Without warning, windshield wipers suddenly stopped working during a significant rain storm that resulted in loosing all visual of interstate. Traffic had slowed to 45 MPH due to rain prior to the complete failure of windshield wiper transmission. As we were lowering driver and passenger windows to get a bearing of where we were in the interstate, we were sideswiped by a semi that caused significant damage to the entire drivers side of the car and a flat tire. This was a serious safety issue that was very close to causing a fatality and/or multi-car collision.