Every day, countless car accidents happen at intersections across Alberta — but when blind spots and lack of witnesses are involved, proving who was at fault can become one of the biggest legal challenges.
A blind spot accident often occurs when a driver fails to see another vehicle approaching from the side or rear. These blind spot accidents can lead to severe t-bone collisions, rear-end collisions, or side-swipes that cause significant property damage and personal injury.
But when there are no eyewitnesses, how do you prove fault? How do you convince insurance companies or a court that the other driver’s negligence caused the accident?
At Grover Law Firm, our personal injury lawyers specialize in handling difficult cases where clear evidence is hard to obtain. This article explains what to do after a blind spot car accident, how to gather evidence, and how to prove liability even when no one else saw the collision happen.
Why Blind Spot Accidents Occur
Blind spots are the areas around a vehicle that are not visible through mirrors or direct line of sight. Every driver has them — especially when changing lanes, turning, or merging into opposite directions of traffic.
Blind spot accidents occur when a driver fails to check these areas before making a move. This negligence can cause one vehicle to sideswipe or strike another, leading to serious consequences for everyone involved.
Common causes of blind spot collisions include:
- Changing lanes without properly checking blind spots
- Misjudging the right of way at an intersection
- Distracted driving or fatigue
- Poor traffic signals or obstructed visibility from signage or vegetation
- Driving through a stop sign or red light
- Failing to yield while turning on a green light
- Faulty vehicle manufacturer design that limits rear or side visibility
Even experienced drivers can make split-second errors that lead to devastating t-bone accidents or side impacts.
The Challenges of Proving Fault in a Blind Spot Accident
When there are no witnesses, proving who caused the accident becomes significantly harder. Both parties may claim the other was at fault, and without witness testimony or video footage, the case becomes a matter of he said, she said.
Insurance adjusters often look for:
- Evidence from the accident scene
- Traffic camera footage (if available)
- Vehicle damage patterns and vehicle positions
- Medical records proving how the accident occurred
- Police reports and witness statements
But when none of these are conclusive, your personal injury lawyer must rely on investigative skill and clear evidence to establish liability.
Step 1: Call the Police and File a Report
Even when the crash seems minor, it’s critical to file a police report. This creates an official record that details where the accident occurred, the condition of traffic signals, road conditions, and each driver’s statements.
Police officers may also make observations about vehicle damage, skid marks, or debris that can later help establish fault. Ask for a copy of the accident report, and review it with your personal injury lawyer to ensure accuracy.
If the other driver fled the scene, make note of any insurance information, license plate details, or vehicle description you recall.
Step 2: Gather Evidence Yourself
When there are no witnesses, physical evidence becomes your strongest ally. If you’re physically able, take these steps at the accident scene:
- Photograph vehicle damage, property damage, and the intersection from multiple angles.
- Capture any visible traffic signals, stop signs, or road markings.
- Record other factors, such as weather or lighting that may have obscured visibility.
- Note the position of two vehicles and any debris that indicates the point of impact.
- Collect insurance information from the other driver and take photos of their license and plate number.
This documentation helps reconstruct how the collision happened and may reveal whether one driver violated traffic laws or ignored the right of way.
Step 3: Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Even low-speed blind spot accidents can cause serious injuries, such as whiplash, back pain, or concussions. Always seek medical attention right after the crash, even if you feel fine.
Prompt medical treatment provides proof that your injuries were caused by the accident, not by another event. Keep copies of all medical bills, doctor’s notes, and prescriptions — these records can significantly strengthen your personal injury claim.
A medical professional’s report is also essential when negotiating with insurance companies, as it quantifies the extent of your injuries and expected recovery time.
Step 4: Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
When there are no witnesses to confirm your version of events, a skilled personal injury lawyer can make all the difference. At Grover Law Firm, our team investigates blind spot car accident cases by working with accident reconstruction experts, analyzing vehicle positions, and reviewing traffic camera footage when available.
Your lawyer can:
- Review your accident report and medical records
- Obtain surveillance footage from nearby businesses or homes
- Contact the insurance company on your behalf
- Handle communications to prevent you from saying anything that could shift responsibility
- Help you recover compensation for property damage, medical bills, and pain and suffering
When necessary, your lawyer can also file a personal injury case in court to ensure you get the fair settlement you deserve.
Step 5: Use Expert Analysis to Reconstruct the Accident
Even without witness testimony, proving liability is possible using expert evidence. Accident reconstruction specialists can analyze skid marks, impact points, and vehicle damage to determine how the collision happened.
These experts can recreate blind spot collisions and demonstrate to insurance companies or courts that the other driver failed to check for surrounding vehicles or violated the right of way.
This process is especially important when both drivers claim the other was at fault. Expert analysis provides unbiased, scientific data that supports your personal injury claim.
Step 6: Review All Available Video or Digital Evidence
Today, many intersections in Alberta have traffic cameras or nearby surveillance that capture car accidents. Even if there were no witnesses, surveillance footage from a nearby business, traffic camera footage, or dashcam video can serve as clear evidence.
If you suspect any nearby cameras may have recorded the incident, inform your car accident attorney immediately. Your lawyer can request the footage before it’s deleted or overwritten.
Video evidence is often decisive in blind spot accidents, especially when determining which driver entered the intersection unlawfully or made an unsafe lane change.
Step 7: Determining Fault Without Witnesses
When one driver claims a green light and the other driver insists they had the right of way, it becomes a question of determining fault. Alberta’s traffic laws require every driver to ensure their vehicle safely clears an intersection before proceeding.
Common findings that establish fault include:
- The driver’s negligence caused the accident
- The driver failed to yield or check blind spots before switching lanes
- A violation of a stop sign, red light, or green light misjudgment
- Speeding or ignoring traffic signals
- Unsafe merging or changing lanes
If the evidence shows that a driver acted carelessly or broke traffic laws, they can be held legally responsible for resulting injuries and property damage.
Step 8: Understanding the Role of Insurance Companies
Dealing with insurance companies can be difficult — especially when the other driver disputes fault. Insurers often try to shift responsibility or downplay your damages to reduce payout amounts.
Your car accident attorney can handle communications with insurance adjusters, ensuring that you don’t inadvertently harm your personal injury claim. They’ll also make sure your insurance information and documentation meet all requirements to move your claim forward.
Remember, insurance companies work to protect their bottom line — not yours. Having an experienced car accident attorney on your side ensures you receive fair compensation for your losses.
Step 9: When Multiple Parties Share Responsibility
In some blind spot car accidents, multiple parties may share fault. For example:
- A vehicle manufacturer could be responsible for faulty mirror design or blind-spot monitoring failure.
- A third driver might have made an unsafe maneuver that triggered a chain reaction.
- Poorly maintained traffic signals or unclear stop signs might have contributed.
Under Alberta’s comparative negligence law, more than one party can share responsibility, and damages are divided accordingly. Your lawyer’s job is to establish fault clearly to ensure you receive the highest possible share of compensation.
Step 10: Filing a Personal Injury Claim
Once you’ve gathered the evidence and determined who’s at fault, your lawyer will file a personal injury claim. This legal action allows you to recover compensation for:
- Medical bills and ongoing treatment
- Vehicle damage or replacement costs
- Lost wages or diminished earning ability
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
If serious injuries occurred, such as fractures or spinal damage, your personal injury lawyer will also pursue damages for long-term care and rehabilitation expenses.
When There’s No Clear Evidence
If all available evidence — including video footage, police reports, and witness statements — fails to clearly show fault, your law office can negotiate with the insurer for a fair settlement based on probability and expert findings.
Your legal team may use witness credibility, physical vehicle damage, and medical records to argue the most logical cause of the accident. While it’s rare, some cases may require court proceedings to let a judge decide who was at fault.
How Grover Law Firm Helps Victims of Blind Spot Accidents
At Grover Law Firm, we’ve helped countless Albertans rebuild their lives after blind spot car accidents. Our law office works tirelessly to gather evidence, build strong arguments, and secure the compensation you deserve.
We:
- Investigate accidents thoroughly
- Work with accident reconstruction experts
- Handle all insurance company communications
- Ensure compliance with Alberta’s traffic laws
- Provide compassionate guidance during recovery
When the accident occurred with no witnesses, we know how to uncover the truth and protect your legal rights.
Final Thoughts: You Can Still Win Without Witnesses
Even without witnesses, you can still prove liability in a blind spot car accident with the right strategy, evidence, and legal representation. Every driver is legally obligated to check blind spots, obey traffic signals, and drive responsibly — and when they fail to do so, victims deserve justice.
If you were injured in an intersection blind spot accident, don’t face the insurance process alone. The personal injury lawyers at Grover Law Firm are here to help you pursue a personal injury claim, establish fault, and secure a fair settlement for your losses.
Call Grover Law Firm today at (403) 253-1029 or contact us online for a free consultation.
Let our experienced car accident attorneys fight for your rights and help you recover after a blind spot collision — even when there were no witnesses.