Posted in Personal Injury,Truck Wreck on March 21, 2017
A tractor-trailer rolled over onto its side in the westbound lanes of Interstate 840 near Murfreesboro Monday night, causing a 56-year-old woman who was riding in the vehicle to suffer fatal injuries.
Per a report by WKRN.com, the crash occurred just before midnight near the Alamaville Road exit. The Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated the accident and confirmed that the woman died during the accident.
The THP also said that a 55-year-old man who was driving the truck was injured in the crash. An investigation of the accident revealed that the semi-truck left the roadway and drove over an embankment before it ended up inside a ravine near the interstate.
A spokesperson with the Rutherford County EMA says that it appears that the driver had a medical emergency causing him to lose control of the truck immediately before it exited the roadway.
The truck was carrying snack cakes when it crashed, causing several boxes to become scattered on the roadway. Emergency responders closed the roadway as they worked to clear the scene and move the boxes to another truck. The road was cleared just before noon on Tuesday.
4 Medical Conditions That Increase the Risk of Accidents
Safely driving a car, truck, or SUV requires quick reflexes, clear vision, and good judgment. It also requires the ability to focus and concentrate for long periods of time. Anything that impairs those abilities can significantly increase the risk of accidents. Unfortunately, many medical conditions can interfere with a person’s ability to safely and effectively operate a moving vehicle.
Anyone with these four medical conditions should avoid driving unless they’re given the all-clear from their doctors:
People who suffer from epilepsy and seizures are prone to losing conscious and motor control sporadically. Whether their seizures happen once a day, once a week, once a month, or even once a year, it’s important that they exercise extreme caution with their condition. In some cases, people with epilepsy can control their conditions with medication, but others may be unable to do so.
Conditions that affect the brain can increase the risk of accidents. People with Alzheimer’s and dementia are more prone to being confused than other drivers, and that can lead to potentially deadly mistakes while they’re behind the wheel. And because these conditions are often progressive, people who suffer from these diseases may experience rapid deterioration in their driving abilities.
Like epilepsy, people with a history of strokes or heart attacks may be at risk of suddenly losing consciousness while they’re behind the wheel. While most people with strokes and heart attacks don’t have any restrictions on their driving abilities, it’s important to weigh the risks. People with a long history of these conditions should consult their doctors before getting behind the wheel, as they can happen without warning and put themselves, their passengers, and other motorists at risk.
Drivers who are near-sighted are required to wear glasses or contact lenses while they’re operating their vehicles. But other eye conditions can significantly impair vision in a way that isn’t correctable. Glaucoma, macular degeneration, severe myopia, night blindness, and cataracts can all interfere with a driver’s ability to safely maneuver their vehicle on roadways and around other cars, trucks, and SUVs.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Murfreesboro truck accident lawyers know that anything that impairs motor skills, concentration, focus, vision, and consciousness can be disastrous when you’re behind the wheel of any vehicle, whether it’s a motorcycle or a semi-truck. It’s important to check with your doctor on a regular basis about your health and your ability to safely drive if you suffer from any condition that may interfere with the abilities listed above.
And if you were injured in an accident that was caused by a driver who wasn’t supposed to be on the road, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. Our legal team can investigate the crash and find out if the driver was negligent in any way. That includes looking for evidence of things like speeding, following too closely, driving while intoxicated or impaired, or driving against doctor’s orders.
We’ll use that evidence to pursue the maximum compensation for your accident-related expenses, including your medical bills and lost wages. Find out how we can assist you. Call us at (615) 600-4941 or complete a free online consultation form today.
