Almost caused another wreck

Been having a real bad string of luck getting through my rookie year. Last year I ran at least two weigh stations and took out a construction cone that struck a vehicle behind me that followed too close. My latest escapade will prolly take the cake.

I was on my way back pulling triple trailers (I run LTL) on my way back to my terminal. I saw traffic coming onto the interstate to the right, so seeing how I was clear on the hammer lane, I decided to heed my trainers advice that he gave me a few months back and practice common courtesy. I scooted over to the left and let her in. Traffic started piling up behind me cause the other folks assumed that the lady in the minivan would either speed up, or slow down so I could get back in my lane. Instead, she just matched my speed and sat right where my middle trailer was. I tried to speed up, and she did the same, then I slowed down, and like a mirror, she mimiked my move. This went on for at least a good two or three minutes, which seemed like an eternity when you want to get back in your lane, and have a lot of traffic bunching up behind you. So finally, I turned on my right turn signal to let her know I wanted back in. I saw her dropping her mobile so she could grip her wheel with both hands, she swerved hard right, over the rumble strip and I think she swiped the rail. Almost looked like she was losing control of her vehicle as she rode out the rest of her trip on the shoulder and off onto a nearby off-ramp. I never actually left my lane. But it must have spooked her enough to almost crash. Luckily for her, everyone was actually behind and not her. She surely would have been rear-ended as fast as her vehicle was slowing down. Not gonna lie, I didn't pull over to check on her. But is it technically my fault if she did crash?

 

No. Never did get a call from anyone. The thing is, I never left my lane. I just wanted to let her know I wanted back in. Usually that trick works great and people either speed up really fast to sneak by, or they slow down and flash me in.

 

Really would love to see some legal reference I could refer to. I thought the traffic merging on to the interstate has to yield to traffic that was already on. I was just trying to let people in. I was under the impression that is considered dangerous to be riding on a trucks blind side. Granted, her being on her phone didn't help her. like I said earlier, I never even left my lane and ran her off the roadway. So if you are in the right lane, and traffic is coming in, you actually have to yield to them?

 

Did not know that. Thanks.