Drivers in West Virginia may feel understandably on edge when driving near semitrucks and other large vehicles. After all, these types of motor vehicles can cause serious injuries in accidents, and fatigue among truck drivers is a common issue. However, it is not impossible for the driver of a passenger vehicle to cause a semitruck accident that leads to injuries.
According to police, at approximately 7:15 a.m., a man hauling a trailer behind his car caused an accident involving a semitruck, garbage truck and pickup truck. The car with the trailer was reportedly attempting to pass the garbage truck when he passed into the opposite lane of traffic, where a semitruck was traveling. The semitruck driver swerved to try and avoid hitting the car, but ended up clipping the car’s trailer before striking the garbage and pickup trucks.
The semitruck ended up crashing into an embankment near the road, and its driver was apparently the only one injured in the wreck. He suffered a broken leg and arm and had to be taken to an area hospital for treatment. It is not clear whether the driver accused of causing the accident will face any type of criminal charge.
A semitruck accident of any kind can be very severe because of the sheer size the vehicle involved. However, truck drivers are not always the ones at fault in these cases, and many still end up suffering serious injuries. Although workers’ compensation benefits can help these drivers address some of their lost wages and medical bills, holding negligent drivers accountable for their actions is also important, because compensation successfully achieved through personal injury claims can be essential for injury victims in West Virginia.
