The so-called “trucker’s curve” has claimed another victim. On Friday, December 9, a semi-truck hauling lumber on I-24 crossed over the median and overturned onto I-40, spilling its cargo all over the road. The driver of the truck was trapped inside the vehicle and eventually rescued, and transported to the hospital in critical, but stable condition.
This area is known as the trucker’s curve because of its notoriety; several semi-truck accidents occur on that stretch of road every year. Earlier this year, three semi-trucks rolled over within a two-week period, prompting the Tennessee Department of Transportation to install flashing warning signs about the curve.
SEMI-TRUCK ROLLOVER ACCIDENTS
According to a study performed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), nearly half of semi-truck rollover accidents result from:
- failing to adjust speed to curves in the road
- the truck’s load
- brake failure
- road surface
- intersection conditions
Semi-trucks possess high centers of gravity, increasing the likelihood of overturning on curves. As seen in the incident above, an overturned semi-truck presents dangers not just for the driver, but for nearby drivers as well. Not only can the trailer overturn and smash nearby vehicles, but the cargo can spill out, causing even greater harm, especially if the cargo is hazardous.
Victims of semi-truck accidents often face life-threatening injuries that can cause permanent changes to a person’s life. If you suffer injury due to a truck driver or lose a loved one in a semi-truck accident, an attorney can help you recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, funeral costs and more.
Daniel 12:3, “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”