Local Families Fall Victim to Fatal Tractor-Trailer Accident

Over the past several months, you’ve heard a lot about tractor trailer accidents and the serious damage they can do. Just four months ago, the headlines were about actor and comedian Tracy Morgan who was hit by a tractor-trailer while riding in a limo bus. This accident was devastating. Morgan is still recovering and the crash also claimed the life of his longtime friend and associate, James McNair.

Recently, a tractor-trailer accident involving a multi-vehicle crash claimed the lives of two local residents last Thursday, October 30^th. The tractor-trailer crashed into a Mt. Airy family’s van, causing a chain reaction that resulted in a total of eight people suffering injury. Two of the victims, a 9 year old and a 51 year old, were fatally injured during the wreck.

The incident remains under investigation, but this crash is just the latest example of how deadly tractor-trailer accidents are becoming a far too common occurrence on America’s roadways.

Data collected in 2012 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that fatal crashes involving large trucks and tractor-trailers are on the rise.  In 2012, 3,921 people were fatally injured in crashes involving large trucks, up 4% from the previous year. Occupants of other vehicles accounted for 73% of these fatalities, as opposed to only 18% for truck drivers.

Tractor-trailers are a necessary part of our roadways and help transport vital products across the country every day, but their size and weight can make them difficult to control. These trucks are a hazard that all motorists must be aware of, so here are a few tips to keep in mind the next time you find yourself driving alongside a large truck:

• When you find yourself driving behind a large truck, be mindful of the limited vision of the driver. With such a large vehicle, there are many significant blind-spots, or “No Zones” where the truck driver will be unable to see your car. If you cannot see the truck’s rear-view mirror, it means the truck driver cannot see you.
• Never attempt to pass a truck that is making a turn. Trucks of this size often must cut across lanes in order to successfully execute a turn, so stay out of their way and wait until the turn is complete before you attempt to pass.
• Be mindful of how long it takes to bring a tractor-trailer to a complete stop. An average tractor-trailer weighs around 80,000 pounds. That means that when traveling at a normal highway speed of approximately 65 miles per hour, it will take around 300 feet for a truck to achieve a complete stop.

Daggett Shuler Injury and Disability Lawyers successfully represent clients throughout the state of North Carolina in car accidents, tractor trailer accidents and other serious injury cases.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent or reckless truck driver, you need an experienced attorney on your side. Our team is dedicated to representing the rights of individuals injured by the negligent conduct of others.

At Daggett Shuler Injury & Disability lawyers, you can always speak with an attorney for FREE, and if we take your case, it is on a no-win, no-fee basis. Call 1-800-815-5500 and we will provide the answers you seek.

You can depend on us!