Head-on collisions can be difficult to explain. Accident scenes in such accidents may offer no clues about why one vehicle, traveling on a well-marked and well-maintained road, suddenly swerves into the opposite lane and strikes an on-coming vehicle. In a recent accident near Huntsville, a west-bound pickup truck crossed into the east-bound and struck a semi-trailer truck that was traveling west.
The accident
According to a report filed by a trooper in the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a 1994 Nissan pickup was traveling west on Highway 63 when it inexplicably crossed the centerline and collided with a semitrailer truck heading east. The collision was described as “a near head-on collision. The Nissan pickup truck spun around and stopped in the west bound lane of the highway. The semi spun off the road and came to rest against an embankment. Its trailer separated from the tractor as the vehicle stopped.
A third vehicle was then embroiled in the accident. An ambulance struck debris in the roadway and was clipped by the Nissan pickup. The ambulance driver was able to bring his vehicle to a stop without further damage or injury.
The driver of the pickup was trapped in his vehicle and was ultimately extricated by the Scott County rescue squad. After being pulled from his vehicle, the driver was airlifted to University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. His injuries were unknown when the initial reports were released. The driver of the semi was also injured, but his status is presently unknown. Criminal charges are apparently pending, but no details have been released.
What next?
Anyone who has suffered an injury or lost a loved one in a similar accident may wish to pursue a claim for damages against the negligent party or parties. A consultation with a knowledgeable accident attorney could be very helpful. A capable lawyer can evaluate the evidence, suggest legal strategies that would support a claim, and provide an estimate of the likelihood of recovering damages for medical expenses, loss of present and future income, and pain and suffering.
