Two tractor trailer accidents have closed lanes on Route 220 and I-81 this week. Both accidents occurred before 10 am on September 29, 2015. On 220, two trucks jack-knifed on the road, closing both northbound and southbound lanes. No one was injured in the accident.
On I-81, a tanker truck overturned and appears to be leaking diesel fuel from the side of the tank, although the driver has stated that the tank was empty. As of the time of this posting, The Roanoke Times is reporting a 3- mile back-up and both left lanes of Northbound I-81 and Southbound I-81 are closed in order to clean up the accident. Fortunately, no one was injured in this accident.
Driving in heavy rain and less than desirable road conditions is dangerous. Driving on highways that are overcrowded with tractor trailers in heavy rain can often times be deadly.
This morning’s I-81 truck accident occurred near mile marker 167. Botetourt county police have nicknamed that stretch of I-81 as ” Dead Man’s Curve” because of the numerous fatalities on that part of the interstate. A similar truck accident occurred at MM 164 in August fortunately with no fatalities.
Those drivers were lucky. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute, 3,602 people died as a result of truck crashes in 2013. Sixty-seven percent of those fatalities were occupants in passenger vehicles as compared to just thirteen percent of drivers of tractor trailers being killed in the crashes. Why the drastic difference?
For starters, the weight allowed by law for a fully loaded tractor-trailer is 80,000 pounds. The average weight of a passenger vehicle is 3,000-4,000 pounds. Imagine being slammed into at 70 mph by something that is 20 times larger than you!
But even more frightening is that on average across the United States, nearly 11 people die each day from wrongful death involving truck accidents. And 90 percent of these accidents occur on interstates, freeways and other major highways like 460 and 220.
What Are the Most Common Injuries from Trucking Accidents?
If a victim in a trucking accident lives through the crash, he or she will most likely suffer from injuries to the back, neck or spine because many of the accidents between trucks and passenger vehicles are rear-end collisions to the passenger vehicle.
The force of the impact will send the passengers of the vehicle into objects in front of them including air bags(if deployed), steering wheels, dashboards, other seats and windows. Being tossed about inside the vehicle can result in injury even with the seat belts on. Whiplash, broken bones, and lacerations often occur.
Because trucks weigh so much more than passenger vehicles (this includes large SUV’s), trucks need more time and distance to stop. This is why we see so many accidents occurring as a result of previously stopped traffic or slowing traffic on major highways and interstates.
Another injury that is becoming more prevalent in truck and car collisions are head injuries. Head injuries occur most often in T-bone and side impact accidents but can occur in rear and head on collisions as well. Head injuries include facial fractures, facial lacerations that leave permanent scarring and the most serious, TBI (traumatic Brain Injury) and concussion.
What Should I Do If I Have Been In A Truck Accident?
The first time a client calls, they almost always start with the same question, “I was injured in an accident and now I can’t pay my bills or take care of my family.” And my response to them is to always find out how they are feeling now. If you’ve been in an accident and are in pain, always go to the doctor and tell them everything that happened and about all of your pain. Do not leave anything out. Spinal injuries are sometimes only visible on MRI and will get a lot worse if left untreated.
If you have been injured in a truck accident and need a Roanoke Accident Lawyer, call Paul Thomson of The Thomson Law Firm at (540) 777-4900. I can help you get your life back to normal.
