Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law,Truck Wreck on December 14, 2015
Rush Hour Delayed on I-24 Monday Morning Due to Multiple Accidents
Traffic was backed up for several miles Monday morning after two separate accidents occurred on Interstate 24 in Nashville and Murfreesboro.
According to a report by wkrn.com, the first accident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on the on-ramp connecting Briley Parkway with I-24 when a semi-truck overturned and blocked the roadway. Emergency responders were able to reopen the road to traffic soon after the accident occurred, but weren’t able to return and remove the vehicle from the roadway until around 9 a.m.
The second accident occurred in the westbound lanes of I-24 in Rutherford County near the Sam Ridley Parkway exit and resulted in traffic backing up and moving slowly for more than 10 miles.
Two lanes of I-24 West in Rutherford County were closed as investigators worked to gather evidence and determined what caused the accident, but all lanes of traffic were cleared by 8 a.m.
Safety Tips for Driving in Heavy Traffic
If you commute to or from Nashville or another city in Middle Tennessee on a daily basis, you know that accidents and traffic delays are a common, if not everyday experience on the interstates and highways throughout the mid-state region. While backups and delays can be a major inconvenience, they are often caused by drivers whose negligence resulted in traffic accidents that range from minor fender benders to head-on collisions that cause life-threatening injuries.
To help reduce your chances of being involved in an auto accident while driving on a congested highway or interstate, do your best to follow these tips:
Whether you’re driving in stop-and-go traffic or driving in high-speed dense traffic, it’s important to always maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and any vehicles in front of you. Following too closely puts you at risk of rear-ending the car in front of you if the driver has to suddenly slow down or stop. By keeping a distance of several car lengths between your vehicle and other vehicles, you will have more time to react if you need to suddenly reduce your speed.
It’s important to drive at a steady speed and stay within the flow of traffic, but it’s also important to recognize that drivers use the left-hand lanes of the highway or interstate to pass other vehicles. Unless you’re attempting to overtake slower traffic, stay in the right-hand lanes and keep the left lanes open for drivers who temporarily need to increase their speed to pass other vehicles.
Safe driving at high speeds and in heavy traffic requires devoting your full attention to the roadway and the vehicles near your position. Glancing away from the road for even a split second is all it takes to rear-end the vehicle in front of you or drift into another lane, putting you and other drivers at risk of being involved in a serious accident. Never text and drive while behind the wheel, and avoid other distractions like talking on the phone, changing radio stations, or reaching for something in your glove box.
Thousands of drivers in Middle Tennessee use the main interstates and highways in the region to commute to and from work on a daily basis, but the frequent accidents that cause delays on those roadways goes to show that drivers should always be fully alert and cautious every time they get behind the wheel. Although it’s impossible to completely prevent accidents, following the tips above can help reduce your risks on your daily commute.
If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. The Nashville auto accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law have 20 years of experience helping injured victims like you, and we know what it takes to get the results you need. Dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation form to find out how we can help during this time.
