What to Do If a Semi-Truck Loses Control Near You

Without careful handling and constant attention from the driver, a semi-truck can easily lose control–causing an accident. Even an experienced driver who is driving carefully can lose control of his truck due to mechanical failure, weather, or improperly loaded cargo.

If you see an out-of-control big rig coming your way, you likely have just seconds to maneuver your vehicle to safety. Whether the vehicle is blown over by high winds, jackknifing on icy roads, or has lost control of its brakes, having an idea of what to do could be the difference between life and death.

The following information is intended to educate readers on the best course of action if they see a semi-truck lose control. Of course, most of the time, drivers don’t have the luxury of making evasive maneuvers. But should you be afforded the time, here’s how to react safely.

5 Common Reasons Semi-Trucks Lose Control

Trucks lose control for a variety of reasons; however, here are some of the most common that you should be aware of.

#1 Weather Conditions

Ice, snow, rain, and high winds are the most common culprits when weather is involved in a commercial vehicle crash.

When roads are icy or slick, often after the first few minutes of rain, it makes the vehicle harder to control and it makes braking more difficult.

When winds pick up, semis with enclosed or boxed trailers become massive sails that can easily tip the truck over.

#2 Driver Fatigue or Error

Long hours and pressure to meet deadlines can lead to driver fatigue. Fatigue, in turn, can cause a driver to make costly errors as it slows reaction time and impacts decision-making.

A drowsy driver is a danger regardless of what he drives. But when a drowsy driver gets behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler, one small mishap can lead to life changing injuries or worse.

Steer clear of trucks that are swerving into other lanes, tailgating vehicles in front of them, braking late, ignoring traffic signs, or speeding.

#3 Mechanical Failures

There is a plethora of mechanical failures that can cause a commercial truck to lose control.

One of the most common mechanical issues big rigs face is brake failure. A driver may not be able to safely bring his truck to a stop if the brakes fail on a steep incline or at high speeds. Every time you see a truck runoff ramp that has been disturbed, you can safely assume a tractor-trailer’s brakes failed.

Another popular occurrence is a tire blowout. It’s not uncommon to see pieces of semi-truck tires littered on highways and freeways. Not only can a blowout cause the truck to lose control, but the pieces of tire can cause serious damage to other vehicles and even cause secondary accidents.

#4 Overloaded or Improperly Loaded Cargo

Different types of semis, such as tankers, flatbeds, dump trucks, car haulers, and livestock trucks, have different capacity limits set by regulatory bodies. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has cargo securement rules that trucking companies must follow or face fines.

If these rules are ignored, a load is placed on a truck that isn’t balanced, or cargo isn’t properly secured, motorists are put at risk.

#5 Sudden Traffic Maneuvers

If a trucker has to suddenly stop or swerve to miss an object, this can easily cause the truck to jackknife or veer out of control. When an 80,000-pound vehicle loses control in this manner, you want to do everything you can to avoid its path of destruction.

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4 Tips for Reacting Safely If a Semi-Truck Loses Control Near You

While you may not have much along the way of options when a nearby truck loses control, if you can react, here’s what you should try to do.

#1 Stay Calm & Avoid Overreacting

Panicking when you see an out-of-control truck coming straight at you is a perfectly normal response. However, if you can manage to stay calm, you will likely make better decisions and react in the best possible manner.

Try not to slam on your brakes or jerk the steering wheel, forcing you into other travel lanes. If you lose control of your vehicle too, your ability to influence the situation goes out the window.

Instead, maintain a tight grip on the steering wheel, focus on the road ahead of you, and look for the safest path to avoid colliding with the truck, its cargo, or other debris that may be present.

#2 Increase Distance Immediately

Putting distance between your vehicle and an out-of-control tractor-trailer is the best strategy.

Because trucks weigh so much, it can take much longer to come to a stop, and you want to ensure you give the vehicle as much space as it needs. If the out-of-control semi is in front of you, ease off the gas and carefully come to a stop.

#3 Identify Escape Routes

If you notice a truck that’s lost control, you have just seconds to scan the road ahead and find an escape route. Look for open shoulders or exit or turning lanes that you can quickly move into.

If you must navigate the road ahead, perhaps in a pile-up situation due to icy conditions or poor visibility caused by fog or dust, try to steer your way clear of other vehicles involved in the accident the best you can.

#4 Avoid Driving in a Truck’s Blind Spots

It’s a good rule of thumb for all drivers to avoid traveling in another vehicle’s blind spot. This tip is even more important when driving in the blind spot of a large tractor-trailer, where the driver’s visibility is often very limited.

Stay where the truck can see you. Don’t drive beside a semi on a highway road–either speed up and pass the truck or slow down and fall in behind it.

If traveling on a freeway and you’re forced to drive beside a large commercial vehicle, try to stay out of the “no-zones” shown in this graphic:

Source: udot.utah.gov

Many trucking companies have stickers on their fleets that remind motorists: “If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you.” This is sound advice to follow when sharing the roads with big rigs.

How Stinson Law Group Can Help Truck Accident Victims

Trucking-related accidents are more complex than standard fender benders due to local and federal regulations impacting victims’ rights. Because of this, it can be far more favorable for accident victims to work with a truck accident lawyer with experience handling these types of cases.

When you hire a personal injury lawyer at Stinson Law Group to take on your truck accident case, you get an ally who will go to battle on your behalf. You get an advocate who knows the laws, who understands the tactics used by large trucking companies and their insurers, and who will fight to make sure you get every penny you deserve.

Our firm conducts a full investigation into the facts, reviews all evidence, and speaks to every witness. Your tractor-trailer accident lawyer carefully calculates the damages you have incurred and how the accident has impacted your quality of life. We arrive at the negotiation table better prepared than our counterparts.

Have You Been in a Truck Accident in Montana or Wyoming?

If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in Montana or Wyoming due to the negligence of a truck driver or the company he works for, Stinson Law Group is here for you.

We have secured millions of dollars in settlements for clients because our lawyers bring decades of combined truck accident litigation experience to each and every case we handle. Our firm’s Laurence W. Stinson is recognized as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in the United States, which means we’ll take your case all the way to trial if needed.

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