Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Two Injured After Crash Causes Sign Collapse on I-77
A vehicle crash on Interstate 77 in Charlotte prompted an emergency response from police, medics, and firefighters. The serious accident happened in the southbound lanes of Interstate 77. A vehicle traveling southbound hit a sign support while traveling at a high rate of speed. The crash caused the sign to fall onto the roadway, hitting a different vehicle, seriously injuring the driver and passenger. Victims of the accident were transported to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in serious condition.
Extrication Was Necessary
When the large metal sign structure crashed down onto a moving vehicle, it trapped the occupant. Emergency crews arrived to find a huge heavy metal Interstate sign completely collapsed and crushing a vehicle on the road underneath. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to extricate the victim. In this case, extrication was extensive because it required crews to move an extremely heavy metal sign off the vehicle. Engine 12 arrived and provided immediate patient care. Ladder 20 and Rescue 10 arrived and worked together to free the driver from the wreckage.
What Caused the Accident?
According to a report from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), the accident happened when a drunk driver hit the Interstate sign. The accident occurred in the southbound lanes of Interstate 77 near Arrowhead Road. The sign supports are off the roadway, so it is unclear exactly how the crash happened. The force of the crash resulted in the collapse of the sign. It is not known whether charges were filed against the impaired driver. Impaired driving is a form of negligence, and the driver may be responsible for the injuries that resulted.
Was the Sign Structure in Good Condition?
Large sign structures such as this one are quite substantial and must be inspected and maintained on a regular basis. The fact that a single vehicle hitting one of the supports with enough force to knock it down suggests that there could have been integrity issues with the structure. NCDOT regularly inspects all highway signs and works closely with inspectors from the Structures Management Unit to ensure safety. They measure clearances every two years and perform a complete inspection every four to eight years.
Further Investigation Needed
This accident was very unusual and not a typical type of crash. In this accident, further investigation is necessary to determine exactly what happened and why the sign collapsed after the vehicle impact. A large sign structure should generally be able to handle a single vehicle impact without completely collapsing, as this sign did. However, the driver may ultimately be at fault because they caused the crash due to their own negligence. The victim may need to take action to seek compensation for their injuries and damages.
If you were hurt in an accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to money for your injuries. The law limits the time to file a claim, so you will want to speak to a qualified personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident. To learn more, contact our legal team at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 for 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, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. 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.ncdot.gov/Pages/default.aspx
https://www.wyff4.com/article/overhead-sign-falls-onto-car-charlotte/69598915
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