When it comes to sharing the road with a semi-truck, there are some facts you should be aware of to help prevent a semi-truck accident. Semi-trucks are difficult to accelerate, stop, turn, and maneuver due to their massive size and heavy weight. Some of the key things to keep in mind when driving near a semi-truck are their four major blind spots, as well as the main causes of semi-truck accidents. These causes include driver error, inadequate driver training, faulty equipment, loading issues, and bad weather or driving conditions. Always use precaution when driving near semi-trucks, being sure not to cut them off or ride in their blind spots.

Semi-Trucks Are Harder to Maneuver Than Many Realize

This one may seem like a no-brainer—all you have to do is look at a semi-truck and see that it cannot accelerate, stop, or turn in the same ways that regular vehicles do. However, many forget or often do not think about what it takes to maneuver a semi-truck.

To help put it into perspective, let’s compare the size and weight of an average Toyota Camry to those of a standard semi-truck with an unloaded and loaded trailer.

Average Measurements of a Toyota Camry

Full length: 16’
Width, including mirrors: 6’
Height: 4’9”
Gross weight: 3,400 lbs.

Average Measurements of a Semi-Truck

Full length: 70’
Width, without mirrors: 8’6”
Height: 13’6”
Gross weight: 35,000 lbs. (unloaded)
Gross weight: 80,000 lbs. (fully loaded)

A semi-tuck is more than 4 times longer, nearly 3 times taller, and more than 10 to 23 times heavier than a common, popular sedan. Accelerating, braking, or turning in a well-functioning Camry is much easier to achieve than it would be in a well-functioning tractor-trailer.

When drivers cut semi-trucks off, drive aggressively around them, or exhibit other bad driving habits when sharing the road with semi-trucks, the truck drivers are at a disadvantage because of just how large and heavy their machine is compared to other drivers’ vehicles. They cannot slow down or adjust their position on the road as quickly as the rest of us, which can lead to a semi-truck accident.

Semi-Trucks Have Four Major Blind Spots

Because of their size, semi-truck drivers are unable to see four distinct areas around their trucks:

20 feet in front of the cab (about the length of an average pickup truck)
30 feet behind the trailer (about the length of one and a half pickup trucks)
The left side of the truck from the cab to about halfway down the trailer in the first lane to the left
The right side of the truck from the cab to about halfway down the trailer in the first lane to the right, and from the front of the trailer down past the end of the trailer in the second lane to the right

When other drivers coast alongside a semi-truck, riding in any of these blind spots, there is a high likelihood that the truck driver is unaware of their presence, which could lead to a bad semi-truck accident if the truck driver thinks they are in the clear to speed up or change lanes.

There Are 5 Common Causes of a Semi-Truck Accident

Sometimes, the semi-truck driver is at fault. Sometimes, the other driver is at fault. And sometimes, a different factor leads to the wreck. Here are 10 common causes that have led to semi-truck accidents in the past:

Driver Error

It’s very possible for a semi-truck accident to occur if the driver behind the wheel of the semi-truck or the other vehicle is tired, erratic, distracted, impaired, or simply disobeying traffic laws. In fact, driver error is the leading cause of semi-truck accidents.

Inadequate Driver Training

Semi-truck drivers are required to undergo special training and obtain special licensing to operate these unique vehicles. Drivers must have, at minimum, a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Still, it’s also crucial for drivers to have both education and experience in operating a semi-truck. Unfortunately, with a growing shortage of trained, professional truck drivers to hire, there is increasing pressure for trucking companies to put less-experienced, inadequately trained drivers behind the wheels of their trucks. As a result, there is an increased risk of more semi-truck accidents on the road.

Faulty Equipment

There are a lot of parts that make up a semi-truck, from the engine to the brakes, tires, lights, mirrors, safety equipment, and more. If any of these or other components break or otherwise “go bad,” it could result in a dangerous semi-truck accident.

Loading Issues

In some cases, those loading the truck may do so in a way that leads to an accident once the semi-truck hits the road. Overloading a truck can cause imbalance in the trailer, and failing to secure the load in the trailer can lead to shifting loads that then can cause imbalance. Should a loading issue occur, physics may take over and result in a semi-truck accident that is out of either driver’s control.

Bad Weather or Road Conditions

Bad weather, such as heavy rainfall, icy roads, high winds, and heavy fog, can hinder a driver’s ability to see and maneuver properly on the road, which can result in a semi-truck accident. Even for the most experienced truck driver, a patch of ice or washed-out road can be enough to cause a major collision or accident.

If you or a loved one has experienced a semi-truck accident, let the attorneys at Clark, Smith & Sizemore fight for you.

Semi-truck accidents are terrible at best and fatal at worst. That’s why our semi-truck accident attorneys are available to help you navigate your case and receive the compensation your family deserves. 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 1 of our 6-part series on semi-truck accidents. Stay tuned for our upcoming articles:

Semi-Truck Accident Facts
Common Semi-Truck Accident Myths
Is a Semi-Truck Accident Considered a Personal Injury?
Common Types of Semi-Truck Accidents
Choosing a Semi-Truck Accident Attorney
Your 2025 Guide to Navigating a Semi-Truck Accident