Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on January 23, 2015
Pile-Up Wreck on I-24 Injures Three People
A serious pile-up accident on Interstate 24 near Clarksville, Tennessee, Wednesday evening injured three people.
According to a report by The Leaf-Chronicle, the accident occurred around 4:50 p.m. when a man driving a 2002 International semi-truck approached eastbound traffic that had slowed down due congestion. By the time he reached mile marker 13, he crashed into a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer driven by a woman from Springfield, Tennessee.
The impact of the collision caused the Trailblazer to move forward into a 2012 Ford Edge and a 2014 Freightliner semi-truck.
All of the collisions led to three serious injuries. The woman driving the Trailblazer suffered serious injuries in the crash and was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center via LifeFlight. The driver and passenger in the Ford Edge, a 61-year-old man and 59-year-old woman from Comstock, Wisconsin, were taken to Gateway Medical Center for treatment of their injuries as well.
Tennessee Highway Patrol stated that the driver of the 2002 semi-truck that caused the chain reaction pile-up will be charged with failure to exercise due care.
The Clarksville car accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law hope the victims of this serious pile-up recover from their injuries quickly.
How to Drive Safely in Heavy Traffic
Despite the slow, stop-and-go nature of heavy traffic, driving on congested interstates and highways can still be dangerous. To stay safe in your vehicle in heavy traffic, do your best to follow these tips:
Traffic jams are often caused by lane closures. It can be difficult to tell which lane is actually closed, but as soon as you’re able to tell, make it a priority to move over as soon as it’s safe to do so. Waiting too long can put you in a dangerous situation where you are forced to merge when you may not have enough room to do so safely.
Even if you are approaching an exit you plan on using, never drive on the shoulder to bypass stalled traffic. Not only does this put you at risk of being struck by any drivers that also need to use the shoulder of the road, but you also could hit someone who has left their vehicle momentarily. In addition to those dangers, driving on the shoulder for long stretches is illegal on Tennessee roadways and is punishable by fines.
If the traffic jam was caused by an accident, it can be tempting to slow down and see what happened. This is called rubbernecking and it can be very dangerous due to how distracting it is for drivers. Keep your eyes focused on the road ahead of you and watch for other drivers who may be distracted by the accident themselves. Defensive driving is important in heavy traffic—especially when driving near accident scenes.
Tailgating the vehicle in front of you won’t get you to your destination any quicker than driving safely. Always give the vehicles ahead of you plenty of clearance and stay a safe distance behind them in stop-and-go traffic. Giving them more space not only gives you more time to slow down in case they slam on their brakes, but it also lessens the chances of you being involved in a chain-reaction accident if you get hit from behind.
The Clarksville car accident lawyers at Matt Hardin Law have helped victims of countless types of auto accidents—and we know that traffic congestion is a leading cause of injuries for drivers and passengers. Slow speeds don’t necessarily mean safe speeds—and that’s why always paying attention can keep you and your family out of harm’s way.
If you were injured in an auto accident in a traffic jam or any other circumstances, don’t hesitate to contact our office to get the help you deserve. Just dial (615) 200-1111 or fill out a free form. We’re ready to fight for your rights.
