Virginia Tractor-Trailer Crash Caused by Blowout
A tractor-trailer rig overturned on Interstate 81 in Edinburg, Virginia on December 7th after a front tire blew out as the vehicle was traveling northbound, causing the tractor-trailer to run off the road.
According to state police spokesman Sgt. F.L. “Les” Tyler, the tire blew out at mile market 279 at around 6:12 in the morning, causing the vehicle to veer off to the left, strike a guardrail and overturn into an embankment in the median. The 52-year-old driver, Carroll L. Lam Jr. of New Market, was not injured in the crash.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash, and the left northbound lane was closed as Virginia Department of Transportation repaired the guardrail. Trooper J.R. Pine, investigating officer at the crash, was assisted at the scene by Shenandoah County Fire and Rescue personnel and the Edinburg Police Department.
It is easy to see how this could have been a much more serious crash. Had the tractor-trailer been in the right-hand lane when the tire blew out, the vehicle could have struck a motorist in the left-bound lane as the tractor-trailer veered off toward the median, resulting in serious or even fatal injuries. This demonstrates how something even as seemingly minor as a blowout can lead to an accident when a big truck is involved.
What are the major causes of accidents involving tractor-trailer rigs?
Drunk driving
Excessive speed
Poor weather conditions
Truck driver fatigue or exhaustion
Mechanical malfunctions/brake failure
Improper storage of cargo
Across the United States there are strict state and federal regulations on both tractor-trailers that the drivers of these rigs, however it is common that these laws are violated, which often results in devastating accidents including multi-car pile-ups. Passengers of smaller vehicles typically suffer the worst injuries, as a small car or pickup truck is no match for a massive tractor-trailer.
When you are involved in an accident involving a big truck, it is important that you seek medical attention if you are injured, and contact a New York truck accident attorney at once. Large trucking firms often have their own team of lawyers which will be sent out to the scene of the accident immediately in order to attempt to reduce the trucking company’s liability.
At Brown Chiari, our New York truck accident lawyers work vigorously to protect the rights of those injured in accidents involving large trucks and commercial vehicles. If you have been injured in a tractor-trailer accident, contact us today for a free evaluation of your case.