Snowstorm Cripples East Tennessee
It has been a busy twenty-four hours for tow truck drivers in the area as a major snowstorm has dumped several inches of snow across East Tennessee. Tennesseans who have been forced to brave the roads during the storm have discovered that the low temperatures, dipping down into the teens in most areas, have also caused the roads to become icy and extremely slick in many areas. Not surprisingly, this has lead to a confluence of automobile accidents in Knox County, Sevier County, Blount County, Cocke County, and surrounding areas.
According to the article linked above, a major mistake that many drivers make when driving in icy conditions is overcompensating or over-correcting when their car happens to slide or hit an icy patch. Sudden or significant maneuvers in such conditions can cause the car to spin out of control or become impossible to steer, at which point the driver simply has to hold on and pray that he or she somehow manages to avoid colliding with another car or some other dangerous object such as a tree or light pole.
Although snowy weather does make the roads more difficult to navigate, it does not excuse negligent driving. In fact, such weather conditions place the burden on Tennessee motorists to drive accordingly, and failure to do so may render them liable in a personal injury lawsuit should their negligent driving cause injury to other Tennesseans on the roadways. In snowy conditions, driving at or below the speed limit can constitute negligence if the weather dictates that drivers should drive more slowly. Further, such conditions may dictate that drivers with certain impairments or who are new or inexperienced drivers should not get behind the wheel at all. If you or a loved one has been injured in a weather-related accident, contact an East Tennessee personal injury attorney today to find out how to recover for your losses.
