Posted in Car Accident,Tennessee Accident Law on July 31, 2017
One person had to be extricated from a vehicle after seven cars were involved in a crash in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 24 in Montgomery County on Saturday morning.
Per a report by WSMV.com, the accident occurred at around 9:15 a.m. near mile marker 8 in Clarksville. Troopers with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and officers with the Clarksville Police Department were dispatched to the scene.
Emergency responders closed all eastbound lanes as they worked to investigate the crash and remove the seven damaged vehicles from the scene. It’s unknown what caused the accident.
Clarksville Now reports that traffic was diverted up the off-ramp at exit 8 to allow vehicles a chance to avoid the backup and accident scene via a detour on Rossview Road before re-entering I-24.
The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency says that no injuries were reported in the accident.
3 Common Causes of Multi-Vehicle Crashes
Multi-vehicle crashes and pile-ups can range from fender benders that involve just a few vehicles to catastrophic chain-reaction accidents that involve dozens of vehicles and cause multiple people to suffer critical and even life-threatening injuries. Although these types of accidents aren’t as common as single and two-vehicle crashes, they often result in drivers and passengers requiring emergency treatment or rescue—especially when vehicles are struck multiple times and from different angles.
Three of the most common causes of these types of accidents include:
Rain, ice, and snow can cause roads to become slick, increasing braking distance and reducing the control that drivers have over their vehicles. That can cause vehicles to hydroplane or spin out. When that happens in dense and heavy traffic, vehicles may strike or sideswipe other cars, trucks, and SUVs, causing chain-reaction accidents that involve several vehicles. Fog is also a major risk factor for multi-vehicle crashes, as reduced visibility can make it difficult or impossible for drivers to slow down or stop in time to avoid collisions.
Driving too fast—it’s a common factor in almost all types of auto accidents, and multi-vehicle crashes are no exception. When drivers exceed the speed limit of roads and the speed that other vehicles are traveling, they create serious hazards for themselves and other drivers. Speeding means that drivers have less time to react to the traffic flow and patterns of vehicles in front of them. In dense traffic, that means a single driver applying his or her brakes can result in a serious rear-end collision and pile-up several cars back.
Even in favorable weather and when drivers don’t speed, the risk of multi-vehicle pile-ups remains—especially when drivers follow other vehicles too closely. Experts recommend that drivers count off three seconds between the time the vehicle in front of them passes a landmark and the time their vehicle passes the same landmark to create a safe buffer. When drivers follow other cars too closely, they simply don’t have enough time to react when other drivers press their brakes or decelerate.
Other common causes of pile-up accidents include drivers who fail to change lanes when their lanes are about to end, drivers who rubberneck near accident scenes and fail to pay attention to the roadway, and drivers who speed through construction zones.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Clarksville auto accident lawyers know how dangerous multi-vehicle crashes can be. Drivers and passengers who are involved in these types of accidents are at risk of being struck more than once and from multiple directions, significantly increasing their risk of suffering critical, disabling, and fatal injuries.
Were you or a loved one hurt in a multi-vehicle accident that was caused by a careless driver? If so, it’s important that you speak with our legal team right away. We can begin collecting evidence and building a strong claim on your behalf. It’s our goal to protect your rights to maximum compensation. Don’t let the insurance company deny you the money you deserve—contact our Clarksville office by dialing (931) 274-7788 or complete a free online consultation form.
