Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law,Truck Wreck on April 15, 2015
1 Dead after Semi-Truck Collides with Car in Robertson County
An 18-year-old man died after his vehicle collided with a semi-truck in Robertson County, Tennessee, Tuesday morning.
According to a report by wkrn.com, the accident occurred around 7:15 a.m. on State Highway 49 in Coopertown, Tennessee, near Clarksville. The 18-year-old driver was behind the wheel of a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant and heading southbound when his vehicle crossed the center line of the road and ended up facing oncoming traffic.
Soon after crossing the center line, the Galant struck a semi-truck head-on driven by a 29-year-old man. The impact of the collision caused fatal injuries to the driver of the Galant, while the truck driver was uninjured in the collision.
A crash report of the accident stated that no alcohol was found in the 18-year-old man’s body, but it is currently unknown if he was under the influence of drugs or prescription medications. No charges have been filed as a result of the accident at this time.
The Clarksville truck accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law express our condolences to the family and friends of the young man who lost his life in this tragic accident.
What Makes Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
Big trucks are essential for modern commerce, but they also pose serious risks for other drivers and passengers on the road. Semi-trucks and tractor-trailers are much more dangerous in accidents than standard passenger vehicles for several reasons, including:
A standard passenger vehicle generally weighs between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds, while big trucks hauling trailers full of cargo can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. The sheer difference in weight means that trucks generate massive amounts of force during accidents—and most of the force is transferred to the objects they strike, including other vehicles. In addition, the extreme weight of big trucks makes them more difficult to slow down or stop, which means many truck accidents occur at high speeds.
In addition to outweighing passenger vehicles by many tons, big trucks are also physically much larger than passenger vehicles. Because of the huge size differences between passenger vehicles and semi-trucks, drivers and passengers of passenger vehicles are at risk of suffering much more severe injuries than those commonly seen in other types of traffic accidents. And because trucks sit high up off the road, drivers of sedans and other vehicles that are low to the ground are at risk of passing underneath truck trailers—which often has fatal consequences.
All it takes is a big truck drifting one foot to its left or right to force a smaller vehicle out of its lane or off the road completely. As a result of their weight and size—as well as their limited visibility for truck drivers—big trucks can inadvertently cause serious accidents after standard driving maneuvers like taking sharp turns or even changing lanes. Drivers of standard passenger vehicles are often left with no choice but to sharply turn their wheels to avoid colliding with big trucks, putting themselves and others around them at risk for serious injuries.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Clarksville truck accident lawyers know the devastation and suffering that often accompanies truck accidents. That’s why we strive to help victims and their loved ones get full compensation for things like medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle repair costs. We believe that innocent victims should never suffer financially for accidents that were caused by negligent truck drivers, truck companies, and truck owners.
If you or someone you love was injured in a truck accident, we’re ready to begin building your claim today. Just dial (615) 200-1111 or fill out a free online form to get in touch with our legal team.
