Posted in Car Accident,Tennessee Accident Law on January 27, 2017
Fatality Reported after 3 Accidents Occur on I-24 Thursday Morning
The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported that three accidents occurred on Interstate 24 in Coffee County Thursday morning, resulting in the death of one person.
Per a report by WKRN.com, the first accident occurred at around 3 a.m. near mile marker 101 and between the exits for Highway 41 and Beechgrove. It’s unknown how many vehicles were involved in that accident.
A second accident occurred near the same location at around 4 a.m. causing at least one person to suffer injuries. Emergency responders closed the interstate in response to this accident. And at 5 a.m., a third accident occurred near the exit for Highway 41, causing a 23-year-old man to suffer fatal injuries.
The THP’s accident report indicates that the Manchester man was traveling west when he came upon the backed-up traffic due to the closed roadway. He was unable to slow his vehicle down upon approaching the standstill traffic jam, and it crashed into the back of a semi-truck, causing it to become lodged underneath the trailer.
Emergency responders reopened all westbound lanes of I-24 by around 8 a.m. Thursday.
Tips for Avoiding Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions can range from minor fender benders to more serious crashes that put drivers and passengers at risk for suffering disabling and life-threatening injuries. These types of accidents are dangerous whether your vehicle rear-ended another car, or your own vehicle was rear-ended by another car.
You can reduce your risks of rear-ending other drivers by:
If you’ve ever needed to slam on your brakes to slow down and stop when approaching a backup, there’s a good chance that you waited too late to begin reducing your speed. Always anticipate stopping when you’re approaching an intersection or traffic jam and begin reducing your speed ahead of time to prepare to come to a complete stop.
Following other vehicles too closely is one of the most common causes of rear-end collisions. Whether you’re in light or heavy traffic, you should always stay several car lengths behind the vehicle in front of you to give yourself plenty of time to react to any sudden slowdowns and your brakes plenty of time to reduce your vehicle’s speed.
Vehicles can travel the length of a football field in just five seconds—which is generally the same amount of time it takes to send or read a text message. When drivers take their eyes off the roadway to use their phones, they’re at a very high risk of a rear-end collision, especially when they’re driving on congested interstates or roadways with frequent traffic stops.
You can also reduce your risks of being rear-ended by other drivers by:
Your brake lights and turn signals convey your intentions to other drivers and can be extremely helpful when it comes to preventing accidents. If one or both of your brake lights are out—or if your turn signals don’t work—other drivers may fail to slow down when you’re pressing your brakes and preparing to turn. Check these lights regularly and replace broken or burnt-out bulbs immediately.
When you’re behind the wheel, you can only control your own driving behaviors and reactions. In dense traffic, each driver often relies on the braking and acceleration of the vehicles in front of them to dictate their own speed and braking activity. By smoothly accelerating and gradually braking, you’ll be less likely to get rear-ended by a driver who may have slow reaction times.
Some of the most common injuries that result from rear-end collisions include things like neck injuries (whiplash), back injuries, face and head injuries, and even traumatic brain injuries. Like all auto accidents, rear-end collisions can cause victims to suffer injuries that may require extensive medical treatment and hospitalization, and some victims may become partially or completely disabled and unable to work.
If you or someone you know was hurt in a rear-end collision that was caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation for things like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To find out how our legal team can assist you, just dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation. We have more than two decades of combined experience fighting for the rights of injured victims like you, and we know what it takes to win.
