MARION COUNTY, West Virginia- One person is recovering from injuries following an accident on northbound I-79 in Marion County.
According to an official investigation, a passenger vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer and ultimately crashed into a cable barrier. The passenger vehicle was determined to be in the tractor-trailer’s blind spot and was hit by the semi.
Crews had to remove the driver’s side door of the passenger vehicle to free the driver. The driver’s injuries appeared to be minor, and the driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.
No other information was immediately available.
Thoughts on truck accidents and potential remedies available
From the details provided, it sounds like this accident could have been much, much worse. We are grateful there were no fatalities, and we send our best wishes to the victim for a speedy recovery. While the story indicates that an official investigation has already been conducted, our firm always advocates for a thorough, independent investigation to ensure every opportunity for the victim and/or their loved ones to recover is identified.
Due to their shape and sheer size, tractor-trailers inherently have larger blind spots than standard passenger vehicles. Drivers of these commercial vehicles must devote their full attention to the roadway and those around them and exercise extra caution before executing any change to their driving path. The investigation determined that the driver of the tractor-trailer in this crash failed to notice the victim’s vehicle in one of their blind spots, suggesting the truck driver may not have been paying adequate attention. If there is any evidence that the truck driver was engaged in distracted driving, the victim may be able to state a claim against the driver and his employer for negligence.
We also find that many truck drivers are unfortunately poorly trained, or not at all trained, from the start. Employers of truck drivers must ensure that their drivers receive the proper training on how to safely operate such large vehicles and test drivers’ ability to implement that training before they are sent out on the road. If our investigation finds that the employer here failed to train this driver properly, the victim may be able to state a claim against the employer for neglecting to train the employee.
We remain grateful that there were no fatalities and that the victim’s injuries were not life-threatening. Unfortunately, that does not mean the experience was less traumatic for the victim or their loved ones. They deserve answers and the opportunity to pursue every bit of relief owed to them from those responsible. Our thoughts are with the victim, and we wish them a quick recovery.
