[[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"Answer Question","text":"Commercial trucks need more time and distance to stop because of their massive size and weight.  A fully-loaded tractor-trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, about 20 times the weight of a midsize SUV. This weight significantly affects braking, handling, and acceleration. These vehicles need about 200 feet to come to a complete stop when traveling at low highway speeds. Those stopping distances increase under adverse conditions, such as snow or road hazards like potholes.","@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#Answer"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"Answer Question1","text":"Tailgating is a common cause of truck accidents. Since semi-trucks take longer to stop, truckers must keep a greater distance from the vehicles ahead of them to avoid collisions. Besides tailgating, other causes of truck accidents include: Speeding; Weaving in and out of traffic; Driving under the influence; Distracted driving; Fatigued driving; Disobeying traffic signs and signals; Changing lanes without checking blind spots; Taking turns too fast; Failure to yield the right of way","@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#Answer1"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"Answer Question2","text":"Alabama\u2019s strict contributory negligence rule prohibits financial recovery after an accident if you share any percentage of fault for it. You can\u2019t receive compensation in a lawsuit if the jury determines you are partially responsible for your injury.  While contributory negligence applies to courts, it can also affect insurance claims. If the adjuster handling your claim discovers you\u2019re partly at fault for the accident, they can use that information to reduce the value of your case. That means negotiating a full and fair settlement will likely be challenging without the help of an experienced truck accident attorney.","@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#Answer2"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","text":"In Alabama, the\u00a0statute of limitations\u00a0gives you two years from the date of a truck accident to file a lawsuit against the liable parties. Once this time limit passes, you could lose your right to compensation.","name":"Answer Question3","@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#Answer3"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why Do Trucks Have Such a Long Stopping Distance?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#Answer"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#Question"},{"@type":"Question","name":"What If I Was Partially Responsible for the Accident?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#Answer2"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#Question1"},{"@type":"Question","name":"How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#Answer3"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#Question2"},{"@type":"Question","name":"What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#Answer1"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#Thing"}],"name":"What Is the Stopping Distance of a Semi-Truck?","@id":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#FAQPage"}],{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What Is the Stopping Distance of a Semi-Truck?","item":"https:\/\/www.gartlaninjurylaw.com\/blog\/stopping-distance-of-a-semi-truck\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]