Although automobile accidents may be the most common accident to occur on the roadways, recent headlines highlight the more bizarre types of accidents that can and do occur.
For instance, just this past week, a New Orleans bound Amtrak Train collided with an 18 wheeler tractor trailer in Holmes County. Amtrak spokespersons said the train was headed to New Orleans carrying 152 passengers and 11 crew members. The accident occurred at 9:30 a.m. The train apparently hit an 18 wheeler that was hauling corn, causing the front train engine to derail. Luckily, there were no reports of serious injuries, but a passenger and crew member were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Other train passengers complained of bruising and soreness. The driver of the tractor trailer was fine. Holmes County Sheriff Willie March said there were no crossing guards at the location of the accident and the driver of the tractor trailer did not see the train coming. The accident actually split the tractor trailer in two, spilling corn all over the tracks.
Days before the Holmes County train collision, another accident involving a train crashing into a vehicle occurred in San Diego County, California. Unfortunately, in this incident, the driver of the automobile was not so fortunate. The accident began unfolding around 9 p.m. when the 1997 Honda sedan drove at a high rate of speed southbound on the San Diego Freeway. The vehicle attempted to merge into the right hand lane at the same time as another vehicle. Attempting to avoid the other driver, the Honda’s driver swerved right and off the shoulder. He launched off the highway where his vehicle collided head on with an Amtrak train, cutting the vehicle in two. The driver died at the scene.
In addition to the occasional train accident, several other more bizarre accidents occur on Mississippi roadways. Most recently, in Pontotoc County, a Mississippi driver collided with a horse and buggy. The crash involved a teen driver who slammed into the back of a horse and buggy driven by a middle aged Amish man. The driver of the buggy was critically injured and transported by helicopter to the North Mississippi Medical Center. The teenage driver was also seriously injured but expected to make a full recovery. Police have not issued criminal charges but are investigating the cause of the accident.
One might think a horse and buggy accident such as this is a lone occurrence—but a search of recent news headlines reveals that horse and buggy accidents happen fairly regularly. In June, an 18 year old Amish man in Ohio was critically injured when a car collided with his horse and buggy on a hilly roadway. That same month in Pennsylvania, a SUV collided with a horse and buggy, ejecting four children. Though the children were seriously injured, they are thankfully expected to make a full recovery.
The following is a list of pointers to take away from the recent headline news stories involving unusual accidents:
- Accidents do happen—even unusual or bizarre accidents can and do occur, and though we all like to think it will not happen to us, news headlines show that this is not the reality. On average, there are over 6 million car accidents on U.S. roads annually.
- Be prepared—we cannot always prevent accidents from occurring, but we can be prepared. Preparation in the event of an accident is crucial to preservation of your legal rights. To this end, the Giddens Law Firm has prepared a handy pamphlet that describes what actions you should take immediately following an automobile accident. The same general tips are applicable to nearly any accident as well.
- Consult with an experienced personal injury attorney—if you or someone you love is injured in any sort of accident, be it automobile or otherwise, it is always best to consult with an experienced, professional personal injury attorney in your area. You have a limited window within which to act when you have been injured in an accident, and a skilled personal injury attorney can guide your case right from the start.
Call the Giddens Law Firm today at (601) 355-2022 to schedule a free initial consultation. Our Mississippi car accident attorneys have experience in all sorts of accidents, from train crashes to more run of the mill automobile accidents. Our answering service is available 24 hours a day.