Truck Driver Sentenced to Twelve Years for Tennessee Accident
In October, 2013, truck driver Ronald Eugene Graybeal of Newport, Tennessee was sentenced to almost twelve years in prison after causing a fatal accident on Interstate 40 in Orange County, North Carolina in 2011. The accident happened when Graybeal failed to stop in time at a place in the road where it went from three lanes to two lanes and there was a back-up of traffic.
In the accident, the truck ran into the back of a Ford-150 truck while traveling at approximately 65 miles per hour. The evidence revealed that the driver only had applied the brakes one second before the collision. The driver of the truck was shown to be under the influence of marijuana and methadone. The driver was charged with three counts of felony death by vehicle as well as a failure to reduce speed in order to avoid an accident.
When the truck crashed into Ford truck, the impact forced the vehicle around the front of the track cab and pushed it into a Chevrolet Equinox. The truck continued moving forward until it impacted a Nissan Maxima, which caught fire, and a box truck that was in the path of speeding truck. The drivers of the Ford, Chevrolet, and Nissan were killed and the driver of the box truck was injured. Tests administered to Graybeal three hours after the accident revealed that the driver was impaired, according to North Carolina Highway Patrol.
This accident demonstrates one of the major reasons why truck accidents are so dangerous for the other drivers that share the road with them. The sheer size and weight of the truck makes it impossible for a quick stop in a situation where the driver is not paying attention or the traffic slows or stops unexpectedly.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has analyzed truck stopping distances in an effort to improve braking systems and decrease stopping distances. According to NHTSA, a truck with an unbraked control trailer requires 355 feet to come to a stop when traveling at 60 miles per hour. Of course, this stopping distance is the required standard and a truck that is not maintained properly may require a longer distance in which to stop. There are ongoing studies on improving stopping distances in order to avoid accidents like the one that occurred in 2011. Obviously, the impairment of the driver in this case exacerbated the severity of the accident.
Some proposed solutions to the problem include improving the foundation brake systems, requiring different axle configurations for disc brakes, possibly in conjunction with s-cam brakes with higher output.
Victims of truck accidents experience severe injuries because of the high impact force that occurs when a large heavy truck collides with a smaller passenger vehicle or light truck. There is a higher likelihood that death will result in an accident with a tractor-trailer. In addition severe injuries like traumatic brain injury, broken bones, crush injuries, spinal damage, and internal organ damage. If you have been injured in a truck accident, the skilled and compassionate truck accident attorneys in Tennessee at Bailey & Greer, PLLC are prepared to do everything possible to get you the help that you need to recover from the devastation that you experienced as a result of the negligence of someone else. We are ready to discuss what happened to you in a free and confidential consultation. To schedule this meeting, call us at 1 901-680-9777. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
Read more about Thomas R. Greer