What Is the No Zone in Driving Near Large Trucks in St. Louis?

Large truck accidents often leave victims with catastrophic injuries, resulting in significant medical bills and long recovery periods. While there are many causes of truck accidents, one of the most common is a truck’s “no zones.” Understanding what no zones are, how they contribute to accidents, and how to keep yourself safe when near these large vehicles is essential.

What Are Large Truck No Zones?

Because of their size, tractor-trailer trucks have significant blind spots, known as no zones. When you’re in these zones, the truck driver can’t see you, which is a dangerous position to be in. If a truck driver doesn’t realize you’re in one of their no zones, they may do something like merge into you, causing a collision.

Trucks have four no zones that other motorists should be aware of:

• Front – The smallest no zone is at the front of the truck. If your vehicle is in front of the truck’s cab, the driver may not be able to see you over the hood. This can be dangerous if you merge directly in front of a truck and the driver doesn’t notice you. However, this no zone is most dangerous for pedestrians, as they can be completely obscured from the driver’s view.
• Left Side – The left side of the truck, alongside the cab, is the next smallest no zone. This no zone extends back in the same way as the blind spots in a regular passenger vehicle. But something to keep in mind is that even if you’re directly alongside the truck’s cab, the driver may not see you because of their elevated seating position.
• Right Side – The largest no zone is on the truck’s right side. Because this is the side opposite the driver’s seat, their blind spot extends much farther back, beyond the back of the trailer. This is one of the most dangerous spots to be in.
• Rear – Because of their trailers, large trucks don’t have a rearview mirror they can use. This means if you’re directly behind the truck, the driver likely can’t see you. This no zone is dangerous primarily if the truck needs to reverse.

No Zones and Wide Turns

One of the most common ways no zones contribute to large truck accidents is when truck drivers don’t see smaller vehicles when turning. This applies to both left and right turns, but since the no zone on the right side is larger, it can be even harder for truckers to see cars, cyclists, and pedestrians on that side.

Tractor-trailers need to make wide turns because of their length. However, this means that when the truck moves to the side before turning, people can enter the no zone without the truck driver’s knowledge. Then, when the truck makes the turn, those in the no zone are at risk of being crushed under the trailer.

When making left turns, it’s typically other vehicles that are in danger. However, right turns pose a substantial risk to cyclists and pedestrians. Cyclists and pedestrians should always avoid a truck’s right side no zone near an intersection. It’s very easy to get knocked over and dragged under the trailer in this spot.

Safety Tips for Navigating Large Truck No Zones

The best way to keep yourself safe when around large trucks is to follow these three safety tips:

• Stay Out of No Zones – While completely avoiding a truck’s no zones is impossible, you should stay out of them whenever possible. If you find yourself in a no zone, especially on the sides of the truck, the best thing to do is either speed up or slow down to get back to safety. Look for the truck driver’s face to determine if you’re in a no zone. If you can’t see the truck driver, they can’t see you.
• Use Caution When Merging – You should only merge in front of a semi-truck when there’s enough space. Wait until you can see the entire cab in your mirrors before merging over to make sure the driver can see your vehicle. Also, use caution when merging into lanes next to large trucks, as you may be merging directly into their side no zones.
• Avoid Passing on the Right – Avoid passing large trucks on the right when possible. Since this is where the largest no zone is, the driver may not see you passing them and merge into your lane.

Pure Comparative Fault and No Zones

If no zones played a role in your large truck accident, the driver’s insurance company or lawyers may try to claim that you’re partially at fault for your injuries. They may claim you shouldn’t have been in the driver’s blind spot. This can negatively impact your case due to Missouri’s pure comparative fault statute.

Under pure comparative fault, your compensation could be reduced by your degree of fault. For example, if you’re 20 percent at fault for the accident, you can only recover 80 percent of your sought compensation.

For this reason, it’s essential that you hire an experienced truck accident attorney who will push back against the opposition’s claims. Being in a truck’s blind spot doesn’t mean you’re partially at fault for an accident the truck driver caused. A skilled lawyer will gather various pieces of evidence that demonstrate how the truck driver’s negligence is what actually caused the accident and your injuries.

Contact a St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyer

If you suffered an injury in a collision with a large truck in St. Louis, Missouri, understanding the role the truck’s no zones could have played in the accident is vital for your case. By showing that the truck driver didn’t take steps to make sure their no zones were clear, you and your attorney can hold them financially liable for your injuries.

Call Goldblatt + Singer at (314) 231-4100 or contact us online for a free consultation with an experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer. We’ll review your case, explain your legal options, and help you develop a strategy for seeking the compensation you deserve.