Earlier this week on our Fayetteville personal injury law blog, we had mentioned that a recent truck accident resulted in a massive diesel fuel spill on the road. Reports did not indicate whether anyone was seriously injured in the crash, but it was a chilling reminder to the community of just how dangerous trucking accidents can be.
Two days after the 18-wheeler crash occurred, another serious truck accident happened not too far from Fayetteville. Police reported that a truck driver had failed to secure his load, and as a result, a log fell from the driver’s truck and crashed into a car’s windshield. Police said the driver of the passenger vehicle was lucky to be alive after the accident.
The accident occurred on Oct. 26. Police said that a truck was hauling a load of logs, but the logs were not properly secured. When the truck drove under a bridge, one of the logs fell off and crashed into the windshield of a passenger vehicle that had been traveling behind the truck. Fortunately, the log did not hit the driver of the vehicle. However, the incident did cause the driver’s windshield to shatter. The driver was injured by the glass and she was treated at a local hospital for her injuries.
After investigating the accident, police cited the truck driver for failing to secure the logs on his truck.
Although the truck driver was clearly responsible for the accident, insurance companies for trucking firms often try to minimize the amount of compensation that is paid out to truck accident victims. These companies often do what they can to protect a company from financial risk rather than to make sure victims receive the compensation they deserve for injuries, damages and medical expenses.
In these situations, it is extremely important accident victims make sure they have someone on their side to protect their rights and to hold trucking firms accountable for their negligence.
Source: Fayetteville Observer, “Pinehurst woman escapes serious injury when log falls off truck, crashes through windshield,” Nancy McCleary, Oct. 27, 2012
- Our firm provides counsel to those who have been injured in trucking accidents. To learn more about protecting your rights after a serious accident, please visit our North Carolina trucking accidents page.