North Carolina highways are busy thoroughfares shared by various types of vehicles, including tractor-trailers. These massive trucks are sometimes involved in accidents that result in serious injuries or, in worst cases, death to innocent victims. One such incident recently occurred when a truck driver apparently lost control, causing his truck and trailer to jackknife.
The tragedy occurred on a recent Friday afternoon on Interstate 95. The jackknifed tractor-trailer was reportedly blocking two southbound lanes of traffic on the highway. An oncoming pickup truck collided with the truck. Another tractor-trailer avoided crashing into the vehicles but veered off the road and hit a guardrail in the process.
The 70-year-old woman who was behind the wheel of the pickup was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Sadly, her 65-year-old husband who had been traveling in her vehicle as a passenger was killed in the accident. No other injuries were reported from the scene.
In North Carolina and other states, truck accidents caused by a jackknife or other driving malfunction may lead to serious injuries for other motorists. In cases where the truck driver is deemed negligent or reckless, the injured victim may be able to seek compensation for damages by filing a personal injury claim in court. For victims who succumb to their injuries, their immediate family members are entitled to act on their behalf to seek restitution. In both types of situations, it is advisable to first seek legal consultation before deciding how best to proceed in the pursuit of justice. An experienced personal injury lawyer would be able to investigate the details of an accident and help determine all possible sources of liability as well as what the potential maximum recovery for losses might be in an individual circumstance.
Source: wncn.com, “1 killed in I-95 crash in NC as multiple crashes reported“, Jan 22, 2016
