Tow-Truck Drivers Rely on Other Motorists

I have spoken with many tow truck drivers who say they feel like they are putting their lives in the hands of strangers when they answer a call on a busy interstate such as I-70, I-40, and I-270. As a fellow motorist, do your part: keep a watch out for all traffic concerns, pay attention, do not text and drive and slow down.

I-70 is one of the busiest interstates in the Midwest and was also one of the first. I cannot tell you how many accident victims I have assisted as a result of traffic accidents on Interstate 70. Remarkably, I have had a number of clients who have been seriously injured or have lost loved ones when they were struck by another car or a semi-truck when their car or loved one’s car broke down on the side of I-70. I myself, have experienced a blowout in my own car in heavy truck traffic while on I-70—it was a scary experience. I chose to sacrifice a wheel and a rim and continued to drive on it until I got to an exit primarily because those client’s faces flashed into my mind when the blowout occurred. I realize that continuing to drive on a blowout is not an option for everyone, but if it is—do it in order to safely reach an exit.

Numerous clients of ours have told me horrific stories of their car becoming disabled and in their attempts to get it off of the road were rear-ended by other passenger cars and in a couple of situations, a semi-truck. Anyone that has driven on I-70 knows those crashes do not occur at low rates of speed. Due to the congestion and speed of traffic, a simple flat tire can easily turn into a serious injury or fatality.

What can You do to help?

When you see a stranded car or roadside assistance worker, reduce your speed. If you see them enough in advance, move over to the opposite lane (assuming you are on a multi-lane interstate). You may want to turn on your flashers in order to warn traffic behind you as well. Ultimately, you can control other drivers but you can exercise patience and road manners. We have all had a car breakdown on us before and know the stress of simply finding transportation and getting our car out of traffic. Doing your part to help eliminate auto accidents and truck accidents ultimately helps you as well as other drivers.

When the blowout happened to me, I was far more worried about getting off of I-70 and to safety than I was about how/when my car was going to be replaced or how much it may take to fix my car. Actually getting home safely to my wife and kids was my first priority. Of course, the whole experience was a real pain in the behind; most all of us have experienced that hassle. But, I was happy my damaged car was my biggest concern.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of another in an auto accident, it is important to first seek medical assistance. Soon after, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney in order to examine your options. In every accident, a thorough investigation needs to occur to determine the factors in the crash. If you were hit by a semi-truck, then many other factors and Federal regulations must be examined. You may not need an attorney if you are not seriously injured. However, calling and getting a free consultation costs you nothing and provides information to make an informed decision. Call Zane Cagle of The Cagle Law Firm to learn your options at (314) 276-1681.