Lenoir City Man Killed in Tractor Trailer Wreck
A fatal accident in Lenoir City left one man dead after his pickup truck was sandwiched between two tractor trailers. One tractor trailer rear-ended the pickup truck, and the force of the impact pushed the truck forward, into the rear of another tractor trailer. The three vehicles all caught fire, and the interstate was closed in the area for several hours following the accident. This tragic accident illustrates the dangers of rear-end collisions, especially those involving large trucks.
In some states, the trailing driver in a rear-end accident is automatically at fault. In Tennessee, there is no automatic determination of fault in rear-end collisions. However, there are laws that can be used to hold drivers accountable for their actions regardless of whether they were driving the lead car or the trailing vehicle. For example, it is illegal to follow the vehicle in front of you more closely than is reasonable and prudent based upon weather, traffic, and other road conditions. Tennessee law also requires drivers to pay close attention to driving, which makes distractions of all kinds illegal.
The common sense safe driving laws in Tennessee allow for fault to be assigned to the driver in the lead car, if their behavior was the reason for the accident. For example, sometimes, drivers may brake suddenly if they are distracted, or for some other reason that is not necessary. Under these circumstances, the driver of the trailing vehicle may not have time and space to avoid a collision, even if they are following at a safe distance. Tennessee law also recognizes that each party may be partly at fault in the accident. Under the state’s modified comparative negligence law, drivers who are up to forty nine percent at fault in an accident may recover for their damages. Drivers who are fifty percent or more at fault recover nothing.
Charges are pending in the Lenoir City accident, so it is likely that the driver of the trailing semi-truck was violating one or more rules of the road. Rear-end collisions of any kind can be devastating and even deadly, but when the crash involves a tractor trailer and a passenger vehicle, there is even greater potential for injury and loss. The causes of rear-end accidents are similar, regardless of the types of vehicles that are involved. Both passenger vehicles and tractor trailers can crash into the vehicle in front of them is they follow too closely behind it. Likewise, drivers of either type of vehicle can fail to notice that the vehicle in front of them has slowed or stopped if they are tired, distracted, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
If you have been injured or someone that you know has been killed in a rear-end collision involving a tractor trailer, you can protect your rights by speaking with an attorney right away. The knowledgeable Tennessee Trucking Accident Attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC will sit down with you to learn about your case, explain your options, and help you decide how to proceed. To learn more, call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your case. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
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