Posted in Tennessee Accident Law,Truck Wreck on October 29, 2015
Semi-Truck Crashes on I-440 East, Delays Traffic during Morning Rush Hour
A tractor-trailer crashed in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 440 in Nashville Thursday morning, causing major traffic backups that delayed commuters during rush hour.
According to a report by newschannel5.com, the accident occurred around 8 a.m. near mile marker 2 of I-440 and the 21st Avenue exit.
The cause of the crash is currently unknown, but traffic camera footage shows the tractor-trailer turned sideways and resting in the median of I-440 after it jackknifed while traveling in the eastbound lanes.
As a result of the accident, police closed the left lane of I-440 E as they worked to clear the scene, while the inside shoulder of westbound traffic was also closed due to the cab of the truck encroaching on space in that area of the roadway.
Emergency responders were able to clear the accident scene by 9 a.m., and traffic began moving smoothly again shortly after that time. Police are still investigating what caused the accident.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents can have serious consequences, both for the people who are directly affected by the accident everyone who uses the roadway where the accident occurred. When a tractor-trailer causes, it not only has the potential to cause severe injuries, but it can also close roadways for extended periods of time.
Semi-truck accidents are unpredictable, but there are a few common causes that are involved in the majority of these types of accidents, such as:
Truck drivers have a responsibility to practice safe driving behaviors that keep themselves and others on the roadway safe at all times. Unfortunately, many truck drivers violate that responsibility by taking part in negligent and dangerous behaviors, such as driving while intoxicated, driving while sleep-deprived or fatigued, driving aggressively, and driving while distracted.
Trucks frequently haul thousands of pounds of goods and raw materials throughout Tennessee and the United States. Because of the massive strain those goods and materials can put on trucks and their engines, it’s vital that they are loaded as evenly as possible. When a trucking company or distributor fails to load a truck with the weight distributed in a safe manner, the truck can become unstable and the driver may lose control, putting other drivers at serious risk.
Trucks can log several hundred-thousand miles in a single year, especially if they’re driving cross-country on a regular basis. Because of the huge amounts of miles trucks can rack up, it’s essential that they are serviced and repaired on a regular basis. If a truck doesn’t have essential parts like tires, brakes, wheels, and other equipment and components inspected, repaired, or replaced at regular intervals, those parts can fail while the truck is in motion, creating the potential for a deadly accident.
Driving a large tractor-trailer is a specialized skill that requires hours of instruction, training, and experience with a qualified teacher, as well as special licenses called CDLs. However, many trucking companies hire drivers who don’t have the correct licenses and don’t have the minimum experience required to safely drive a large truck. Inexperienced drivers are far more likely to cause accidents than drivers who have been properly trained.
As with all types of traffic accidents, truck accidents can have countless different causes. But at Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville truck accident attorneys have found that the scenarios above play a contributing factor in many truck accidents that occur throughout Middle Tennessee.
If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident caused by negligence, whether it was the fault of the driver, trucking company, or truck owner, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your accident-related expenses. Don’t wait to get the experienced legal representation you deserve. Contact our law firm today by dialing (615) 200-1111 or completing a free initial consultation form.
