Have you ever seen a vehicle with a lift kit driving down the highway? It looks abnormally tall, and it may have been installed on a vehicle that was already taller than average – such as an SUV or a pickup truck. As a general rule, American cars have been getting larger and taller for years now, and lift kits just add to this.
When you see these vehicles, be wary. They have massive blind spots and the drivers often can’t see what’s happening around the vehicle. They are essentially operating blind.
For example, one study had children sit in front of some of these SUVs to see how many children it took before the driver could see them. Reports claim that it usually took between 9 to 11 children. What this means is that many children on their own would be entirely invisible and the driver wouldn’t know that an accident was about to happen until they ran the child over.
Does technology help?
Some types of technology can help. For instance, backup cameras increase visibility and are now standard equipment on all new vehicles because they help so much with safety in parking lots, driveways and other locations.
But as one woman pointed out after being involved in an accident with a child, the backup camera only helps when the vehicle is in reverse. But many drivers have huge blind spots in front and on both sides of their tall vehicles, so numerous accidents still take place.
Have you been injured by one of these negligent drivers, or have you lost a loved one? If so, take the time to carefully consider your legal options.