When a semi-truck causes a rear-end accident, it can be a catastrophic event. There have been videos of semis running into the back ends of traffic jams, for instance. The truck may hit multiple other vehicles, smashing through the traffic jam for 100 yards before it comes to a stop.
For drivers in smaller vehicles ahead of a semi-truck, this type of accident is clearly a very dangerous event. It often leads to severe injuries and fatalities. So why is it that these accidents happen and how can they be prevented?
Driver distraction
One potential reason is if the driver gets distracted. This is why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration prohibits the use of cellphones, except with rare exceptions for some handheld devices. If a driver is looking down at their phone, they may not see that a light has turned red or that traffic has slowed down on the interstate. By the time they realize it, they simply don’t have enough room to react and a rear-end accident is inevitable.
Stopping distances
Another part of the issue is that semi-trucks have long stopping distances, which are roughly twice as long as those needed by passenger cars. These trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and may need around 525 feet to come to a stop. So even if a distracted driver notices that traffic has slowed down, if they don’t hit the brakes until they have 300 or 400 feet to go, they may not be able to halt the vehicle in time. It’s just physically impossible at that point.
Have you suffered serious injuries in a truck accident? You may deserve financial compensation for medical bills and other costs.