Hydroplaning Causes Accident Involving Pickup and Four Trucks on I-81 in Botetourt County

Hydroplaning during wet conditions caused an accident involving four commercial trucks and a pickup in Botetourt County, Virginia, on Interstate 81 on November 12, 2012, 2012.

I have noted before how Interstate 81 sees a heavy amount of truck traffic. When things go wrong it can lead to multiple truck pile-ups.

Virginia state police reported hydroplaning caused the pileup, which involved four commercial trucks and a pickup truck hauling a trailer.

The accident occurred in the northbound lanes of I-81 close to mile marker 168.

According to police reports, the driver of the pickup lost control when it started to hydroplane. The pickup and the trailer it was hauling jackknifed.

A tractor trailer hit the pickup and two other tractor trailers hit the first tractor trailer. A fourth truck operated by UPS, ran off the road and overturned after the driver desperately tried to avoid the pileup.

The 59-year-old driver of the pickup from Hampton, Virginia, was injured in the accident. The driver of the UPS truck, James C. Allen, 59, of Waynesboro, Virginia, also was injured and was taken to a local hospital.

Mr. Allen may have grounds to make a claim against the insurance policy of the pick-up driver in this case.

Hydroplaning occurs when a car or truck slides uncontrollably on a wet road surface. As an experienced Virginia trucking accident injury attorney, I see a number of accidents caused by bad weather and hydroplaning. If you are driving in wet conditions, it’s important to lower your speed.

The Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA personal injury law firm, Cooper Hurley, handles automobile, truck, and motorcycle injuries as well as wrongful death, railroad injury cases and medical malpractice. John Cooper and Jim Hurley have over 40 years of combined experience in handling auto injury accident claims. Attorney John Cooper has been named to Virginia “Super Lawyers” since 2010. Cooper Hurley represents people hurt in accidents in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News and throughout VA, and always put the best interests of our clients first. The firm is recognized by other lawyers as “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, a national attorney rating service, for our top level of legal skill and highest ethical standards. Our motto is: “Your Injury. Our fight.” If you need help or advice about a serious injury, please call us at (757) 455 -0077 or contact us through this website.