Las Vegas, NV (November 7th, 2024) – A pedestrian died after she was struck by a semi-truck near Pecos Road and Cheyenne Avenue in North Las Vegas Wednesday morning.
The woman, believed to have been in her 40s, was walking southbound along Pecos Road. She dropped some of her belongings while crossing Cheyenne Avenue, and stopped to pick them up. When the traffic light turned green, the semi-truck moved forward, striking and killing the victim. It’s unclear whether the truck driver saw the woman before the pedestrian vs. truck accident occurred. The North Law Vegas Police Department stated that the semi-truck driver did not show any signs of impairment at the scene.
Our Las Vegas pedestrian accident attorneys emphasize the importance of identifying and avoiding large truck blind spots to help reduce the likelihood of accidents. By staying aware of these no-zone areas around semi-trucks, drivers and pedestrians can take steps to improve safety.
What Should Drivers Know About Semi-Truck Blind Spots?
Mirrors, backup cameras, and other tools can help drivers see around their vehicles, but cars and trucks of all sizes still have blind spots. For passenger vehicles, these areas are relatively small. On commercial vehicles, however, they can be rather large.
Truck blind spots generally exist directly in front of the truck, extending up to 20 feet. They also extend up to two lanes over along both sides of the truck, and directly behind the truck for up to 200 feet.
The combination of a truck’s large size, height, and configuration of the side mirrors means that passenger vehicle drivers, pedestrians, and others with whom they share the roads need to be extremely cautious when near these zones of limited visibility.
Why Are Tractor-Trailer Blind Spots Dangerous?
Tractor-trailer blind spots are dangerous because they limit the truck driver’s visibility, creating zones around the vehicle where smaller cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians can essentially disappear from view.
If a vehicle or pedestrian is in a blind spot, the truck driver may not have enough time to see them and react, especially when merging, turning, or stopping suddenly. Long hours on the road can lead to fatigue or distractions, further reducing a truck driver’s attention and their ability to compensate for blind spots.
Accidents involving trucks are more likely to result in severe injuries or fatalities due to the sheer size and force of a truck collision compared to standard passenger vehicles.
Common Blind Spot Accident Injuries
When pedestrians, or smaller cars or SUVs are struck by the front, side, or rear of semi-trucks or 18-wheelers, the occupants of the passenger vehicles often suffer the most severe, life-threatening injuries. Some of the most common injuries resulting from blind spot truck accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken, crushed, or severed limbs
- Internal organ damage
- Massive blunt force trauma
These types of injuries threaten the lives of victims, or can lead to lifelong disabilities, substantial medical costs, and emotional trauma for victims and their families.
How Can Pedestrians Stay Safe Around Commercial Trucks?
Commercial truckers have a responsibility to drive safely. However, when sharing the road with them, pedestrians also need to be aware of the risk and take precautions. Some steps that pedestrians can take to stay safe around large trucks include:
Crossing at Crosswalks
Pedestrians can help avoid some blind spot motor vehicle accidents by ensuring they cross at cross walks. They should wait for the pedestrian signal to indicate it’s safe to cross, and always look both ways, even when they have the right of way.
Making Eye Contact
Before crossing the street in front of a semi-truck, it’s advisable for pedestrians to make eye contact with the drivers to ensure they see them. Even after making eye contact, they should wait for commercial trucks to stop completely before crossing.
Avoiding Distractions
Distractions, such as the dropped personal items the recently-killed pedestrian had stopped to pick up, can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians. Especially when crossing the street, they should be sure to pay full attention to traffic. It’s advisable to refrain from wearing headphones or ear buds that block out traffic noise, or to otherwise engage in distracting behaviors while on the road.
Staying Visible
Blind spot accidents involving large commercial trucks often happen because drivers do not see pedestrians. As such, it’s important for pedestrians to be as visible as possible. Wearing bright or reflective clothing can improve their chances of being seen while walking at night. In low-light conditions, they may also use flashlights or wear reflective vests.
Pursuing Legal Action After a Blind Spot Accident
Las Vegas truck accidents caused by blind spots can take significant emotional and financial tolls on victims and their families.
Those who suffer injuries in truck accidents caused by negligence, like the drivers’ failure to properly check their blind spots, may seek compensation for their economic and non-economic losses. Recoverable damages may include medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits for Blind Spot Accidents
In the most tragic cases where blind spot accidents involving semi-trucks result in death, surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit with the assistance of a Las Vegas wrongful death lawyer. State law allows the decedent’s spouse, children, parents, or other dependents to recover compensation for funeral expenses, lost future income, and loss of consortium.
If you have been injured, or you lost a loved one in a truck accident in Nevada, our law firm can help. Since 1985, Las Vegas truck accident lawyer George Bochanis has helped people like you obtain the compensation they need to get their lives back on track. To discuss your legal options, call George Bochanis Injury Law Offices today at 702-388-2005. We offer FREE initial consultations.
