Posted in Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law,Truck Wreck on September 15, 2015
Tractor-Trailer Accident Injures 2, Briefly Closes I-65 in Robertson County
A truck accident on Interstate 65 in Robertson County, Tennessee, involving two tractor-trailers Monday night injured both drivers and caused both lanes of southbound traffic to be closed for a short period of time.
According to a report by wkrn.com, the accident occurred around 11:30 p.m. near mile marker 110 north of the city of White House, Tennessee.
Police officers who responded to the accident scene told news crews that the accident occurred when one of the tractor trailers rear-ended the other. The impact of the collision and resulting debris caused emergency responders and police to close both lanes of traffic on the southbound side of I-65 in order to clear space for a LifeFlight helicopter.
According to police, one of the trucks was hauling raw food, which had to be cleaned up by responders while the lanes of traffic were closed and police investigated the accident scene.
As of Tuesday, there is no word on the condition of the truck drivers who were involved in this accident.
What are the Primary Causes of Truck Accidents?
Like all vehicle accidents, truck accidents can have a wide variety of causes. However, there are a handful of circumstances that lead to the vast of truck accidents, and it’s helpful for drivers to be aware of these circumstances in order to avoid causing truck accidents directly or indirectly:
Driving a truck requires high levels of concentration, alertness, and caution. Truck drivers who are impaired in any way due to sleep deprivation, fatigue, or the consumption of alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications aren’t fit to be behind the wheel of any vehicle, let alone ones that can weigh 80,000 pounds or more. That’s why it’s vital for all truck drivers to take regular breaks, stop driving when they reach their limits for the day, and avoid consuming anything that causes intoxication.
In addition to truck drivers following safety rules and regulations, trucking companies are also required to play by the rules as well. That means doing things like scheduling and carrying out routine maintenance, repairing or replacing broken or aging parts, and never overloading trucks. Failing to keep trucks in good working condition, or loading them beyond a level that’s considered safe can make it much more difficult for drivers to maneuver in traffic while also making it more likely that they lose control of the truck due to excess weight or unbalanced loads.
To legally operate a truck, drivers must have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). However, many companies forgo this requirement during the hiring process to keep costs down and pay lower wages. Drivers who aren’t properly trained and experienced are far more likely to cause serious accidents than drivers who have a CDL and have driven the minimum number of miles with an instructor or supervisor.
Not all truck accidents are caused by truck drivers or negligent trucking companies. Many are caused by drivers either directly or indirectly. Direct causes can include situations like causing a chain-reaction pileup or colliding with the truck itself, while indirect causes can include erratic driving that causes truck drivers to swerve, slam on their brakes, or change lanes suddenly in order to avoid striking another vehicle.
No matter what causes truck accidents, anyone who has ever been involved in one knows how devastating they can be. Because of their enormous weight and size, trucks are capable of generating significant amounts of force during accidents that’s transferred onto other drivers and passengers inside the other vehicles that are involved. Those forces can lead to serious and debilitating injuries that can greatly affect victims’ quality of life and ability to work.
At Matt Hardin Law, it’s our goal to help victims of truck accidents throughout the Volunteer State. If you were injured in a truck accident, get in touch with our Clarksville truck accident attorneys today. We have the experience and dedication you need to get full compensation. Just dial (931) 274-7788 or fill out a free online consultation form.
