Keeping a Proper Lookout
One of the best ways to avoid driving negligently is to always keep a proper lookout for other vehicles and obstacles in the road. This is especially true and especially difficult when the driver is pulling a trailer or another vehicle that expands the vehicle’s length considerably and makes it harder for the driver to judge what constitutes a safe driving maneuver. For example, an accident occurred Saturday night near the New Market area of Tennessee when a large box truck that was hauling another vehicle apparently pulled out in front of a pickup truck while trying to cross traffic, causing the pickup truck to strike the rear end of the box truck and causing the box truck to flip. One man involved in the wreck had to be flown to the hospital, but his injuries were not life-threatening.
Tennessee requires that drivers keep a proper lookout when driving their vehicle, since that is what a reasonably prudent driver would do. Drivers who are pulling trailers or hauling large loads are expected to know how that affects the dimensions of their vehicle and the ability to maneuver that vehicle through traffic. Likewise, drivers who are driving in busy areas or who are crossing traffic are expected to make sure the way is clear before they attempt to complete such a maneuver. Failure to abide by either of these precautions may result in an accident, with the driver being liable for negligence if a Tennessee personal injury lawsuit arises out of the wreck.
Failing to keep a proper lookout in areas such as intersections and interstate ramps can be both expensive and deadly. Wrecks that take place in these areas often result in serious injury to the parties involved and are likely to be multiple-car accidents. A driver who is found liable for negligence in such an accident may have to pay a large amount of compensatory damages to any party that was injured in the wreck as a result of the driver’s negligence. In addition, Tennessee is a comparative fault state, so even the driver who is not at fault for the wreck may be apportioned some percentage of liability if that driver’s failure to keep a proper lookout somehow contributed to an accident. The duty is thus imposed on all drivers in Tennessee to be aware of their surroundings and make driving decisions accordingly.
Source: http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=105571&catid=2
