5030
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 24,718
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
Obviously, you have not been in a wreck lately. Insurance companies will total a vehicle for a lot less damage that is apparent in the picture and I bet he has structural damage as well, like the motor ripped off the mounts and shoved back. Far as the following rule, he should have immediately increased the following distance to at least 3 times the 3 second rule. Wonder what the person's vehicle looks like that he rear ended? His insurance company will have to eat that as well.Sorry to hear about the truck, but I also don't buy that it's totaled, unless maybe airbags deployed. That's a $5k repair on a $25k truck; should be 100% repairable.
I don't care of you are motoring along and some bubba cuts in front of you and you butt pack him or her, it's still ACD. Why I prefer a 2 lane and be apprised I drove big trucks for over 40 years and I never rear ended anyone, winter. summer, rain, sleet, snow or dry roads because I always adhered to the 10 second following rule when driving a tractor trailer, 10 seconds for every 10 feet of vehicle in front of you.
I have had many butt heads cut in front of me and then have to stop but I always got off the fuel pedal and dripped back, with my right foot hovering over the brake pedal, anticipating what the butt head in front of me was going to do and remember air brakes act differently than hydraulic auto brakes, they take longer to activate. In closing, 2 years prior to retirement I was given the position of safety and compliance officer for the company I drove for so I got to see and investigate many accidents involving our trucks and in every one that was a rear ender, the butt packer was always cited with ASD, no matter what the accident involved.