Jersey Shore Personal Injury and Employment Specialists

The hidden dangers of heavy-duty pickup trucks

On Behalf of | May 4, 2023 | Truck Accidents |

Even if you don’t drive a pickup truck or know much about them, you’ve likely noticed that they’re getting bigger by the year. “Heavy duty” pickup trucks, which sport names like Titan and Super Duty, can weigh as much as 12,000 pounds.

For some business owners, their pickup trucks are their offices. They’re big enough to haul a week’s worth or more of camping supplies. Some heavy-duty pickup truck owners use them as their primary vehicle to get around town. 

Many of us who drive traditional cars and even SUVs can feel overwhelmed when we have to share the road with them. While heavy-duty pickup truck drivers may feel safe and secure, they can pose serious dangers to other drivers – not to mention bicyclists and pedestrians – if they aren’t cognizant of the limitations in visibility these trucks have and the serious damage they can cause because of their size and weight.

 Massive front blind spot

The hoods of these trucks are very high. That means the driver has a large blind spot in front of them. That’s particularly dangerous to smaller pedestrians (like children) and those in wheelchairs who may be crossing in front of them. 

In fact, their blind spot can be a full 11 feet longer than that of the average sedan and even as much as seven feet longer than an SUV. This large blind spot can cause “front over” collisions that are often fatal for the person who’s struck.

Fortunately, there is technology available that “sees” what’s directly in front of a vehicle and in some cases automatically applies the brakes even if the driver can’t see or isn’t paying attention. Many safety advocates have argued that automatic emergency braking (AEB) or at least forward collision warning (FCW) systems be mandatory on vehicles with these large front blind spots.

It’s important for anyone who walks, cycles or drives on the road to understand that drivers in these large vehicles may not see you, even when it seems like they should. If you’ve been injured or a loved one has been killed in a collision, it’s critical that you get the compensation to which you’re entitled.