Multiple Accidents in Nashville Due To Ice
According to authorities, constant freezing rain has left a thick layer of ice on car windows and unsalted roads, making driving around Nashville considerably more difficult. Even with the salt, back roads and highways can be especially slippery for vehicles. The Tennessee Department of Transportation is trying to get the word out to drivers that they should remain cautious, drive slowly, and leave extra room to brake.
Thankfully, traffic cameras situated above Interstate 40 show that cars are moving slower on the roads to accommodate for the weather, typically moving at around 30 to 40 mph. However, there have still been multiple accidents over the last few days because of the inclement weather. There was a crash on Interstate 440 in the eastbound lanes at Exit 6. A shoulder of the eastbound lanes was blocked off, and the left westbound lane was blocked as well. In addition, another crash occurred on Interstate 40 in the eastbound lanes at mile marker 214 that resulted in the eastbound right lanes being blocked.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation and police are working to clear the accidents as quickly as possible, but accidents are also occurring just outside of Nashville, as well. For example, the Lebanon Police Department reported that the Central Pike at Highway 109 in Wilson County closed because of the amount of ice and snow. In addition, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office reported various smaller accidents and problems on other roads, including Bluebird Road, Sparta Pike and South Rutland Road at Beckwith Road.
Car Accidents in Bad Weather
The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have done extensive studies on the effects of bad weather and auto accidents. They found that across the country there are on average about 5,870,000 vehicles crashes every year, and 23 percent of those accidents, nearly 1,312,000, are weather-related. Weather-related crashes are defined as “accidents that occur in adverse weather (i.e., rain, sleet, snow, fog, severe crosswinds, or blowing snow/sand/debris) or on slick pavement (i.e., wet pavement, snowy/slushy pavement, or icy pavement).”
According to their studies, every year around 6,250 people die and another 480,000 people are injured as a result of weather-related auto accidents. Of those, 17 percent occur during snow or sleet, 12 percent happen on icy pavement, and 14 percent of weather-related accidents take place on snowy or slushy pavement. Between 2002 and 2012, the average number of accidents that occurred because of icy conditions was 154,580. In addition, on average 45,133 people were injured and another 572 were killed as a result of traffic accidents that happened on icy roadways.
Call a Nashville Auto Accident Lawyer Now
If you or someone that you know has been injured in an auto accident in the Nashville area, especially during this prolonged time of inclement weather, let the experienced personal injury lawyers at Calhoun Law, PLC help. Call the office or contact us today for a free and confidential review of your claims.