Category: Truck Accidents

Four people died after a truck struck a cow in Henderson County in late July. The driver of the semi truck that struck the cow was a 49-year-old Mount Airy man. He was reportedly driving on Interstate 40 when he hit the cow, which had wandered into the roadway.

He lost control of his semi-trailer after he hit the cow, according to media reports, and then he swerved across the median into oncoming traffic. He died in the semi truck accident as did his 49-year-old passenger. The 18-wheeler reportedly rolled onto the median and slid into the westbound lanes, where it hit another tractor-trailer and a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Two of the people who were in the Trailblazer also died in the accident, and a third person in the Trailblazer was injured. The driver of the other tractor-trailer did not get hurt in the accident. The multi-car wreck resulted in the interstate being shut down until early the next morning.

The owner of the cow has not yet been located. Investigators say that charges may be possible against the owner of the cow if they could establish a string of negligent behavior regarding loose livestock.

The owner of the cow could face personal injury lawsuits if the people who were injured in the accident or the families of those killed decide to file them. Their lawsuits, if filed, could allege that their injuries would not have occurred if it wasn’t for the negligence of the owner of the cow, who failed to secure his or her livestock. A personal injury lawyer could represent these victims or the families of the deceased victims in such a claim, and the lawyer may determine whether or not the livestock owner has any prior citations for failing to secure his or her cattle in order to establish a history of negligent behavior.

Source: Mtairynews, “Mount Airy man killed after truck strikes cow“, Tom Joyce, August 12, 2013

Most drivers in Knoxville know that slight feeling of fear or anxiety when confronted with driving near a semi truck in certain situations. Because of how much larger semi trucks are than passenger cars, they can do some serious damage to smaller vehicles in accidents. A recent truck accident in Maryland shows one of the dangers these trucks can pose.

The accident occurred on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and ended with a 22-year-old woman’s car being pushed off the bridge and into the water below. At around 8:30 p.m., the woman drove onto the bridge and was hit by the semi truck. A railing is meant to keep cars from falling off the bridge, but the truck forced her car over the railing. The car dropped around 40 feet and into water that is six to eight feet deep below. An SUV was also involved in the accident.

The 22-year-old driver was able to escape from her car and found refuge on some nearby rocks. A nearby boater stayed with the woman until rescue workers could reach her. After being taken to shore, the woman was taken by helicopter to the Shock Trauma Center. While the woman’s injuries were serious, they are not believed to be life threatening. The bridge remained closed until engineers determined the accident hadn’t made the bridge unsafe.

This accident almost sounds like something out of a nightmare. While most drivers will never face a situation where they are forced over a bridge, people are injured in truck accidents every day. An attorney may be able to assist victims of truck accidents get the compensation they deserve for medical expenses, property damage and lost wages that may have resulted from an accident caused through another person’s negligence.

Source: Huffington Post, “Car plunges off Chesapeake Bay Bridge after collision with tractor-trailer“, Jean Marbella, July 20, 2013

In an effort to reduce the number of accidents caused by fatigued commercial drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has instituted a new set of rules. While the rules are aimed to keep the roads safe for all drivers, the financial strain they may cause makes them controversial. Drivers who are paid based on their mileage and the companies they work for stand to lose money based on these new industry standards.

According to the Department of Transportation, 13 percent of all bus and large truck fatalities are the result of drivers who have not had enough sleep. A serious truck accident is more likely to occur when a driver is on the road for more than 36 hours at a time. These new rules put restrictions on the number of hours a driver can work in a week and require rest breaks to help drivers stay alert while they are on the road.

There are three parts to the new provisions. Each driver must have a 34-hour off period every week. The block of time off must include two 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. periods. The maximum number of work hours per week has been reduced to 70 hours. Finally, drivers must take a half-hour break during their first eight-hours on the road.

With mandatory rest periods, semi-truck drivers should be more alert and less likely to be involved in preventable accidents. Those who are involved in accidents that involve commercial trucks are often seriously injured. In many of these cases, they injured person or their family members file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver or the trucking company. The assistance of an attorney who is experienced in settling accident claims can often result in a faster settlement.

Source: NPR, “New Rules Put Brakes On Truck Drivers’ Schedules“, June 30, 2013

The morning of June 23, a Tennessee state trooper stopped to assist with a vehicle fire on I-75 in Campbell County. The officer’s vehicle was legally parked on the shoulder of the interstate and the warning lights of the vehicle had been engaged. While the officer was still in his patrol vehicle, his car was struck by a tractor trailer.

The trooper was taken to UT Medical Center with a fractured rib, fractured vertebrae in his neck and unspecified injuries to his arm. He was treated and released. The driver of the semi truck also hit a tow truck that was on the scene providing assistance. The semi truck did not stop at the scene of the truck accident. The driver was arrested by deputies with the Sheriff’s Department further down the road at a service station.

The driver is now facing several criminal charges, including reckless endangerment, fleeing the scene of an accident and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was subsequently taken to Campbell County Jail. Police stated that they would continue to investigate the accident.

Regardless of the outcome of the criminal case, any driver who injures another through careless driving may be liable for damages that are caused. Any person who is found to have been driving under the influence will be conclusively presumed not to have been driving carefully. In this scenario, a personal injury attorney may be able to help injured parties recover for their medical bills, any lost wages, and pain and suffering. An attorney may be able to help take over negotiations to ensure that accident victims receive a fair settlement. In some cases, an attorney may also be able to take the case to trial to obtain a verdict.

Source: WATE, “State trooper injured after tractor trailer rams patrol car, flee scene“, June 23, 2013

An accident near Murfreesboro that involved several vehicles, including two semi trucks, and claimed two lives occurred at approximately 12:15 a.m. on June 13. Drivers on the stretch of Interstate 24 in Rutherford County were reportedly moving at a slower than usual speed when the complex crash occurred as there had been a previous accident. According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the truck accident occurred when the driver of one of the tractor trailers overturned as he tried to stop in time to avoid the slower vehicles.

The out-of-control truck then careened into about eight other vehicles, two of which immediately caught on fire. The driver and a passenger in one car were both killed, and sheriff’s deputies were able to pull two other people to safety. According to authorities, the two young people who died were en route to the Bonnaroo music festival.

There were five people injured in the fiery crash altogether, and the driver of the semi was uninjured as were six other people involved in the pileup. Police cited the semi driver for failure to exercise due care, and other charges are reportedly pending against him. Part of Interstate 24 remained closed during the morning rush hour while the scene was cleared.

The fact that this truck driver was cited could possibly mean that he was driving at either too high a rate of speed for the conditions or that he was distracted while driving, and he may face criminal charges due to the fatalities. An accident involving so many vehicles, including two large trucks, will need close examination as to cause and the damages that might be owed to the people injured and the families of those who died. An experienced personal injury attorney may be able to evaluate the details of the police investigation in order to discern a clearer picture of the events that transpired.

Source: WBKO, “2 killed in 10-vehicle crash near Murfressboro, TN“, Associated press, June 13, 2013

A cement truck slammed into a funeral procession in Tennessee, killing one woman. The truck accident took place on the afternoon of Saturday, April 13 in South Memphis where Shelby Drive meets Third Street.

Traffic was stopped in the area for a funeral procession. The driver of an approaching cement truck did not notice the stopped traffic in time to stop safely and lost control of the vehicle. The cement truck hit the back of a Nissan Maxima before falling on top of a Chevrolet Colorado. A woman inside of the Chevrolet died on the scene. She was 49 years old and had been taking part in the funeral procession. A witness reported that she was unresponsive immediately after the accident.

A man and his son were traveling inside the Nissan that was hit from behind. They managed to escape serious injury and were released from a local hospital. The man’s father remarked that the family felt lucky to have survived such a major accident. Cleanup from the accident was a challenging task because the cement truck spilled cement all over the road.

This accident is currently under investigation and no announcements have been made regarding possible charges for the driver of the cement truck. Accidents of this nature can leave victims with hefty bills. In cases with fatalities, families can suddenly find themselves dealing with unexpected funeral expenses. Victims and their families sometimes seek the help of an attorney to sort out the possibilities regarding a settlement to help ease the financial burden associated with a truck accident. An investigation might uncover circumstances that caused or contributed to an accident such as driver fatigue or negligence.

Source: WMCTV, “Cement truck crashes into funeral procession, kills woman,” Lauren Squires, April 13, 2013

According to a recent Australian study published in BMJ, long-haul truck drivers who consume caffeine are less likely to end up in an accident. While one of the researchers of the study states that truck drivers cannot rely on caffeine only to prevent a truck accident, it may be a part of the larger picture. This indicates the importance of Tennessee truck drivers remaining cautious and following the rules of the road.

The study looked at two sets of long-haul drivers who drove tractor units with one, two or three trailers. The group who had been in an accident in the last 12 months numbered 530 drivers and those who had not numbered 517. The researchers interviewed both sets of drivers and looked at age, health, driving experience and caffeine consumption, along with numerous other factors. After making adjustments to take these issues into account, it appeared that those who consume caffeinated substances are 63 percent less likely to end up in an accident. 

Long-haul drivers who use caffeine to stay awake are more alert, but this is only a short-term solution. Drivers will still need to get appropriate amounts of sleep to maintain alertness and their overall health, but drinking caffeinated beverages may be helpful.

Long-haul truckers are often behind the wheel for extended periods of time, and they carry enormous cargo. It is essential that they stay alert and aware of what is going on around them to prevent massive damage and injury in a collision. If someone has been in an accident caused by a long-haul trucker, they may want to consult a personal injury attorney to find out what their legal recourse is.

Source: New York Times, “Caffeine May Boost Driver Safety,” Nicholas Bakalar, March 21, 2013 

Crashes can terrify, paralyze and haunt victims who have had to go through such trauma. At times, it is possible to receive compensation for the injuries or effects a Tennessean suffers after they survive a crash. In the case of a young foreign exchange student, just that happened.

The crash occurred in October of 2011 and earlier this year it was reported that the young girl who was in the vehicle when a truck crashed into it would receive recompense in two different forms. One chunk of her compensation, $8,000, is said to be going to her schooling here in the states while the rest of the $25,000 award will be put into an account which she can have access to once she is 18 years of age.

The young girl was 14 years old at the time of the collision. She was leaving the airport after flying to into the United States for the first time. A Japanese exchange student, she was on her way to a Seventh-day Adventist boarding school in Tennessee. A truck reportedly jackknifed, causing another car to crash into the vehicle that she and a retired teacher of her school were in. The retired teacher unfortunately lost his life and the young girl suffered injuries that were non-life threatening.

Car accidents can affect anyone of any age, but it can be especially traumatizing for a young child who is in an unknown country. For those Tennessee residents who have been involved in a similar accident or who are continuing to suffer from a crash, working with an attorney could help to be granted an award similar to in this situation. While it may not be able to make up for all of the pain and suffering, it could help ease the stress and allow for further medical attention.

Source: The Tennessean, “Survivor in fatal I-40 crash gets $25,000,” Bobby Allyn, Jan. 6, 2013

Tennessee residents have likely heard about the town in Texas that lost four veterans to a train crash last week. The crash is under investigation, however, officials have declared the train’s safety and warning signals to have been working and on when the parade float was crossing into the path of the train. This terrible accident has come at a time when the community and nation as a whole is remembering the services rendered for our safety and we are perhaps even more somber and grateful as this community grieves the loss of their loved ones.

Automobile accidents in general come as a shock to the families of those involved and can often bring up emotions of pain and confusion. For the people who are affected by this crash, moving forward is undoubtedly going to be difficult and painful. Of the 26 people aboard the float, four of them passed in the crash and at least 16 sustained different levels of injuries. One man, a 34-year-old sergeant, was able to shove his wife off of the moving float before the train crashed into it.

It’s often these kinds of tragic accidents that leave people feeling unsatisfied and hurt for so long. The recent information given from the investigation reveals that the signals had indeed begun to warn before the train arrived however the speed of the train was substantially fast, roughly 62 miles per hour.

Tennessee residents who have been involved in a similarly life-threatening automobile accident may understand the devastation and pain these kinds of crashes can cause. For those who have survived such accidents, or families of people who were in a fatal car accident, working with an attorney to potentially receive some compensation might help take some of the stress off you. While our thoughts go out to those lost in this and any other accident, knowing how to move forward could help someone begin to heal.

Source: npr.org, “Officials: Vets’ float crossed track after signals,” The Associated Press, Nov. 18, 2012

Secondary Source: cbsnews.com, “Texas community stunned after veterans parade train crash leaves four dead,” Anna Werner, Nov. 16, 2012

Car accidents often result in injuries or worse, fatalities – especially head-on collisions. For two drivers involved in a head-on collision earlier this week, this is not the case. One 22-year-old Tennessee woman is now facing charges regarding her driving into the opposite lane of traffic and causing a crash with a semi-truck early Tuesday morning.

Drivers going along Interstate 640 may have noticed the aftermath of the accident earlier on Tuesday of this week. It is reported that the woman driving into oncoming traffic had been going along the interstate at around 3:30 in the morning and close by Clinton Hwy. Luckily neither of the two drivers suffered any mentionable injuries and reportedly walked away safely. The young woman is facing multiple charges including, but not limited to DUI, reckless endangerment and one-way road violation. She was being held on a $2,000 bond as of Wednesday.

Her criminal charges could just be the beginning in this instance. While the truck driver didn’t sustain any serious injuries that we are aware of, should there be complications in the future, with their health or job, they may wish to seek out a civil case against the woman. Her alleged DUI status could make this case even more probable that, if she is conviced and should the other driver have any complications come up, they could make a claim against her.

Tennessee drivers who are out late at night or early morning would do well to be extra aware of the other drivers on the road as they may be driving home from an activity or event involving alcohol. This is true for any time of day, but being aware of your surroundings could help you in a dangerous situation. If you should find yourself in or have been involved in an accident similar to this one, but have sustained injuries, contacting an attorney could help you know your options and understand how you can move forward from this accident.

Source: wbir.com, “Drivers escape injury following wrong way crash on I-640,” Brian Barger, Oct. 9, 2012

• Our firm handles personal injury cases involving motor vehicle accidents. To learn more, visit the automobile accident page on our website.