Who May Be Liable for a Semi-Truck Blind Spot Crash in Indiana?

A semi-truck’s large blind spots can make it difficult for a driver to see nearby vehicles, but that does not by itself determine who caused a collision. This guide explains how Indiana law approaches fault in semi-truck blind spot crashes and what factors may affect liability.

These crashes can also involve evidence that becomes harder to obtain as time passes, including driver records, vehicle data, and available video footage. A prompt investigation can help preserve evidence and establish what each driver did in the moments before the collision.

How a Truck’s Blind Spots Differ from the Blind Spots on a Smaller Vehicle

A semi-truck’s blind spots are significantly larger than those of a passenger vehicle because of the truck’s size, height, and design. The driver sits several feet above the road and must use large side mirrors to monitor areas that cannot be seen directly from the cab. The trailer also extends far behind the cab, creating areas alongside and behind the truck that can remain outside the driver’s view even when the driver checks the mirrors.

These areas are commonly called “no-zones.” They generally include:

• Front: Because the driver sits so high up, they cannot see vehicles that pull within 20 feet of their front bumper.
• Left Sie: The angle of the cab creates a blind spot that stretches from the driver’s door down the left side of the trailer.
• Right Side: This is the largest and most dangerous hidden area. It spans across multiple lanes and runs the entire length of the trailer.
• Rear: Without a rearview mirror or rear camera, a semi-truck driver cannot see any vehicle driving within 30 feet behind the trailer.

These blind spots create challenges that passenger-car drivers generally do not face to the same degree. Truck drivers must account for those limitations by checking their mirrors, monitoring surrounding traffic, and taking appropriate precautions before changing lanes, turning, or otherwise maneuvering the truck.

Truck Blind Spots Can Become Especially Dangerous During Turns

A turning semi-truck creates an unpredictable hazard because the cab and the trailer do not follow the same path around a corner. To make a sharp right turn, a driver often swings the cab wide to the left, which can tempt a motorist into the open right lane just before the trailer tracks sharply toward the curb.

This maneuver frequently traps passenger vehicles in the blind spot along the trailer as that open gap vanishes. While commercial drivers need extra room to navigate intersections, they remain legally obligated to verify that the adjacent lane is completely clear before completing the turn.

Common Causes of Semi-Truck Blind Spot Crashes

Common scenarios leading to blind-spot collisions across Indiana roadways include:

• Unsafe lane changes: A semi-driver shifts into an adjacent lane without confirming that a vehicle is traveling alongside the trailer.
• Highway merges: A truck merges onto an interstate like I-80 or I-90 and fails to yield to vehicles already in the through lane.
• Simultaneous lane changes: Both the truck and a smaller vehicle attempt to move into the same center lane from opposite sides.
• Premature lane re-entry: A truck overtakes a smaller car and cuts back into the lane before the rear of the trailer has fully cleared the vehicle.
• Wide right turns: A truck swings wide to the left, and the driver fails to check out the right-side blind spot before the trailer sweeps across the curb.

While many of these crashes look like simple sideswipes at the scene, the physical evidence leading up to the impact often tells a different story regarding fault.

Is a Truck Driver Responsible for Hitting Me If I Was Riding in Their Blind Spot?

Not necessarily. Being in a semi-truck’s blind spot does not automatically make either driver responsible for a collision. Investigators and insurers will examine the actions of both drivers leading up to the crash, including whether the truck driver used reasonable care when changing lanes or turning and whether the other driver took reasonable precautions while traveling near the truck.

The circumstances immediately before the collision can help determine who caused the crash and whether both drivers contributed to it. Evidence may include the vehicles’ positions and movements, traffic signals, lane markings, driver statements, video footage, and other available records.

What Is a Truck Driver’s Duty of Care to Avoid a Blind-Spot Crash?

Commercial truck drivers are required to operate with reasonable caution and take reasonable measures to avoid causing anyone harm. This legal duty of care includes actively managing their vehicle’s blind spots, whether they are cruising on the highway, backing up, or pulling out of a parking area.

To meet this standard of care, a truck driver is expected to:

• Check mirrors repeatedly: Scan both flat and convex mirrors multiple times before and during any lane change or merge.
• Signal early: Give surrounding motorists plenty of advance warning before starting a turn or switching lanes.
• Track the trailer’s path: Account for the wide arc the trailer takes during a turn rather than focusing only on where the cab is headed.
• Use spotters or cameras: Stop, reposition the vehicle or use available technology before backing up with limited rear visibility.

Failing to take these fundamental precautions shows that the driver treated limited visibility as an afterthought rather than a serious safety hazard. These safety expectations are backed by specific state traffic statutes and federal trucking regulations.

What Federal and State Laws Prevent Drivers From Blaming Blind Spots?

Both Indiana traffic laws and federal trucking regulations establish clear legal benchmarks for operating large vehicles, providing the foundation for proving negligence if a crash occurs.

Indiana Law Requires Drivers to Confirm Clearance Before Moving

Under Indiana Code § 9-21-8-24, a driver cannot slow down, turn from a direct course or move right or left on a roadway unless the movement can be completed with reasonable safety. The statute also mandates that motorists give an appropriate signal before beginning any turn or lane change.

In a collision claim, the primary legal question is whether the truck driver had sufficient visibility and clearance to finish the maneuver safely. If traffic conditions or surrounding vehicles made the move hazardous, executing the turn or lane change directly breaches this statutory duty.

Federal Mirror Regulations for Semi-Trucks and Other Big Rigs

Under federal regulations 49 C.F.R. § 392.2, commercial vehicles operating in Indiana must comply with all state traffic laws, holding commercial operators strictly accountable to Indiana’s reasonable safety standards.

Additionally, 49 C.F.R. § 393.80 mandates specific rearview mirrors along both sides of the tractor and trailer to provide adequate visibility. Installing proper equipment is only the baseline requirement, as operators must actively utilize these mirrors to monitor traffic throughout every maneuver.

Even when a truck driver violates these statutory rules, corporate insurers frequently attempt to argue that the other driver contributed to the crash, which can impact your compensation recovery.

What If I Am Partially At Fault for a Semi-Truck Blind Spot Crash?

Indiana’s modified comparative fault rule, allows you to seek financial compensation, even if you share some fault for a crash. However, your share of fault must be 50 percent or less. If you do share fault, your total recovery will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility. If your fault is assessed at 51 percent or more, you are barred from recovering any compensation for your damages.

When Liability for a Semi-Truck Blind Spot Crash May Involve Other Parties

The commercial driver who struck your vehicle may not be the only party legally responsible for your injuries. A trucking company, an outside maintenance contractor or another motorist may also share liability if their negligent actions contributed to the collision.

Trucking Companies are Frequently Responsible for Their Drivers’ Mistakes

Under Indiana’s respondeat superior rule, an employer may be held vicariously liable for an employee’s negligence if that employee negligently causes harm to someone while acting within the scope of employment. Similarly in a semi-truck blind spot crash, the driver’s trucking company may therefore be responsible for damages caused by their driver’s negligent conduct. This law may apply even if the company did not personally participate in the behavior that caused the crash.

Trucking company’s may try to dispute the driver’s employment status, such as saying they were a contractor and not an employee. if true, that status may affect whether the doctrine applies. However, simply calling a driver an independent contractor does not fully shield the trucking company from liability. Your attorney will investigate what the actual relationship between the driver and the company was, including the degree of control the company exercised over the driver’s work.

A trucking company may face separate liability for its own negligence, such as negligent hiring, training, supervision, or vehicle maintenance. These claims are distinct from vicarious liability and may require different evidence to establish.

Poor Truck Maintenance That Contributes to a Blind Spot Crash

Problems with a truck’s mirrors, cameras, windows, or other visibility equipment may make it harder for a driver to see nearby vehicles. If maintenance records or inspection reports show that a visibility problem or other mechanical issue was reported but not properly addressed, the trucking company or another party responsible for maintaining the truck may share liability if that condition contributed to the crash.

Another Driver or Maintenance Contractor May Share Liability

Another motorist may share liability if their unsafe maneuver contributed to the circumstances that led to the collision, such as causing the truck driver to make an evasive lane change. An outside maintenance contractor may also be liable if negligent inspection, repair, or maintenance work contributed to a visibility problem or other condition that played a role in the crash.

What Evidence Can Help Prove a Semi-Truck Blind Spot Crash?

Proving fault for a blind spot crash with a truck requires physical and electronic evidence to help establish how the vehicles moved before the collision. This evidence can help determine whether the truck driver took reasonable precautions before attempting to change lanes or make a turn, and whether there were other factors that contributed to the crash.

Critical evidence frequently used in Indiana blind-spot collision claims includes:

• Truck black box and telematics data: Electronic logging devices and event data recorders reveal crucial details like the truck’s speed, braking patterns and steering angles seconds before the crash.
• Dashcam and surveillance footage: Video from truck-mounted cameras, nearby business security systems and traffic cameras may capture critical events leading up to the crash.
• Physical vehicle damage: Paint transfer, crush angles and scrape patterns show the exact point and direction of impact.
• Mirror and visibility inspections: A formal inspection of the cab documents whether side-view mirrors were misaligned, damaged or missing entirely.
• Crash scene photographs: Visual records of skid marks, debris fields, lane markings and resting vehicle positions help accident reconstruction experts piece together the collision.
• Witness statements: Neutral accounts from surrounding motorists may be able to confirm whether the truck driver activated their turn signal or drifted across lane lines.

Why Hire a Lawyer for a Blind Spot Crash with a Semi-Truck?

After a serious collision, the trucking company may have critical evidence that can help determine what happened, including truck driver logs, maintenance records, and electronic vehicle data. Some of these records have limited retention periods, which means the company may routinely delete or overwrite them after a certain amount of time. But once the company knows that a crash could lead to a lawsuit, it may have a legal duty to preserve evidence that could be relevant to the case. Prompt action can help legally prevent important evidence from disappearing.

Our dedicated legal team will actively build your case from the ground up by taking these specific actions:

• Preserving critical evidence: We immediately issue legally binding preservation letters to stop the trucking company from overwriting the truck’s black box data, dashcam video and electronic driver logs.
• Inspecting the physical truck: We dispatch investigators to document the exact angle of the truck’s mirrors, the condition of its cameras and the specific impact damage before the company sends the vehicle to a repair shop.
• Uncovering corporate negligence: We demand access to internal dispatch instructions, driver training files and maintenance records to uncover whether the carrier ignored the safety protocols.
• Reconstructing the collision: We consult with accident reconstruction experts to analyze highway tire marks, debris fields and vehicle crush damage to mathematically prove exactly where your car was positioned before the impact.

While you focus on getting the medical care you need, Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak can bring these separate pieces of evidence together and build a strong case on your behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions About Semi-Truck Blind Spot Crashes in Indiana

What if I was passing the truck when the crash happened?

Passing a commercial truck does not automatically make you responsible for a collision. Your actions and the truck driver’s actions will both be considered when determining fault, including whether the truck driver checked for nearby traffic before changing lanes and whether you made the pass in a reasonably safe manner.

What if the truck driver claims they checked their mirrors?

Checking the mirrors does not, by itself, resolve who caused the crash. Investigators may consider whether the driver had a reasonable opportunity to see your vehicle, whether the truck was positioned in a blind spot, and whether the driver took appropriate precautions before changing lanes, turning, or making another maneuver.

Can I file a claim if there were no witnesses?

Yes. A lack of eyewitnesses does not prevent you from pursuing a personal injury claim. Other evidence, including vehicle damage, roadway evidence, electronic logging data, available video, and truck data, may help establish how the vehicles moved and what happened before the collision.

What should I do if the trucking company denies the driver was at fault?

The trucking company’s position does not determine legal liability. An attorney can review available evidence, including vehicle data, maintenance records, driver records, and other information, to evaluate how the crash occurred and whether the driver, trucking company, or another party may be responsible.

How long do I have to file a semi-truck crash claim in Indiana?

Indiana generally gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit after a semi-truck crash. Different deadlines may apply in certain circumstances, including claims involving government entities, which can require much earlier notice. Because missing an applicable deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation, it is important to determine the deadline for your particular claim as soon as possible.

Need Legal Help After a Truck Accident in South Bend? Call Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak

A blind-spot collision can leave you facing painful injuries and overwhelming financial pressure while the trucking company works to protect its bottom line. Securing the compensation you deserve depends on locking down electronic truck data, video footage, and maintenance records before they disappear.

The South Bend truck accident attorneys at Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak know exactly what evidence is needed, how to obtain it, and hold negligent truck drivers and trucking companies accountable. We are here to help you.

Call Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak today at (574) 444-0741.