This past weekend, a Brownsville man was killed in a trucking accident in Tennessee. The man was pulled over on the side of the road near Interstate 40 near mile marker 66 and was standing outside of his vehicle when he was struck by a passing tractor-trailer, according to the Jackson Sun.
Tennessee Highway Patrol reports that the man was standing outside of his parked car in the right side emergency lane on the interstate with his flashers on when the accident happened. The driver of the tractor-trailer, which was headed eastbound, was traveling in the right lane when he struck the disabled vehicle and the vehicle’s owner. The man standing on the side of the road was killed in the collision. Neither of the tractor-trailer’s occupants were injured in the accident.
The frequency of these types of accidents is appalling. Our Tennessee trucking accident attorneys would like to warn all motorists about the dangers accompanying a disabled vehicle. You may think you’re safe once you’ve exited the lane of traffic and you’re pulled over on the side of the road, but you’d be wrong. This is actually a common scenario for fatal highway accidents.
Charges are pending on a driver that was involved in another incident that happened the same way. One person was killed in this accident and another was severely injured.
This accident happened as three people were walking along the side of the road after their vehicle ran out of gas on Interstate 40 near the Pellissippi Parkway, according to NBC 10. As the three were walking, a truck ran onto the shoulder of the road and struck two of the three walkers.
One of the victims died at the scene, one was taken to Parkwest Hospital for treatment and the third was not hit or injured. The driver of that truck is facing charges because he left the scene of the accident. He was later located and picked up a short time after on Walker Springs Road.
What to do if you’re vehicle becomes disabled:
-Always keep a cell phone with you so that you can contact the correct authorities right away if your car becomes disabled.
-Pull on the shoulder as far as you can.
-Don’t let your passengers wander near cars on the roadway.
-To warn other motorists turn on your hazard lights.
-Do not stand near your vehicle next to the traffic. Always keep to the opposite side.
-In most cases it is best policy to keep everyone in the vehicle and wearing seat belts.
-Tying a white cloth or t-shirt to your driver side door handle can help alert other drivers.
-Prepare a road safety kit to keep in your car at all times. The kit should include a torch, a reflective triangle, road safety signs, a traffic cone, a cell phone, jumper cables, a tow rope, a portable air compressor, a raincoat and a first aid kit.
If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a trucking accident in Tennessee, contact Hartsoe Law Firm, P.C. for a confidential appointment to discuss your rights with our Knoxville injury lawyers and Maryville accident attorneys. Call (877) 472-5657.
More Blog Entries:
Feds Tout Enforcement in Reduction of Tennessee Trucking Accidents, Tennessee Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, July 19, 2011
Tennessee Trucking Accident Illustrates Summer Dangers, Tennessee Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, July 11, 2011
Drivers Using Drugs Increase in Risks of Tennessee Trucking Accidents – NHTSA Investigates, Tennessee Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, July 8, 2011