Curtis Wesley Lyons injured after Walmart truck burst into flames following crash
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – Curtis Wesley Lyons was injured after the Walmart semi-truck he was driving crashed and burst into flames on the shoulder of I-77 near Charlotte, North Carolina on August 16, 2022.
According to initial police reports, Lyons was driving a Walmart semi-truck carrying beef and produce when the truck unexpectedly went off the right shoulder of the northbound lane and struck a concrete barrier. The semi-truck was then engulfed in flames.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash. The truck driver was transported to a local hospital to treat life-threatening injuries. The driver was also cited by law enforcement for failing to maintain his lane.
Walmart released a statement about the crash, saying: “One of our trucks was involved in a one-vehicle accident… Our thoughts are with our associate as he is receiving medical attention and wish him a speedy recovery.”
The wreck resulted in a closure of northbound lanes on I-77 for several hours. No further information about the crash was immediately available.
Further investigation could reveal that this semi-truck accident may have been prevented.
At first glance, the cause of this accident may appear as a result of the semi-truck driver being distracted on the road. However, further investigation into this accident could reveal that Lyons’ semi-truck accident may have been caused by conditions outside his control. For instance, lane assistance technology may have caused the truck to swerve off the road. Additionally, in the fiery blaze that ensued, ill-protected fuel lines may have been to blame for the intensity of the burn.
Trucks are now equipped with driver-assist technology that keeps semi-trucks in lanes. Sometimes, this technology does not work, causing preventable accidents. Unfortunately, truck drivers have come to rely on driver assistance technology and, in many cases, rely on the technology too heavily. In some instances, truck drivers have been caught on in-cab videos watching movies on tablets while relying on technology to warn of impending danger.
However, trucking companies (including Walmart) must be aware of the importance of training their drivers on the dangers of relying on technology meant to merely assist drivers. If the semi-truck driver did not receive proper training on lane assist technology and that technology did fail, then Lyons may have a direct claim against Walmart for a failure to train its employees on these important issues.
A sudden tire failure may have caused this accident. Our firm is handling several accidents just like this for drivers severally injured after a steer axle tire failure caused their truck to roll off the shoulder of the road. Often these accidents play out exactly as this one did here. If an issue with the tire was the cause of this crash, Lyons’ may have a claim against the manufacturer of the tire for the injuries he sustained in this crash.
Additionally, Lyons may have a claim against the semi-truck manufacturer for the spontaneous combustion that followed the collision. When fuel tanks and lines are not adequately protected in the truck’s design, semi-trucks are at an increased risk of catching fire after hitting another car or, in this case, a concrete barrier. Only further investigation can reveal whether this semi-truck was at a heightened risk of catching fire due to a design defect.
Although it is impossible, at this time, to determine the cause of the accident, skilled attorneys experienced in accidents involving semi-trucks may be able to develop a legal strategy to analyze all possible avenues of recovery for Lyons. Like Walmart, our firm sends well wishes to Lyons and others impacted by this accident. Should any wrongdoing be revealed here, our firm offers comprehensive legal strategies to explore all possible avenues of remedy for those involved in accidents involving semi-trucks.
