Semi truck blind spots represent a persistent and dangerous reality on Georgia highways, where the phrase 'I didn't see you' often precedes catastrophic collisions. These invisible zones, officially termed 'No-Zones' by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, surround commercial trucks and can render nearby vehicles completely invisible to drivers, even with proper mirror use. The danger stems from both the extensive size of these blind areas and the substantial physics involved when an 80,000-pound semi collides with a typical 3,000-pound passenger vehicle.
The four primary blind spot zones around semi trucks include the area directly in front of the cab, extending roughly 20 feet; the right-side zone, which can cover two to three lanes and is particularly hazardous during right turns and lane changes; the left-side blind area along the rear half of the trailer; and the zone behind the truck, which can extend nearly 200 feet. From a driver's seat positioned eight to ten feet above the roadway, compact cars positioned near the front bumper or alongside the trailer can simply disappear from view.
Georgia's specific traffic patterns exacerbate this safety issue, with certain corridors experiencing particularly high rates of blind spot collisions. Interstate 75 through metro Atlanta, Interstate 85 with its complex interchanges near the Perimeter, Interstate 20 through Augusta and Atlanta, and Interstate 285—frequently cited as one of Georgia's most dangerous roads for truck-related collisions—all present heightened risks due to congestion and frequent lane changes. Many crashes begin with seemingly ordinary maneuvers such as lane changes, merges from short ramps, or wide right turns through busy intersections.
Legal responsibility in blind spot collisions often involves multiple parties, including the truck driver who failed to execute a safe maneuver, the trucking company that may have enforced unrealistic schedules or provided inadequate supervision, maintenance providers who neglected mirror systems, and cargo loading companies whose errors affected vehicle handling. Building these cases typically requires examination of driver logs, electronic data from the truck, inspection reports, and training histories.
Georgia law establishes specific parameters for these cases. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the incident. Georgia's modified comparative negligence rule bars recovery if an injured person is found to be 50 percent or more at fault and reduces compensation proportionally if fault is lower but still present. Insurance carriers sometimes argue that smaller vehicles should not have been positioned in the no-zone, making photographic evidence, electronic data, and witness accounts crucial components of any legal proceeding.
Attorney Charles Graham, known as 'Big Truck Chuck,' emphasizes that many clients arrive feeling blamed for simply using Georgia's highways. 'We hear, 'They told me I shouldn't have been next to the truck,'' Graham notes. 'The truth is that everyone has a right to use Georgia's highways. Trucking companies also have a duty to operate safely.' The firm's article, 'Semi Truck Blind Spots: A Hidden Danger on Georgia Roads,' available at https://grahamlawga.com/semi-truck-blind-spots-accident-compensation/, examines both the mechanical realities of truck no-zones and the legal principles that follow collisions, providing Georgia drivers with a clearer understanding of this ongoing safety concern.
