On a recent Thursday, crews were sent to clean up a crash scene at which a truck that was hauling contaminated soil rolled over. The accident was a tragedy that followed a tire blowout that might have been preventable, but it claimed the life of a 35-year-old truck driver. In such incidents, there are typically questions about the condition of the tire that blew and whether anybody’s negligence might be to blame — in which case a wrongful death claim might follow.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the trucker lost control of the vehicle when the tire blew. The truck ran off the interstate and rolled over. Rescue workers reported that the dump truck ultimately came to a halt approximately 100 feet down the embankment. The driver was trapped inside the cab of the truck.
The highway had to be closed to allow rescue vehicles to get to the wreck. Sadly, the rescue became a retrieval because the driver had succumbed to fatal injuries before he could be saved. An investigation will likely determine whether the tire was defective or whether there was another reason for the blowout.
When lives are lost in such circumstances, the surviving family members sometimes choose to pursue financial relief to recover damages. Investigators may look at the tire manufacturers, the employer’s vehicle-maintenance routines or even the last person who replaced the tire that blew. An experienced Tennessee personal injury will determine whether there is a viable wrongful death claim. If grounds exist the attorney will provide the necessary support and guidance in pursuit of recovery of financial and emotional damages.
