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Can Bad Weather Increase My Chance of a Semi-Truck Accident?

Thunderstorms. Hurricanes. Ice and snow. Bad weather significantly impacts the conditions of the road and can make for some hazardous driving situations, no matter what kind of vehicle you are operating. From sedans and compact SUVs to minivans, large SUVs, and pickup trucks, so many elements of the weather can interfere with your ability to stay safe on the road.

Bad weather can include:

  • So much snowfall or rainfall that you cannot see the road or the cars in front of you.
  • So much ice on the road that you cannot control your vehicle, stay in your lane, slow down, or stop.
  • Such heavy wind that you cannot control your vehicle or stay in your lane.
  • So much fog that you cannot see the cars coming toward you or the car right in front of you.

While the above scenarios are dangerous when driving alongside standard cars, trucks, and SUVs, it is exponentially more perilous when driving in these conditions next to a semi-truck.

If bad weather sneaks up on you, and you find yourself driving on a highway or other road in dangerous conditions close to a semi-truck, take extra precautions to avoid an accident.

What to Do When Driving Through Heavy Rain

When driving through rain, especially a downpour, it’s essential to follow these steps:

1. Reduce Your Speed

Slow down when driving in heavy rain. Slowing down should be instinctual since heavy rain interferes with your ability to see clearly and drive confidently. However, not everyone automatically releases the gas when the rain starts pouring. Be sure you slow down to control your steering better and give yourself more time to react to other drivers. Driving at or close to the speed limit during heavy rain could lead to a loss of control and an accident with nearby vehicles, including semi-trucks.

2. Turn on Your Lights

If your car automatically turns lights on when powered up, you may assume your taillights are also activated. However, that is usually not the case. The majority of cars with daytime running lights (DRL) only turn the front headlights on during daytime hours. In bad weather, it may become dark enough for your sensors to activate your taillights, but it may not. To ensure total visibility, you may need to temporarily adjust your light settings to turn both the front and the back lights on. For those that require the lights to be turned on manually, be sure you turn your lights on so that you can better see the road and so others can better see you. Heavy rain is almost always accompanied by darkened skies, which can further hinder your ability to see what is ahead or around you. Without your lights on, a nearby semi-truck driver may not see you and could cause a dangerous accident.

3. Avoid Standing Water

Driving through standing or pooling water on a roadway can lead to hydroplaning and loss of vehicle control. And water starts pooling fast when rain pours quickly and heavily. Keep your eye out for big pockets of water, and avoid these areas if possible. If it is not possible and you have to drive through standing water, slow down significantly. Speed is a huge factor in hydroplaning, and even a foot of water can sweep your car away. If you lose control of your vehicle, you could slide into the path of a semi-truck or into a semi-truck itself, resulting in a severe accident.

4. Pull Over and Wait

The smartest thing you can do if you get caught in a downpour is to find a safe place to pull over and wait for the rain to stop, ideally a parking lot or other spacious area. If there is a threat of flash flooding, safely seek out higher ground, park your car, and find shelter indoors. Flash flooding occurs quickly and can be very dangerous. It’s best to get off the road sooner rather than later when it is downpouring and resume your journey when the weather calms.

What to Do When Driving on Ice or Through Snow

White big rig semi truck tractor with dry van semi trailer climb

While snow and ice are not regular issues in Middle Georgia, neither are unheard of here. Plus, Middle Georgia residents often travel to locations where it’s possible to share an icy or snowy road with a semi-truck. Follow these steps if you find yourself in such a situation:

1. Slow Down

Hitting a patch of ice at 10 miles an hour will yield very different results from hitting an ice patch at 20 miles an hour. When driving in snow, the rule of thumb is to reduce speeds by half and never exceed 45 miles an hour, even on the interstate. And while lowering speeds by half is suggested, you can drop your speed even further as an extra safety precaution.

2. Keep Your Wheel Straight and Your Driving Smooth

In other words, no jerky or sudden movements. One slight jerk of the wheel can cause your car to slip and slide into another car or, worse, a semi-truck. You can also find yourself sliding into oncoming traffic. A trick to keeping your driving as smooth and gentle as possible while driving on ice or snow is to drive as if you have a cup of boiling water in your lap that you do not want to spill.

3. Concentrate at All Times

Stay focused on the road at every point when driving on snow or ice. One little slip-up in focus can lead to a major slip on the road. If you’re sharing the road with a semi-truck, that lapse of concentration can result in a terrible accident.

4. Steer into the Skid

If you lose control of the vehicle and start to skid, take your foot off the brake pedal and steer into the skid. That means you should turn your wheel in whatever direction your back tires are moving. If your back tires are slipping to the right, gently turn your steering wheel to the right. Don’t overcorrect, make gentle movements. Once your tires regain traction on the ground, you can adjust your steering.

If you are ever driving in bad weather and experience a semi-truck accident, turn to the expert attorneys at Clark, Smith & Sizemore.

Poor driving conditions can often lead to tractor-trailer accidents. If you find yourself in an accident with a semi-truck, talk to our personal injury attorneys at Clark, Smith & Sizemore. We will thoroughly investigate your case and fiercely represent you in the fight for justice. Call us today for a free consultation: 478-254-5040.

Thank you for checking out part 5 of our 6-part series on semi-truck accidents. Stay tuned for our upcoming articles: