Those who drive commercial vehicles have a fairly large responsibility to themselves and others on the roadways. Because a slight miscalculation can result in truck accidents with severe consequences, it is important for these drivers to be aware of road conditions and structures they may potentially have difficulty clearing. Unfortunately, four people were recently sent to the hospital following a Tennessee crash involving a dump truck.
The incident happened at approximately 9:30 p.m. near a stretch of Tennessee undergoing construction. According to reports, a 51-year-old man was driving a dump truck owned by Summers-Taylor Inc. The bed on the truck was apparently raised when the man attempted — unsuccessfully — to clear an overpass.
After the bed of the truck struck the overpass, it reportedly detached from the truck, landing in lanes of traffic. A sedan driven by a 48-year-old woman allegedly struck it. Both drivers as well as two passengers in the sedan, a 50-year-old man and 14-year-old female, were transported to the hospital; the extent of their injuries is unclear. The road was closed for approximately four hours as a result of the crash, and the incident remains under investigation.
Medical treatment following an accident such as this is often expensive. In combination with lost wages during a period of recovery, many families can find themselves struggling financially. If victims of truck accidents can prove that their injuries were caused by negligence, they could receive a financial award to help protect their financial security. An attorney with experience with such cases can help them understand their options, including helping them identify all responsible parties, potentially including the driver and his or her employer if injuries were caused by a commercial vehicle.
Source: heraldcourier.com, “I-81 crash injures four, blocks road for hours“, Zach Irby, Aug. 8, 2017