Rear-End Car Accidents in Ohio: Who’s at Fault?
Posted in: Car Accidents
KNR Legal Blog
Vehicles often provide spectacular sights when you are driving, yet you never have a full 360-degree view around your car. You can see in front of you, to the sides, and behind you with the help of mirrors. However, there a number of areas around your car to which you are totally blind. The scary truth is that an entire person or vehicle can hide in these blind spots. If you are not aware of these areas, you could end up causing an accident by changing lanes, turning, or backing up into a person, car, or other objects. You should also be conscious of other vehicles’ blind spots on the road and attempt to avoid them.
No matter how careful you are, you could be the victim of a crash if another vehicle does not see you. If you are hurt in a blind spot accident, call the Ohio car accident attorneys of Kisling, Nestico & Redick to learn about your rights to recover compensation. Call us today at 1-800-HURT-NOW.
Vehicles can have a number of blind spots, the size of which depend on the specific model of the car, truck, SUV, or van and height of the driver. The most common blind spots are at the back corners of a vehicle. These triangle-shaped blackout zones extend several feet behind the rear corners of the vehicle. Other blind spots are directly behind the vehicle and for some vehicles and drivers, small sections of the road blocked by the support pillar between the windshield and driver or passenger door windows.
Most people think of the blind spots at the back corners of their vehicles as the ones that cause accidents, particularly changing lanes into another car. However, the blind spot directly behind vehicles can be much larger than people realize and contribute to a significant number of injuries and deaths during backup accidents.
In 2014, Consumer Reports did a lengthy study on the size of blind zones behind vehicles for both average height drivers, those around 5 feet 8 inches, and shorter drivers, those around 5 feet 1 inch. The distance of the blind spot based on height can be shocking.
In small sedans, an average-height driver cannot see 12 feet behind the car. For shorter drivers, this distance doubles to 24 feet. For a hatchback vehicle, a tall driver cannot see up to nine feet behind the car, while a short driver cannot see for 15 feet. The distances become significantly longer for larger vehicles like SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans. For a midsized SUV, the average driver cannot see up to 18 feet behind the car and the shorter driver cannot see up to 28 feet. The largest distance is for pickup trucks, which have blind spots of up to 24 feet for average drivers and up to 35 feet for shorter drivers.
A vehicle’s shape can greatly reduce or increase blind spots. In 2016, Consumer Reports determined some of the best vehicles for visibility. The Subaru Forester and Outback are great for reduced blind spots and newer models come with backup cameras. The 2017 Forester and the Premium and Limited versions of the Outback even come with blind-spot monitoring. The Land Rover Range Rover offers drivers great views with minimal blind spots and can be purchased with a vision assist package, which comes with a surround-view camera. For small vehicle lovers, the Honda Fit hatchback offers significant visibility with large windows and mirrors. It is also one of the most frugal vehicles with a backup camera.
Some of the worst vehicles for blind spots include the Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan Z, Honda CR-Z, Buick Encore, and Porsche Boxster.
Some blind spots can never be completely diminished due to the make of the vehicle and your height. However, you can significantly reduce the size of blind spots by properly adjusting your mirrors. Have a friend help you by standing at the rear corners of your vehicle. Move your side mirrors so you can see down the length of your car and several feet behind, including the position of your friend. Ask them to take steps to the side and back so you can learn your vehicle’s blind spots.
Using a backup camera is also the surest way to avoid backing accidents. You can look at newer models of vehicles that come with backup cameras or you can purchase a device to attach to your car.
If you were hurt in a blind spot accident, call the experienced Ohio personal injury lawyers of Kisling, Nestico & Redick as soon as possible. We can help you investigate the accident and pinpoint who was at fault. With this information, we can move forward with an insurance claim, or if necessary, file a personal injury lawsuit in court. Our priority will be to gain you compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, and loss of consortium. At KNR, we have extensive experience representing individuals injured in auto accidents. We have the knowledge and resources you need to increase the chance of a successful claim.
Call us today at 1-800-HURT-NOW or you our online form to schedule a free consultation.