Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Road debris caused a multi-vehicle accident that resulted in a fatality and several injuries. The accident happened on a busy North Carolina interstate during a busy morning commute. Investigators determined that a tire jack had fallen from a vehicle into the roadway. The debris led to a chain-reaction accident that left a bus driver dead. The accident happened on U.S. 52 in Albemarle, NC, located about 40 miles east of Charlotte.
How Did Debris Cause the Accident?
Police investigating the fatal accident found that a tire jack was dropped onto the roadway by a vehicle. A Jeep traveling southbound hit the tire jack, which caused the driver to lose control. The Jeep traveled into the northbound lanes, where it struck a Stanly County Public Transportation bus. A pickup truck traveling behind the bus then hit the bus from behind. The bus is described as a light transit vehicle (LTV).
The bus driver, a longtime employee, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Jeep sustained unspecified injuries and was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The police investigation found the driver of the vehicle that had lost the tire jack in the roadway. Luckily, the police located the driver who lost the tire jack, and he has been cited for failure to properly secure a load and for expired vehicle registration.
Common Types of Road Debris
Most road debris consists of vehicle parts or unsecured cargo or tools that fall off vehicles. Other types of debris include tree branches and animals. Improperly secured cargo is likely the most common type of road debris. Some examples include furniture, tools, building materials, machinery, unsecured tires, and more. For instance, a driver may attempt to transport something without having adequate tie-downs to secure it properly. Many times, people try to move items that are too large for their vehicle and cannot be adequately secured.
Road Debris Is Dangerous
The AAA Foundation of Traffic Safety issued a report late last year, focusing on the safety impact of road debris. The study found that road debris was a contributing factor in at least 319,000 accidents nationwide between 2018 and 2023. These crashes resulted in more than 32,000 injuries and 433 fatalities. Many times, drivers come upon road debris and quickly make dangerous maneuvers to try to avoid impact. This may result in crashing into other vehicles or losing control and going off the roadway or into a ditch. Sometimes, hitting debris can cause an accident, as happened in this particular accident.
If you or a loved one was seriously hurt in an accident that was not your fault, you may be owed money for your injuries. The negligent party may be responsible for paying for your damages, including such things as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. To learn how we can help with your case, contact us at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to request a free initial consultation.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury and boating accidents. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article316698274.html
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