Vehicle design trends have led to growing SUVs and pickup trucks. These vehicles are getting taller, wider and heavier. Some people who buy them will then add lift kits or new tires to make this effect even more extreme.
But this is a very dangerous trend, especially for children. Studies find that many children are essentially invisible, completely hidden by the front of the truck. The driver can’t see a child over their vehicle’s hood.
With some large vehicles, adults are also at risk. There have even been cases where drivers have struck cyclists, motorcyclists or people in smaller vehicles – such as sports cars – because they just didn’t see them at all.
Where is the risk greatest?
When looking at these accidents, much of the risk happens at intersections. A driver who is turning right, for example, may look at the crosswalk and not see anyone crossing the road. The reality is that two children are walking across on their way to school, but the driver has no idea because those children are completely hidden by the pickup truck’s blind spots. If the driver executes the turn, they won’t know that they’ve made such a critical mistake until the impact.
But it’s not just intersections where the accident odds go up. Crashes also happen on sidewalks, on driveways and in parking lots. The bigger modern vehicles get, the larger their blind spots become. Those blind spots can take a toll in many locations. A driver who cannot see is a threat to everyone.
Have you been injured by a negligent driver, or have you lost a loved one in a tragic accident? You may be able to seek financial compensation.