Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on June 15, 2015
West Memphis Car Accident on Interstate 55 Kills Two
A passenger vehicle collided with a semi-truck on Interstate 55 in West Memphis last Thursday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of two people in the vehicle.
A staff report by myfoxmemphis.com stated that the accident occurred around noon and that the impact of the collision claimed the life of a 2-year-old girl and the male driver of the vehicle. The driver of the semi-truck suffered only minor injuries and his truck was only minimally damaged during the accident.
A spokesperson with the West Memphis Fire Division said that a passenger in the front seat of the vehicle was removed from the wreckage and transported to Regional One Trauma Center for treatment, while the driver and the young girl were found unresponsive.
Arkansas State Police are currently investigating the cause of the accident. Traffic was slowed for several hours as police and emergency crews worked to clear the scene of debris, and all lanes of traffic were reopened by 2 p.m. Thursday.
Matt Hardin Law’s team of Memphis truck accident lawyers expresses our condolences to the family of the two victims who lost their lives in this tragic accident.
What Should You Do if You See an Accident on the Interstate?
Although it’s important to always be ready to take action if you’re involved in a car accident, it’s also important to know what to do to help victims if you see an accident occur nearby.
To safely assist any injured victims after car accidents, do your best to follow these tips:
Your own safety should always be your number one priority after an accident. Too often, witnesses and onlookers get seriously injured while attempting to assist car accident victims due to temporarily forgetting their surroundings and the dangers of oncoming traffic. Only pull over if you have a wide shoulder to park your car, and always move as far away from traffic as possible. In addition, you should never get out of your vehicle and cross multiple lanes of traffic when the roadway is congested.
As soon as you have safely stopped your vehicle, dial 911 and tell the dispatcher about the accident. Include as much information as possible, including how many vehicles were involved in the accident, where the accident occurred, the nearest mile marker, exit, or other landmark, and whether any emergency vehicles have already responded to the accident scene. Stay on the line with the dispatcher until help arrives to make sure they can find the accident scene quickly.
It’s important to never attempt to directly assist victims unless you’re trained in first aid and reaching the vehicles doesn’t put you in danger. However, if you can safely reach the victims, applying basic first aid techniques, like creating tourniquets to stop bleeding or CPR to help resuscitate victims who aren’t breathing. However, you should never move victims after car accidents, as that could cause serious damage if they suffered neck injuries. Wait for emergency medical responders to arrive to stabilize victims instead.
Being among the first witnesses or onlookers at the scene of a car accident can be a stressful experience—especially if you’ve never been in that situation before—but by acting quickly and decisively, you can help save the lives of the victims who were involved in the car accident.
However, even quick reactions and medical attention can’t always protect the health of victims. Matt Hardin Law has helped countless car accident victims get compensation for things like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our Memphis car accident attorneys have more than 20 years of experience fighting for the rights of injured victims, and we’ll fight for you, too.
Just dial (901) 201-4478 or complete our free and confidential online form today. It’s our goal to help you get the compensation you deserve after all you’ve been through.
