TDOT Truck Rear-ended by Tractor-Trailer, Driver Injured
Negligent driving in a construction zone created a sticky situation near Nashville Friday, after a tractor-trailer crashed into a TDOT truck that was carrying adhesive used to lay down roadway reflectors. Apparently the driver of the tractor-trailer had noticed the signs indicating that he needed to get over to the left lane because he was going through a construction zone and had done so. However, he thought the construction zone had ended before it actually had and got back over to the right-hand lane, at which point he crashed into the TDOT truck, pushing it into the median. The driver of the TDOT truck was taken to the hospital with injuries, but is expected to recover. Crews worked feverishly to remove the adhesive from the road, a task which was made difficult by freezing temperatures and the fact that the substance is made specifically to adhere to the road.
This situation illustrates the need for drivers to be especially aware when driving through construction zones, not only of where such zones start and stop but also where construction workers and vehicles are located throughout the construction zone. When in doubt, it is simply safer to remain in the appointed lane until one is completely sure he or she is free and clear of the construction zone. The driver of the TDOT truck was injured, but he got somewhat lucky in that he was actually sitting in a vehicle and not on foot like many workers in construction zones frequently are.
Whether on foot or sitting in a vehicle, construction workers are particularly vulnerable to dangers from negligent driving because they are generally focused on their work and are unprepared to make any attempt to avoid drivers speeding toward them. Many construction workers die each year due to negligent driving in construction zones. A driver who drives in a negligent manner through such a zone will not only pose a serious threat to the lives of workers in the area but also runs the risk of being found liable for any damages caused as a result of the negligent driving, such as medical expenses of the injured workers or possibly even a Tennessee wrongful death suit. Drivers need to realize that workers in such areas are extremely vulnerable to serious injury. Thus, they should drive in a careful and cautious manner to avoid accidents such as the one described above.
