Double Fatal 1-81 Trucking Crash Kills Father and Son

Interstate 81 in Virginia is a busy and dangerous route frequented by many big rigs. We were saddened to read about a double fatal I-81 trucking crash this month.

According to media reports, a tractor-trailer truck came over a hill on I-81 and was unable to stop before hitting slowed down traffic at the foot of the hill.  The truck collided with a 2013 Mercedes-Benz.  The driver of the Mercedes was killed along with his 12-year-old son.

My thoughts are with those who lost two loved one in this terrible crash. Time and again, we read about big rigs failing to slow down in construction zones or other locations and causing terrible injuries and loss of life.

The severity of trucking accidents is often exacerbated by speed and weight of big rigs.  Due to the heavy load that trucks carry, their brakes are under a great deal of stress.

When a truck is traveling at a high rate of speed or downhill, it is hard for it to stop because of all of the momentum generated by its weight.  A passenger car can stop much faster than a truck.  Drivers of passenger cars must keep this in mind when driving near trucks.  Major truck routes like Interstate 81 can be dangerous places to drive and there are many tractor trailers that use this important north to south route.

Double Fatal I-81 Trucking Crash Points to Dangerous Interstate

Interstate 81 isn’t the only area in Virginia with a high concentration of truck traffic.  Right here in Norfolk, Virginia our port ships in hundreds of containers every day, and many of these containers enter and exit the port via trucks.  Drivers here in Norfolk must be mindful of the magnitude of damage caused by trucks that are involved in automobile accidents.

Accidents with trucks can sometimes be prevented if drivers exercise caution and do not drive erratically around trucks, as they’re not as agile and cannot stop nor turn as fast as standard automobiles.  See our blog on major causes of truck wrecks

If you or someone you know has been injured in an automobile accident involving a truck, the Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers urge whoever was involved to seek the proper medical care, and contact a trusted trucking attorney.