Posted in Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law,Truck Wreck on February 16, 2016
Tractor-Trailer Accident on Interstate 24 Injures 2 La Vergne Residents
A 38-year-old man and his son were injured after their disabled pickup truck was hit by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 24 Sunday evening.
According to a report by WSMV.com, the accident occurred just before 7 p.m. when the man, who is from La Vergne, Tennessee, was driving east on I-24 and lost control of his 1997 Ford Ranger pickup truck between mile markers 70 and 71 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. His truck slid on the snow and slush-covered roadway before crossing both lanes, striking a cable barrier, and coming to rest in the left lane of the interstate.
The impact of the collision caused the truck’s lights to fail. After the accident, the man and his 16-year-old son exited the truck. Soon after, a semi-truck traveling in the eastbound lanes of I-24 and driven by a 58-year-old man from Wisconsin crashed into the back of the Ford Ranger, which then struck the man and his son who were standing nearby.
Both the father and his son were transported to local hospitals to receive treatment for their injuries. The driver of the tractor-trailer was uninjured in the accident and said he was unable to see the disabled truck due to its lights being off at the time of the collision.
The accident is still under investigation.
How Can You Protect Yourself If Your Vehicle Becomes Disabled?
Whether it’s due to an accident, a flat tire, or engine troubles, almost everyone experiences at least one or two occasions where their vehicle stops working on the roadway. When that happens, the outcome can range from a minor inconvenience as you wait for a tow truck to a potentially dangerous situation where you may be just a few feet from high-speed traffic.
If your vehicle becomes stuck or disabled on a roadway for any reason, do your best to follow these tips from the National Safety Council to protect yourself and your family:
If you were involved in a minor accident without injuries, or if your vehicle is beginning to experience tire or engine trouble, you should pull over to a safe space immediately. Stopping on the shoulder or the side of the road and as far away from traffic as possible can help keep you safe until help arrives.
Accidents and car troubles can happen at any hour of the day, but when they happen at night or during times of low visibility, it’s vital that you make your vehicle as visible to other drivers as possible. That’s why you should always turn on your standard headlights as well as your emergency flashing lights. You can also turn on your interior lights to further illuminate your vehicle.
Although using your vehicle’s lights to alert other drivers to your presence can be an effective way of staying safe on the side of the road, some accidents and engine breakdowns can cause your car to lose all power—including its lights. Having an emergency kit in your vehicle that’s equipped with flares, reflective triangles, a flashlight, and other signaling tools can help you illuminate your vehicle even if its battery and lights stop working.
If you were involved in an accident that caused injuries or property damage, you must call 911 to report it to police and receive medical attention. If your vehicle is disabled for other reasons, stay inside it and call a tow truck or Tennessee’s highway emergency response contact number. Never attempt to change a flat tire or repair your engine if your vehicle is near traffic. Waiting inside your vehicle and getting it towed to a repair center is much safer than attempting any repairs on the side of the road.
A large number of accidents occur in Middle Tennessee every year when drivers and passengers are struck by other vehicles after their own vehicles become disabled due to accidents, flat tires, and engine breakdowns. Staying inside your vehicle, making it as visible as possible to other drivers, having an emergency kit on hand, and waiting for help to arrive are the best ways to keep your family safe during these potentially dangerous situations.
If you or someone you love was injured in a disabled vehicle accident caused by a negligent or careless driver in the mid-state area, you may be eligible to pursue a claim for compensation. The Nashville auto accident lawyers at Matt Hardin Law have two decades of experience building strong claims for victims like you. Contact us today by dialing (615) 200-1111 or completing a free online consultation form.
