Posted in Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law,Truck Wreck on January 7, 2016
1 Injured in Semi-Truck Accident on I-24 East Wednesday Night
A tractor-trailer crashed in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 24 Wednesday evening and ended up stuck inside a creek after driving over an embankment just off the roadway.
According to a report by Clarksville Now, the accident occurred just after 7 p.m. near mile marker 90.5 near Oak Grove, Kentucky—just a few miles north of Clarksville and Fort Campbell in Christian County.
After the truck ended up in the creek, it began to leak diesel into a nearby ditch, with around 75 gallons ultimately spilling from one of the truck’s tanks. The other tank was submerged in the creek.
The Christian County Rescue Squad responded to the accident and reported that one person was injured. Drivers were warned to be cautious in the area while driving near the accident scene as rescue crews worked to clear the wreckage and make the roadway safe for traffic.
No additional information about the accident has been released at this time.
4 Important Differences between Semi-Trucks and Passenger Vehicles
When you drive alongside a semi-truck, it’s hard to not notice the massive size difference between it and your vehicle. Even large passenger vehicles like full-size SUVs and extended cab trucks are dwarfed by semi-trucks. Because of their massive size and weight, semi-trucks are significantly different than passenger vehicles, both in their handling and the damage they can cause in accidents.
As a driver, here are four important facts to remember about semi-trucks when you’re driving on the highways and interstates in Middle Tennessee:
In the United States, the maximum legal weight for semi-trucks is 80,000 pounds. For comparison, the average non semi-truck in the United States weighs around 5,000 pounds—and many vehicles weigh much less than that. That massive weight difference means that trucks require a 40 percent longer distance to come to a complete stop than passenger vehicles.
In order for a truck to complete a turn, it needs a lot of room. A truck driver performing a U-turn needs 55 feet to accomplish the feat, and the average road in the United States is only 24 feet wide with lanes measuring 12 feet in width. The massive turn radius for trucks means that drivers should never turn alongside a truck, as they may collide with the truck’s trailer during the turn or after the turn is complete.
The average length of a semi-truck is the size of several passenger vehicles lined up together end-to-end. In addition, trucks also sit much higher on the road than passenger vehicles. That means truck drivers can see a great distance ahead of them, but may have trouble seeing vehicles in their blind spots.
Speaking of blind spots, drivers should be aware that truck drivers have four areas where their visibility of the roadway is extremely limited. Those areas include the space directly in front of the cab, the area directly underneath the driver’s side door, the area directly behind the back of the truck’s trailer, and the area just behind the passenger’s side door.
Understanding the major differences between trucks and passenger vehicles is a major part of being able to drive safely near them. While truck drivers are bound to the same rules of the road as all drivers, the vehicles they are steering aren’t nearly as responsive or quick to accelerate and slow down as passenger vehicles, including large trucks and SUVs. That’s why it’s vital for drivers to exercise caution and keep their distance from semi-trucks whenever possible.
If you or someone you love was injured in a truck accident caused by negligence, our Clarksville truck accident attorneys may be able to help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, vehicle repair costs, and other expenses. Get in touch with Matt Hardin Law today by dialing (931) 274-7788 or completing a free online consultation form.
