Over the span of one week, tractor-trailers were involved in two separate North Carolina car accidents that left one dead and four injured. In Wilbar, a 47-year-old rig driver dumped his load of lumber after his brakes burned out while rounding a downward curve, the Wilkes Journal-Patriot reports. For about four hours, N.C. 16 was shut to north and southbound traffic, and no injuries were reported. The driver was cited for improper brakes.
In Calhoun County, a pile-up involving three tractor-trailers and two passenger vehicles killed one Tennessee woman and sent three - including her 17-year-old daughter - to the hospital. The wreck began when one passenger vehicle collided with a large truck and both vehicles crossed the median and though cable barriers into oncoming traffic along I-26. The Times and Democrat reports that the crash dumped old batteries, sulfuric acid and spilled diesel along the highway.
Our North Carolina commercial trucking accident lawyers know that in 2008, 143 large trucks were involved in fatal North Carolina car accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2008, tractor-trailers were involved in 380,000 traffic accidents nationwide that left 90,000 people injured and more than 4,200 dead. In fact, tractor-trailers were responsible for one-in-nine traffic fatalities. Large trucks are more often involved in multi-vehicle fatal car accidents, and in three out of four crashes involving a rig, occupants of other vehicles were killed.
There are few simple safety tips drivers can implement when sharing road space with an 18-wheeler:
~ The bigger the vehicle, the more expansive the blind spot. For 18-wheelers especially that blind spot is pronounced along the passenger side. Drivers should NEVER attempt to pass a tractor-trailer on the right-hand side.
~ Before crossing into the lane in front of a tractor-trailer, make sure you can see road space between your car and the rig in your rear-view mirror. This should give the rig driver adequate time to stop without striking your vehicle in the event of an emergency. Keep in mind, the bigger - and heavier - a vehicle is, the more time it takes to for that vehicle to come to rest.
~ Don't tailgate a tractor-trailer. A big-rig driver can only see what is in their mirrors when it comes to side and rear views. Only when you can see mirrors along both sides of a tractor-trailer, are you visible to a big-rig driver.
The North Carolina trucking accident attorneys with Lee & Smith understand that being involved in a serious or fatal commercial trucking accident, can be physically, emotionally and financially devastating. We hope that if you are involved in a serious accident in the Spartanburg area or anywhere in the state, you will call us at 1-800-887-1965 or email our law offices to schedule a free consultation to discuss your rights.
