A bus crash in Tennessee yesterday caused eight deaths and multiple injuries. The passenger bus was carrying a group of seniors on their way back from a religious conference.
Tennessee authorities said that the crash may have been caused when the bus blew a front tire, crossed an interstate median, clipped an SUV, and collided with a tractor trailer. Six people in the bus were killed, along with one of the occupants of the SUV and the tractor trailer driver. Fourteen others were injured, some critically, according to authorities.
This type of accident highlights the dangers of tire blowouts. Tire blowouts on trucks and commercial vehicles are very dangerous events on highways and on city streets. When a truck or commercial vehicle travels at a high speed and has a tire blowout serious collision usually follows- often resulting in a rollover, jack-knife crash, or multi-vehicle collision.
In these situations, it is important that a thorough investigation occurs to determine who was negligent for the crash. Vehicle maintenance records will need to be examined. Additionally, it is important to investigate the driver of the vehicle to ensure that the driver followed all of the required federal and state safety laws for taking breaks, getting enough rest, and that the driver was not incapacitated by alcohol or another substance at the time of the accident. The tire company will also need to be investigated to determine if the particular tire brand had been named in a recall and to find out what the company knew about the dangers of that particular type of tire.
As a driver, it is also important to know and understand what to do in the event a tire blowout occurs while you are driving. When a tire explodes at a high rate of speed, two things happen- the vehicle starts to slow down and the vehicle starts to pull strongly in one direction, depending on which tire burst.
In the event of a blowout, it is important to safely get your vehicle to the shoulder of the road. Avoid swerving into another lane or slowing your vehicle to a dangerously low speed. In order to do this, it is important that you keep pressure on the accelerator so your vehicle maintains a forward momentum. Additionally, it is important to steer in the opposite direction of where the vehicle is pulling- if the vehicle is pulling right, steer left.
Regular tire pressure checks are the best way to prevent blowouts and extend the life of your tires. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a tire blowout on a commercial vehicle, the attorneys at the Manchin Injury Law Group can provide you with representation to pursue a claim for your injuries.
Attorney Timothy Manchin established the Manchin Injury Law Group in 2011 after his law partner of more than 25 years became a West Virginia circuit court judge. His focus is on helping individual clients and entire families victimized by negligent acts.
We offer a free initial consultation at our office in the Manchin Professional Building — our home since 1983 — conveniently located in Fairmont.
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