An improper pass led to a serious crash on I-20 that shut down the interstate for hours on Monday and resulted in minor injuries to the occupants of the vehicles involved. The accident occurred on Monday afternoon when a Ford F-550 truck made an improper pass using the emergency lane. As the driver attempted to rejoin the travel lane, it struck the right fender of the vehicle it was passing. The truck then lost control and crossed all westbound lanes before striking a concrete median wall. The truck was then struck by an additional vehicle, and both vehicles involved in the secondary crash overturned.
The accident resulted in all westbound lanes of the interstate being closed for hours for the investigation and clean-up. Because the accident was located just west of the interchange between I-20 and the Downtown Connector that funnels traffic from the city center, some lanes of eastbound I-20 were also blocked. The accident remained under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol, who declined to say if anyone would be charged for the incident.
The initial crash that occurred in the accident was a sideswipe, which occurs when the side of one vehicle makes contact with the side of another vehicle. Improper passing is one of the most common reasons for this type of crash, which occurs when the passing vehicle attempts to merge back into its original lane of travel and fails to ensure that the lane is clear in order to do so by checking their blind spots. As explained by the AAA Exchange, these accidents commonly lead to secondary crashes as a driver attempts to regain control of the vehicle and over-steers, which causes the vehicle to swerve.
If you have been injured as a result of a sideswipe collision in Atlanta or the surrounding region, the experienced legal team at Cambre & Associates LLC can help you understand the legal process of seeking compensation for your injuries. For a free case evaluation, contact us online or by calling 770-502-6116.
