness statements, vehicle damage, traffic-camera footage, and police reports may help establish what happened.
For someone injured in a blind spot collision, these factors can become important when pursuing a personal injury claim. Under personal injury law, determining who was responsible for the accident can affect whether an injured person has a viable claim and what compensation may be available.
If the collision resulted in significant injuries, lost income, or other damages, consult a Calgary personal injury lawyer. Each personal injury case depends on its specific facts, including how the collision occurred, the actions of each driver, and the evidence available.
Accident Victims Can Contact Our Calgary Personal Injury Lawyers
Our law firm, Sidhu Lawyers, can assist car accident victims throughout the claims process. If your circumstances require personal injury litigation, an experienced personal injury lawyer can explain the legal process and help determine what steps may be appropriate for your situation.
Our legal team of personal injury lawyers can review the details of your accident and discuss your potential options during a free consultation. Where a claim is supported by the circumstances and available evidence, we can work to pursue the maximum compensation available for your injuries and related losses.
Got into a car, truck, bicycle, or motorcycle accident? You can count on us to help you pursue a fair settlement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can blind spot evidence help prove personal injury cases?
Yes, blind spot evidence can help prove personal injury cases by showing how a driver failed to notice another road user before changing lanes, merging, turning, or reversing. The circumstances of the collision must be examined to determine whether a driver’s actions contributed to the injuries. Personal injury law firms like Sidhu Lawyers may review available evidence to assess liability and determine whether legal representation is appropriate for the injured person’s case.
Does failing to check a blind spot count as driver negligence?
Failing to check a blind spot may be considered driver negligence if a reasonable driver would have checked before changing lanes, merging, or turning. However, failing to check a blind spot does not automatically make one driver entirely responsible. The circumstances of the collision and the actions of everyone involved must be considered. These factors can also affect an injured person’s ability to pursue a fair settlement for their injuries and losses.
Do pedestrians have blind spots while walking?
Yes, pedestrians can have blind spots while walking, particularly when their view is blocked by parked vehicles, large trucks, buildings, trees, or other obstacles. These obstructions can prevent pedestrians from seeing approaching vehicles, cyclists, or other road users.
