What Is the No Zone of a Truck?

In the age of Amazon Prime and endless online shopping, more trucks are on our nation’s roads than ever. With more large trucks on the road come more safety concerns, particularly for those in passenger vehicles. In recent years, fatality data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows concerning trends in truck-involved accidents, particularly in large truck “no-zone” areas—blind spots.

If you have been in an accident with a truck because you were in one of their blind spots, you still may be entitled to compensation. Contact Munley Law to speak with one of our attorneys today.

Understanding Truck No Zones: The Invisible Danger Zones

The “no zone” of a truck is the area directly around a semi-truck where there are blind spots, meaning the truck driver has no or limited visibility. If any passenger vehicle is in a truck’s no zones, the driver cannot see them, making the situation a serious safety hazard.

The danger of sharing the road with large trucks is a nationwide problem. In 2022, 5,936 deaths from traffic accidents involving trucks occurred throughout the country, a two-percent increase from 2021 data.

Injured in a truck accident? Contact Munley Law’s experienced truck accident attorneys for a free consultation.

The 5 Critical No Zone Areas Every Driver Should Know

While trucks are equipped with a large mirrors on each side, certain areas are still blind spots for drivers. Fortunately, regular passenger vehicle drivers can become familiar with truck drivers’ blind spots and avoid putting themselves in potentially dangerous situations with a semi-truck. Trucks and buses have five no zones:

• Front blind spot: Due to trucks’ elevated cabins, their drivers can’t see smaller vehicles directly in front of them. This no zone extends about 20 feet (about 6 meters) in front of the truck. For reference, that distance is about one and a half cars in length.
• Rear no zone: If you’re an SUV driver and have ever overfilled your trunk, you have probably experienced a rear blind spot. Just like your overfilled car, when the center mirror is blocked as it is with a large truck, the driver can’t see anything behind them for quite a distance. Semi-trucks can only see the area behind their vehicle using their side mirrors, but that means there is a long blind spot of about 30 feet (about 9 meters) they cannot see.
• Left-side blind spot: Another one of a truck’s no zones is on the left side. The area a truck driver cannot see on the left side extends about one lane out.
• Right-side expanded blind area: As you know now, large trucks have significant blind spots; none is more dangerous than the right-side blind spot. A truck driver’s view can be obstructed by two or more lanes on this side.
• Wide turn no zone: Because of the truck’s blind spots on either side, their wide turn radius can raise safety issues. Due to the larger right blind spot, wide right turns are of particular safety concern. When you’re in a side no zone and out of a truck driver’s view during a turn, the truck can swing into the adjacent lane unexpectedly. There is a significant accident risk when other vehicles are present in the lane.

Don’t let a no-zone accident impact your future. Reach out to Munley Law today for expert legal guidance.

Common No Zone Accidents and Their Devastating Impact

There are a number of types of truck accidents that can occur when you cross into a truck driver’s blind spot. The most common no-zone accidents include:

• Rear-end collisions
• Underride accidents
• Sideswipe collisions
• Right turn collisions
• Jackknife accidents
• Run-off-road accidents

Were you involved in a no-zone collision? Let Munley Law fight for your rights. Contact us now.

How to Safely Share the Road with Commercial Trucks

There are many safety precautions drivers of passenger vehicles can take to prevent no-zone accidents.

General Safety Guidelines

The best way to avoid an accident with big rigs is to keep enough space between you and them from all sides. If you’re in front of a truck and the driver isn’t keeping a safe distance, change lanes. If you can, avoid driving directly next to a truck on either side, especially the right side of the truck. While you can’t be 100% sure, one way to determine if you are in a truck’s blind spot is to use the mirror trick. If you can see the truck driver’s face in their mirror, they can see you.

When you need to drive through these areas when passing, change lanes as quickly as possible; you don’t want your car lingering in a blind spot. Passing on the left is much safer as the left side blind spot is considerably smaller than the right. Using your turn signal and giving the driver time to see your signal in their mirrors can allow the driver to slow down to let you pass. Remember, due to their extreme weight, trucks take longer than smaller vehicles to slow down, creating a greater risk of rear-end accidents.

When you see a truck merging or changing lanes, give it space. Assume the driver cannot see you and never try to speed up ahead – you risk getting run off the road by accident.

Seasonal Driving Considerations

Trucks are even more hazardous to drive around during winter weather conditions. Pennsylvania often has snowy, icy, and slush-filled winters. With this weather comes reduced traction, and trucks can easily slide into their no zones. Additionally, if visibility is limited at any time, an accident is more likely. Give trucks even more space than you normally would.

Specific Considerations for Motorcycles

Those driving a motorcycle are at an even higher risk of falling into a driver’s blind spot because they are smaller than a passenger vehicle and not always at the forefront of a driver’s mind. Motorists can be safer around large trucks by strategically positioning themselves in their lane. If you need to drive near a truck, staying slightly ahead or behind the truck’s cab puts you in the driver’s line of sight from the front or in their side mirror.

Motorcycles should be particularly careful when they are changing lanes. If you need to go through a truck’s no zone, accelerate and go quickly to limit your time in the dangerous space. If you can avoid passing on the right side, do so.

Technology Aids for Safer Driving

Some newer cars are equipped with blind spot detection (BSD). This technology not only notifies drivers of their own blind spots but can alert them when they are in a truck’s no zone. If your vehicle has this capability, ensure it is turned on.

Call to Action: Stay safe on the roads, but if the worst happens, Munley Law is here to help. Schedule your free consultation.

Legal Responsibility in No-Zone Accidents

The party responsible for no-zone accidents can be governed by a combination of federal and state trucking regulations. At the federal level, trucks are governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which sets forth restrictions on driving hours, mandatory resting periods, vehicle inspections, and more. Individual state laws can set speed limits specific to trucks on certain motorways, enforce stricter penalties for distracted driving violations, and set other restrictions for truck drivers.

Truck drivers are also required to be well-versed in industry safety standards, for example, attending blind spot awareness training and observing all safety standards regarding merging, no zones, and more.

More and more, modern trucks are equipped with new technologies. These technologies include:

• Blind spot detection
• Automatic emergency breaking
• Lane departure warnings

Understanding truck accident liability can be complex. Let Munley Law’s experts guide you through the process.

Steps to Take After a No-Zone Accident

If you have been in a no-zone accident, there are a few things you should do immediately. First, call emergency services, get to a safe location, and get medical attention. When it comes to accidents with a truck driver, you will want to collect their information, including:

• Full name, contact information, and license number
• Truck’s license plate number
• The trucking company’s name and contact information
• Insurance details for both the truck driver and trucking company

You will also want to collect contact information for any witnesses.

If it is safe and you are able to do so, take photos of the scene, the damage to vehicles, road conditions, positions of vehicles on the road, weather conditions, and injuries.

You will also want to contact your insurance company immediately. You don’t want to give them too much detail on the accident and your injuries – just stick to the facts and contact an attorney.

Call to Action: Time is critical after a truck accident. Contact Munley Law’s dedicated team immediately for proper guidance.

Compensation Recovery in No-Zone Accident Cases

You may be entitled to both economic and non-economic compensation following a no-zone accident. Your Munley Law attorney will walk you through your legal options, but common types of compensation recovered include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earnings
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering

The extent of your medical expenses and the impact on your life, for example, whether you are permanently disabled or unable to work, are some of the factors that will affect compensation. Obtaining compensation can be a journey. Simple cases can be resolved within a few months, but cases can last several months to over a year for complicated negotiations or if the case goes to trial.

Maximize your compensation with Munley Law’s experienced truck accident attorneys. Contact us for a free case review.