Posted in Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law,Truck Wreck on February 17, 2016
Critical Injuries Reported after Pickup Truck Rear-Ends Semi-Truck on I-65
The driver of a pickup truck suffered critical injuries after his vehicle collided with the rear of a semi-truck in the southbound lanes of Interstate 65 Tuesday night.
According to reports by WSMV.com and WKRN.com, the accident occurred around 8 p.m. near the Armory Drive exit in south Nashville and slowed traffic in the area to a crawl for several hours.
The impact of the collision caused the driver of the pickup truck to become trapped in his vehicle, and rescue crews had to cut into the wreckage in order to pull him to safety. He was then transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Southbound travel was reduced to one lane as police and investigators analyzed the accident scene and collected evidence to determine the cause of the collision. All lanes were reopened by midnight.
Tips for Staying Safe While Driving near Big Trucks
If you drive on a regular basis, it’s a guarantee that you will end up driving near a big truck—especially on the highways and interstates in Middle Tennessee. Whether it’s a semi-truck, a garbage truck, a flatbed truck, or any other type of large commercial vehicle, it’s important to remember that its weight and size means that it can be far more dangerous during an accident than a standard passenger vehicle.
To help increase your safety when driving near a big truck, do your best to follow these tips:
Being in control of huge vehicles and sitting high up on the road means that truck drivers often have huge blind spots where it can be difficult or impossible for them to see other vehicles. Those blind spots include the areas directly in front of the truck’s cabin, the area directly underneath the driver and passenger doors, and the area directly behind the truck’s trailer. If you can’t see the truck driver in his mirrors, he can’t see you, either.
Trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds—and slowing down or stopping that much weight requires a braking distance that’s significantly longer than the distance required by standard passenger vehicles. If you pass a truck, try to stay in adjacent lanes until you’ve put considerable distance between the truck and the back of your vehicle. Passing a truck and then stopping or slowing down—especially in a downhill stretch of roadway—can put you at risk of being rear-ended.
Although it’s important to keep a safe distance between your vehicle and all other vehicles on the roadway, it’s especially vital when you’re driving behind a truck. Big trucks can completely block your view of the road ahead, making it impossible for you to anticipate when the truck driver may put on his brakes due to slowing traffic, red lights, and other situations that require him to stop or slow down. Count off three seconds between the time the truck passes a landmark and your vehicle passes the same landmark to determine a safe following distance.
There are millions of trucks on the vast stretch of roadways in America, and thousands travel on the highways and interstates in Middle Tennessee every day. Following the tips listed above can help you reduce your risk of being involved in an accident when driving near a big truck or any oversized commercial vehicle. It’s also important to focus on standard safe driving behaviors regardless of your location relative to big trucks—and that means avoiding distractions, maintaining a safe speed, and never driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The Nashville truck accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law know that victims of truck accidents often suffer debilitating injuries that can put them out of work for weeks, months, and even years. If you were injured in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault, we can investigate the crash and build a strong claim for compensation on your behalf. To speak with our experienced and dedicated legal team, dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation form.
