Posted in Negligence,Pedestrian Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on January 8, 2016
Heavy Vehicles Banned on Stretch of Road in Nolensville
Construction is booming in Nolensville, but big trucks carrying building materials will have to find an alternate route after city officials banned vehicles weighing more than 7,000 pounds from traveling on one roadway in the area.
According to a report by wkrn.com, the ban was prompted due to big trucks cutting corners and destroying sidewalks—creating safety concerns for pedestrians.
Local business owners recently spent $40,000 installing a new parking lot and sidewalk only to see the sidewalk destroyed within a few days to big trucks running over it by cutting corners.
As a result of the damage, city officials voted Thursday night to ban all vehicles that weigh more than 7,000 pounds while empty from traveling on a stretch of Old Clovercroft Road that extends from Nolensville Road to Sam Donald Road. The full length of the stretch is less than one mile.
City officials hope the ban will preserve sidewalks in the area and protect the safety of pedestrians who use the sidewalks. In addition, a town engineer also said that the move is part of an effort to encourage pedestrian traffic in the area.
Sidewalk Safety Tips for Pedestrians
Sidewalks make pedestrians much safer when they need to travel long or short distances on foot—especially when their alternative is walking on the shoulder of the road or on the grass adjacent to the road. However, sidewalks can’t keep pedestrians completely safe on their own. In order for pedestrians to protect themselves, it’s important that they follow a few basic safety tips.
If you or a loved one regularly uses sidewalks in Middle Tennessee, do your best to follow these tips:
Walking while listening to loud music, carrying on conversations with others, or using a smartphone or other electronic device can put you at significant risk of being injured or struck by a vehicle. In fact, walking while distracted is becoming an epidemic that’s causing more and more pedestrians to be hurt or even killed every year. As with driving, it’s important to avoid distractions while traveling on foot.
Although sidewalks provide extra protection for pedestrians by being elevated from the road, vehicles can easily drive up onto sidewalks or even clip people who are walking too close to traffic—especially if the driver becomes momentarily distracted. To prevent being a victim of a negligent driver, put as much room between yourself and traffic as possible when walking on a sidewalk.
Injuries on sidewalks don’t always occur due to traffic or vehicles. In fact, many injuries occur due to hazards that present on the sidewalk itself. Stay away from sidewalks that are heavily chipped or have large amounts of broken concrete, as uneven and rough surfaces can present tripping hazards and may cause you to fall. Sidewalks should also be avoided when possible if they are iced over in the winter and haven’t been treated with salt or other grip-improving materials.
Drivers in Nashville should always be aware of the presence of pedestrians, but it’s also up to pedestrians to keep themselves safe on sidewalks and crosswalks as well. Walking on or near roadways that are filled with cars, trucks, and SUVs carries inherent risks, but following the tips above can help significantly reduce your risks of being injured in a pededstrian accident.
If you or someone you love was injured while walking in Middle Tennessee, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses. To find out how our Nashville pedestrian accident attorneys can fight for your rights to the money you deserve, contact Matt Hardin Law today by dialing (615) 200-1111 or filling out a free online consultation form.
