Posted in Car Accidents,Truck Accidents on January 22, 2026
Every vehicle of any size has blind spots or places where you can’t see clearly. When another motorist or an object is in one of these areas, it’s easy to get into a crash. However, you may wonder who can be at fault for a blind spot accident in CA?
A skilled Long Beach car accident lawyer from Harting, Simkins & Ryan LLP discusses what you need to know about demonstrating fault, avoiding blind spot collisions, and what to do if you’re injured in a crash.
Establishing Who is at Fault in Your California Blind Spot Collision
Any personal injury case depends on showing who is to blame and how their negligence led to your injuries and property damage. By collecting evidence such as photographs, video, witness statements, auto repair estimates, your attorney can convince the insurance adjuster or a jury that you deserve compensation. In blind spot accidents, this can be challenging.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that blind spot accidents accounted for over 500,000 crashes in the most recent reporting year. These were due to situations such as:
- Drivers who don’t check their mirrors or turn their head to ensure a lane is clear before changing lanes
- Going too fast when merging or switching lanes
- Driving while distracted by a cell phone or other event
- Mirrors that aren’t adjusted correctly to allow the driver to check blind spots
- Physical impairments that prevent the driver from turning their head or seeing clearly
- Vehicle modifications that block the driver’s view
Any of these factors can cause a driver to sideswipe or rear-end your vehicle. If you drive a vehicle equipped with modern driver assistance technologies, including blind spot detection cameras, you can supply important evidence demonstrating what happened. This strengthens your case and supports your demand for financial relief.
Avoiding Blind Spot Collisions
Every driver is responsible for operating their vehicle safely, which includes checking for other cars on the road before making any moves. When you file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against another motorist, they will likely push back by saying that you contributed to the crash. Under California law, they have the right to do so to reduce what they must pay.
To maximize your settlement, you should take these actions when driving to avoid any actions that might work against you and cause the court to assign fault to you:
- Check and adjust your vehicle mirrors every time you get behind the wheel.
- Check your rear-view and side-view mirrors frequently while driving.
- Look over your shoulder to make sure the lane next to you is clear before changing lanes.
- Avoid riding in another vehicle’s blind spot for any length of time.
- Stay well behind commercial trucks, which have extensive blind spots to the right, rear, and front of the vehicle.
- Merge cautiously when entering a highway to avoid sideswipe accidents.
Many Long Beach truck accident cases involve motorists who didn’t respect blind spots and were partly at fault for their injuries. An old saying reminds us that “If you can’t see a truck driver’s mirrors, they can’t see you,” meaning to give adequate distance around these large vehicles to keep yourself safe.
Take These Steps if You’re Injured in a Blind Spot Accident in California
Here’s what we recommend if you’re in a blind spot accident:
- Call 911 and get medical care immediately.
- Exchange insurance and contact details with the other driver.
- Speak with law enforcement about what happened.
- Take photos and video of the scene, vehicles, and your injuries.
- Ask witnesses for their contact information.
- Report the crash to your insurance company.
- Arrange a free consultation with a blind spot car accident attorney to discuss your options.
You should act quickly, since the California statute of limitations only allows you 2 years to file a lawsuit, if needed. When you meet with us at Harting, Simkins & Ryan LLP, we start building your case right away to achieve the best outcome for you. Get started when you contact us for a free case review today.