Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury on March 14, 2017
Fatal Injuries Reported after Early Morning Accident on I-24
A man was struck by a vehicle near the median wall of Interstate 24 in Smyrna early Monday morning, causing him to suffer fatal injuries.
Per a report by WKRN.com, the crash occurred in the eastbound lanes of I-24 at around 3:30 a.m. The victim’s truck initially left the right side of the interstate for an unknown reason, causing him to overcorrect before it collided with the wall.
An investigation by the Tennessee Highway Patrol revealed that the man then exited his truck and walked to its passenger side when he was struck by a 2005 Cadillac that was driven by an 85-year-old man.
The impact of the collision caused the pickup truck driver to suffer fatal injuries, while the driver of the Cadillac was also injured. However, his condition is unknown. No other injuries were reported because of the crash.
Emergency responders closed all lanes of I-24 as they worked to treat the victims, investigate the crash, and clear the scene. The roadway was reopened to traffic by around 6:15 a.m.
Tips for Staying Safe after an Accident
The aftermath of an accident isn’t just confusing and stressful, but it can also be dangerous, especially if it happened on a high-speed roadway with high traffic volumes. Some auto accident victims are severely injured due to secondary crashes that occur in the seconds or minutes after their initial collisions happen. Knowing the right steps to take after an accident can help keep you safe.
After you’re involved in an accident, taking these precautions can help you avoid a secondary accident:
Use your cell phone or smartphone and call 911 as soon as possible. Give the dispatcher as much information about the crash as possible to hasten the response time. While you’re waiting, stay inside your vehicle unless you’re in immediate danger due to being in the path of oncoming traffic or fire.
If your vehicle ended up in a dangerous location after the accident but it’s still functioning, try to drive it to a safe location, such as the shoulder of the road or into a parking lot. Tennessee law prohibits drivers from being considered at-fault for accidents if they move their vehicles after accidents, and getting out of the way is the safest option. However, you shouldn’t move your vehicle if it’s dangerous to do so or if anyone in your vehicle was seriously injured.
If your crash happened at night, the most important thing you can do is to make sure you’re easily visible to other drivers. The best way to accomplish that is to keep your lights on and turn on your emergency flashing lights. You can also set up things like reflective triangles to further improve your visibility, but you should only do that if getting out of your vehicle won’t put you in danger.
Whether it’s from emergency responders at the scene or at a hospital or doctor’s office later, it’s vital that you seek medical treatment after the crash. The accident may have caused you to suffer internal injuries, which don’t always show up until hours, days, or even weeks after the crash occurs. Getting a full examination by a healthcare professional can rule out these complications.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Murfreesboro auto accident lawyers know that too many drivers and passengers are injured in secondary accidents that occur shortly after initial crashes. And in many cases, the injuries they suffer are even worse than the injuries they incurred initially. To protect yourself, call for help, stay in your vehicle while moving it out of harm’s way, make it as visible as possible, and get medical treatment.
If you or someone you know was injured in an auto accident—whether it was a single crash or a secondary crash—you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation if the driver was negligent. Our legal team can investigate your accident and determine whether the driver was careless and failed to uphold his or her duty to drive safely.
Find out how we can assist you by dialing (615) 600-4941 or completing a free online consultation form.
