Crash Caused by Vehicle Debris Leads to Major Settlement

April 10, 2014 (Press-News.org) When traveling on the roadway, even the most cautious drivers can be put in danger due to the negligence of others. Roadways are filled, not only with commuters, but also with vehicles traveling for work-related purposes.

A West Virginia city was sued, and later settled the lawsuit, brought after a motor vehicle accident occurred between a West Virginia resident and an employee of the City of Nitro, West Virginia. While the suit settled just months ago, the accident occurred in 2009.

The woman injured in the accident was driving her vehicle on Interstate 64. Immediately prior to the crash, a truck being driven by a city employee, changed lanes in front of the woman. Items fell out of the back of the truck and into the roadway, causing the woman to crash into a concrete median. The suit claimed that the man's failure to properly secure the items in the back of his truck amounted to a failure of his duty to safely operate the vehicle.

Due to the accident, the woman suffered "severe and debilitating physical injuries and pain; substantial medical expenses; mental anguish; property loss; permanent physical impairments and loss of enjoyment of life." Injuries like the ones the woman experienced are common with motor vehicle accidents and can be lasting.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that vehicle-related road debris causes a staggering amount of vehicle crashes annually in America. Most often, this "includes tire treads, garbage from waste haulers, and lumber and construction materials." The report further indicates that the majority of the 25,000 annual crashes caused by vehicle-related road debris can be prevented simple measures taken by motorists and truck drivers, including the proper securing of loads, and the reporting of degree already on the road.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety offers the following approaches to combating the issue of crashes caused by vehicle-related road debris:
- Increased education for motorists, related to securing loads properly, and reporting unsafe or unsecured loads.
-Increased education for motorists, aimed at decreasing defensive driving near large trucks, to avoid accidents caused by tire debris.
- Training drivers of commercial vehicles to regularly inspect tires and cargo.
- Targeted training for waste haulers, landscapers, and others who are most likely to have vehicle debris.
- Increased training for police concerning vehicle safety and load securement.
- Stricter laws and harsher punishments for those who violate cargo safety laws.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, due to another driver's negligent failure to properly secure cargo and debris, the assistance of an experienced attorney can guide you through the legal process, and help you get the recovery you deserve.

Article provided by Hoover Andrews, PLLC
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