Todd Shipley had an unusual houseguest waiting for him when he came home recently: a heavy-duty truck carrying a trailer full of steel that had crashed off of Interstate 81 into his home.
Robert Blanton, the driver of the truck, reportedly lost control of the vehicle and drove over the shoulder of the road - subsequently hitting several trees and fences until crashing into Shipley's home.
As a result of the accident, State Rep. Tony Shipley (R-Kingsport), would like the Sullivan County Highway Department, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and the Job Corps to work in concert to build a $1.5 million barrier between Interstate 81 and the surrounding neighborhood.
After doing its own investigation, however, TDOT determined that a barrier on that stretch of road is not necessary because of the infrequency of accidents that take place there - the area is 75 percent less likely to have a truck accident than other highways around the state.
Tony Shipley told Timesnews.net that there should be further investigation into the matter.
"Just like any other bureaucracy, they have their rules and regulations, and they quote rules and regulations," he said. "I'm going to take it and revisit the issue and bring it up to them again. There's obviously a problem. Just to stand behind the rules and regulations and numbers doesn't answer the question. Just the fact that the truck parked itself into a home tells us we need to look at the rules and regulations that govern how we build barriers between truck traffic and our homes."
Dangers of Tractor-Trailer Accidents
This recent accident serves as a reminder of just how damaging accidents involving tractor-trailers can be. In addition to dangers posed to houses and other buildings along highways frequently traveled by large trucks, accidents often occur with smaller passenger vehicles sharing the roadways.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in a trucking accident, passenger vehicle occupants are 12 times more likely to die than the driver of the big rig involved in the accident. This is largely due to the disparity in weight and size between trucks and motor vehicles. Additionally, drivers of semi trailers may have difficulty seeing a smaller passenger car and need more space to come to a stop. This can cause catastrophic consequences when a heavy truck traveling at high speeds slams into a small passenger vehicle.
To avoid being involved in a deadly trucking accident, motorists should take care when sharing the road with a truck. Remember that semi's take wide turns and to give them extra space when turning. Also, avoid traveling in a trucker's blind spots to try to ensure that he or she can see your vehicle when changing lanes.
If you were injured in an accident involving a tractor-trailer, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Speak to a personal injury attorney knowledgeable in trucking accident matters to discuss your case and help your pursue your claim for compensation.
