Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Hit and Run by Semi Trailer

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by hgblondie, Jul 24, 2014.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Jul 24, 2014 #1
    hgblondie

    hgblondie Bobtail Member

    5
    9
    Jan 29, 2013
    0
    I am not a trucker, but when I was hit by a semi-trailer a year or so ago, I had a huge out-pouring from your community that was very heart-warming. My question today is the truck driver who hit us and then proceeded to flee the scene, during a snow storm on a mountain pass in Oregon, claims he did not know he hit us which is why kept going. Our car was completely demolished on all four sides. All the windows were busted out and we were left up there with snow streaming in for quite a while before someone spotted out snow covered car. We were unable to get out due the the crumpled vehicle and we were too hurt to move anyway. It took an hour for the ambulance to arrive and they had to cut open the door. I guess my question is, is it possible....even though we could see him heading right for us, but there was no place to go as he took up our entire lane and the side of the road had a huge snow burm....is it possible for a truck driver pulling an empty trailer to not know he hit something of that magnitude? The road was not bumpy and he did not have chains on. If you could see the photos of the car it would seem impossible to think he could not know, but I am not familiar with what one feels while driving a big rig. He did pull over briefly as I saw his brake lights when I turned but I turned back around assuming he was coming to check on us, but the people who stopped said he had left. When people see our car they cannot imagine anyone survived. We were so very lucky and I am thankful. I think perhaps he panicked as he did not have chains and we could have been killed for all he knew, and he just made a stupid rash decision. No one else was around. Thankfully he was caught 3 hours later. The trailer was pretty banged up. Could someone maybe tell me if it possible to not know? Thank you!
     
    hgblondie, Jul 24, 2014
    hgblondie, Jul 24, 2014
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Jul 24, 2014 #2
    Hurst

    Hurst Registered Member

    6,618
    12,266
    Aug 24, 2011
    Tampa, Fl
    0
    Depends,.. was this a head on? If the tractor (The truck itself) hit you, then yes,.. I agree. I dont see how he could not know. A minor fender bender,.. that could be mistaken for a bump in the road. But not the damage you describe.

    If it was just the trailer,.. then there is a 50/50 chance it was not noticed or understood. The fact that you saw brake lights after and it looked like he stopped or was going to stop leads me to believe that yes,.. he knew you were hit. How ever he chose the cowards way out, either his log was not up to date, driving out of hours, or the risk of points on his license destroying his livlihood,.. what ever the reason,.. he took the cowards way out.

    On behalf of decent and honest drivers out here, I am very sorry for your traumatic experience. I only hope you can forgive us and maybe find some compassion for us. We are not all like that and for most of us. We are just trying to make an honest living to support our families.

    Hurst
     
    Hurst, Jul 24, 2014
    Hurst, Jul 24, 2014
    #2
    wore out, OPUS 7, Y2K and 3 others Thank this.
  4. Jul 24, 2014 #3
    double yellow

    double yellow Road Train Member

    5,946
    10,066
    Aug 28, 2011
    State of Jefferson
    0
    double yellow, Jul 24, 2014
    double yellow, Jul 24, 2014
    #3
    Marksteven and hgblondie Thank this.
  5. Jul 24, 2014 #4
    wore out

    wore out Numbered Classic

    15,988
    193,556
    Jun 5, 2013
    CHASIN THE DEVIL'S HERD
    0
    To save a lot of typing I think Hurst said what I was thinking.
     
    wore out, Jul 24, 2014
    wore out, Jul 24, 2014
    #4
    hgblondie Thanks this.
  7. Jul 24, 2014 #5
    allniter

    allniter Medium Load Member

    622
    702
    Nov 15, 2008
    I 10 FL exit 70
    0
    I suppose if his trailier was "pretty banged up" he probably felt a bump or something. With snow falling he might not have seeen your car afterwards. You seeing brake lights from the truck doesnt necessarily mean he stopped, he might have touched is brakes to slow down a little or maybe something happened in front of him. There is no way to tell for sure. What was the drivers story? Were you reimbursed for the damage and injuries?
     
    allniter, Jul 24, 2014
    allniter, Jul 24, 2014
    #5
  8. Jul 24, 2014 #6
    hgblondie

    hgblondie Bobtail Member

    5
    9
    Jan 29, 2013
    0
    We have not received anything yet. I have not heard the driver's complete statement, but at his sentencing, he told the judge that he did not know he hit anything. His trailer was sideways completely in our lane and it was night-time. Our lights were on and there was no place else for us to go. I guess it's just hard to understand how something that severe could go unnoticed. Thank you for your insight. I appreciate the response. Here is one photo of the front of the car.
    . DSC_0977.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2014
    hgblondie, Jul 24, 2014
    hgblondie, Jul 24, 2014
    #6
    OPUS 7 and blairandgretchen Thank this.
  9. Jul 24, 2014 #7
    TomOfTx

    TomOfTx Road Train Member

    1,190
    1,406
    Jul 13, 2013
    Friendswood, TX
    0
    From my experience, yes, you would notice you have hit something and certainly see it if checking your mirrors frequently. I feel even the smallest things touch my truck, whether it is a pebble hitting the roof, a small branch scraping the side of the truck, or even one of the tires feeling like it may be flat.

    I hope you do well being compensated and did not have this occur with a truck that was uninsured or something
     
    TomOfTx, Jul 24, 2014
    TomOfTx, Jul 24, 2014
    #7
    hgblondie Thanks this.
  10. Jul 24, 2014 #8
    hgblondie

    hgblondie Bobtail Member

    5
    9
    Jan 29, 2013
    0
    I certainly to not blame all truck drivers for one person's mistake. I have always admired truckers and once took my kids cross country with a CB inside. it was fun listening to all the banter...and who doesn't love Jerry Reed! Thank you for your reply. I appreciate your opinion.
     
    hgblondie, Jul 24, 2014
    hgblondie, Jul 24, 2014
    #8
    OPUS 7, TomOfTx and littleduck Thank this.
  11. Jul 24, 2014 #9
    xlsdraw

    xlsdraw Road Train Member

    4,228
    7,665
    Nov 17, 2010
    Lake Alfred, Florida
    0
    Yes he knew. And his sliding trailer hitting your car could very well have saved HIS life. The impact stopped the slide and allowed him to regain control. Absolutely cowardly and ungrateful choice on his part. Glad ya'll survived.
     
    xlsdraw, Jul 24, 2014
    xlsdraw, Jul 24, 2014
    #9
    hgblondie and OPUS 7 Thank this.
  12. Jul 24, 2014 #10
    TomOfTx

    TomOfTx Road Train Member

    1,190
    1,406
    Jul 13, 2013
    Friendswood, TX
    0
    You are welcome. I hope each of you is doing well and have no permanent injuries.

    Safety First, Never Last.... Have a Future, Not a Past is the motto I stand by. Had the driver who hit you felt the same way, this accident would have never occurred. Now, he has a past....and no future. Being off the road is the best place for such a driver.
     
    TomOfTx, Jul 24, 2014
    TomOfTx, Jul 24, 2014
    #10
    HomeTownHauler, hgblondie, OPUS 7 and 1 other person Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 1 of 3