So... 9000 miles and... hit by a FedEx semi

[Hoagus]

In almost all circumstances, the merging lane has to yield to existing traffic. While it’s obviously polite (and occasionally necessary to avoid an accident) to let someone into the flow of traffic, it’s not always possible. Since we don’t know the complete circumstances of the OPs situation, laying blame on him is premature. That said, I’m also hoping that he didn’t use his new Maverick to play chicken with a merging semi, even if he was in the right!

In some states, you have a duty to avoid a collision if possible.

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[SLINGSHOT]

Totally agree with TheSEARCH. If you are driving without a dash cam, GET ONE. I watch car crash videos on YOUTUBE on my TV. It is amazing the number of people who believe they are right until they see a video. Then, they shut up and walk away.

 

[gte105u]

I tell the guys I manage at work all the time "you can be right all the way to failure". Agree with others don't really know the details to judge, but also agree that seeing a semi whose lane is ending and clearly looking to get over... Slow down and let it get over. But it doesn't excuse the hit and run for sure.

Glad everyone is ok. Drive safe.

 

[kcirevam]

That color is horrible. It's blends into the road and with you riding in the blind spot he probably never saw you.

 

[TMAC]

I am biased, but it Sounds to me like you tried to force the 40 ton vehicle off the road, with you 2 ton truck, rather than lifting the throttlefor a few seconds. A Semi weighs as much as 21 Mavericks. I drove semi's around San Francisco Bay Area for 25 years. People (unconsiously) "HATE" to take their place in line, behind a truck. Merging incidents with Semi's are the Highway Patrol's MOST common call , 4 wheel vehicles, lose over 90% of the cases, if they live...... DO NOT DRIVE BESIDE SEMI'S.... p.s. I Just turned over 1,000 miles on my Maverick Hybrid and NOTHING is wrong !!!

 

[TMAC]

That color is horrible. It's blends into the road and with you riding in the blind spot he probably never saw you.

I GUARANTEE, the Truck Driver knew, that little car would not get by !

 

[marpolsdofer]

In some states, you have a duty to avoid a collision if possible.

I am always like that. Right or wrong I am always looking around on how I or the other person could get in to accident and how it can be avoided. Don't care if it will be there other guys fault or not. Not perfect still do stupid still sometimes.
I had to explain this to my wife multiple times.
Last time was a good example. my wife driving on the interstate with me in the passenger. On the interstate passing a dump truck. The dump moves in to our lane and my wife just staring at it don't know what to do. I quickly look behind us and find ooo there is a car riding us. I yell at her to gun it and beat the dump as we was almost off the road.
She was mad and saying if we go off the road it's his fault.
I said and what be out the car and ruin our vacation. If you hit the break you get rear ended. If you stay where you are your in the ditch or worse. Only option is gun it so he sees us.

 

[Snax]

In some states, you have a duty to avoid a collision if possible.

Yes, I think that is generally true in most areas. We don't want people willfully ramming each other for making stupid mistakes, right? But when you can't reasonably avoid an accident, then the driver who violates the rules is entirely at fault.

So, don't get me wrong, I try to let other vehicles merge when it's safe to do so. But there are times when it's not. For example, if I'm driving at Interstate speeds (65-75 mph around here) with matching traffic beside me and behind me, I'm probably not going to slam on my brakes or swerve into the next lane to let someone merge at 45 MPH unless absolutely necessary to avoid an accident--because random evasive action can sometimes lead to ever worse outcomes for many more people. But I try to give trucks some extra latitude whenever possible. Big rigs are difficult to drive (limited visibility, slow to gain speed, slow to stop, difficult to maneuver, etc.), and I figure that they could use some extra latitude.

Back to the original point: the OP may or may not be at fault--either legally or by simply not being proactive/attentive/defensive. But the details aren't there, so I figured that people shouldn't jump to conclusions and blame him for an accident with a merging vehicle. Many variables to consider, and we don't have access to many of them.

 

[jtpc2021]

I just passed 900 miles and I was hit by a FedEx semi. The best thing is, he took off. Luckily someone took a pic of the trailer and got a trailer number so I will eventually find the driver. I was in the right lane, he was in curb lane. The curb lane ended he continued next to me and merged onto me with his 2 rear tiers of the tractor. The damage to the A pillar has me thinking its going to be totaled.

Prepare for the “you should have slowed down to let him over!” posts on here.

 

[NJ Pinelands]

Will that person lose their CDL because of hit and run?

He better lose all driving rights for the next five years, pay a hefty fine, have six months of community service, attend mandatory driving classes, never be able to drive anything that requires a Cdl, and worst of all be required to pay New Jersey level insurance rates for the rest of his life.

 

[Davyboys]

I am biased, but it Sounds to me like you tried to force the 40 ton vehicle off the road, with you 2 ton truck, rather than lifting the throttlefor a few seconds. A Semi weighs as much as 21 Mavericks.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

 

[Maverickman74]

As a seriously baddass driver. Who was literally as reckless (and awesome) as the Bandit when I was younger, who also currently holds a Class A, though I havent used it since 2014(1.5 yrs regional out 'n back, 1 year expedite OTR, 5 years local contruction equipment to job sites). Here is my take. Semi-driver(high turn over rate fedex driver) should have been watching his mirrors. When he went through trucking school(paid for by fedex, unlike myself (i financed and paid $5k)) they told him at every intersection he should be checking his mirrors(quick glance) 3 times per intersection. The same rule of thumb applies to lane changes. Situational awareness. He didnt check em and the impact is his fault.

However OP, you really, really should have been protectiing your 9000 mile new vehicle better than that. Semi drivers are only operation at about 8/10th max awareness(regular drivers is like 4-5/10th, and F1 is 10/10ths, walking and not falling on your face is 1/10th). Most of the time like everyone else they get tired and that drops to 5-6/10ths awareness. You are just driving but he or she is working and just trying to make it to the end of the day. If he was out of lane just stopping in his lane and waiting mean he is gonna let about a thousand cars pass him before anyone notices his turn signal. So if there is a slight opening turning the wheel and dipping a steer tire in your lane is common practice. At which point one would expect you to back of and accept your fate as being 70ft further back than you wanted to be at that moment. This is what would have saved your vehicle(and a whole lot of waiting for a replacement).

Since you failed to save your vehicle and give him the chance to get ahead, he still had a an opportunity to save your vehicle and at most his livelyhood or atleast his route(hes probably gonna keep his L's but get stuck as a yard dog as long as he has a clean record). He could have dipped his steer tire moved his tractor in your lane, then noticed your shiny new rare Maverick in his trailers path and stopped, first would come your horn, then his arm, then your hone then the horn behind you, then you would have had to back up about 2 ft(but you back up six prompting the horn behind you again). Then he would proceed and you would fume for a bit, he would get worked up aswell, but he gets worked up for atleast 50% of his day, it what keeps him alert.

But at the end of the day your shiny new Maverick would have stayed shiny, anger and frustration aside, you could continue on your merry way and later get to tell us all a story about you had a close call and how glad you are you got the super graphite ceramic turtle butt wax job because you had to drive behind som jackwagon fedex driver on methamphetamines for a half hour on a gritty road surface.

 

[Bbot]

She is totaled. On the bright side this happened just in time to order a 23 model

Order today should be built by 2025.

 

[TorqueWrenchUSA]

Bummer to hear about the accident. I live in Cincy as well, hoping this doesn't happen when I get mine.

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