Shortly after 6:30 a.m. on May 1, 2017, a semi-trailer, transporting material made from pine trees, rear-ended School Bus 2-H near the Avoca Baseball Field in Bristol, Tennessee. While no one was seriously injured this time (a silver lining), emergency responders sent five high school and middle school-aged students and the truck driver to hospitals for those injuries.

Authorities believe that the crash was the semi driver’s fault. News Channel 11 reports that “Police said according to initial reports, the bus stopped at the intersection of Hatchall Way and Volunteer Parkway to load students, when it was struck from behind by the semi-truck.” A parent who witnessed the crash said the truck driver was doing about 50 mph, and made no effort to stop. She claimed the truck hit a student and “flipped him three times.”

The case is currently under investigation.

What kinds of injuries result from truck accidents?

If the witnesses are correct – if the truck really was moving that quickly, and making no effort to slow down – then everyone is lucky to be alive. Fortunately, the victims of the Bristol crash sustained nonfatal injuries. But it could have been much, much worse: victims of truck crashes typically suffer a wide variety of injuries. These various injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
• Internal organ damage
• Permanent vision or hearing loss
• Crushed or broken bones
• Scarring and/or disfigurement
• Burn injuries

What are the causes of truck accidents?

While the particular cause of the Bristol crash is not publicly known at the moment – outside of the truck hitting the back of a parked bus, that is – truck accidents are often attributed to:

• Driver error (speeding, tailgating, reckless driving, etc.)
• Fatigue
• Driver distraction
• Drunk driving, or driving under the influence of drugs
• Improper maintenance of vehicles
• Mechanical failure (defective parts)
• Poor trucker training and/or supervision

The Bristol bus crash should serve as a warning to all of us: we can’t control other people’s behavior, and we can be hurt as a result of it. We urge you to stay safe out there.

If you were in an auto accident and sustained injuries as a result of the truck accident, you may have grounds for a legal claim. The Knoxville truck accident lawyers of Banks and Jones will fight for your future and your family. To learn more, or to schedule a free consultation with our team, please call us at 865-546-2141 or contact us. We are proud to serve Knoxville, Tennessee and other areas of the Volunteer State.