Many vehicle accidents are caused because drivers are irresponsible. Drivers who speed, drive while intoxicated, or drive while distracted should know better. They should know careless driving causes car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents.

Drivers also need to be aware of some inherent dangers – dangers that are due to conditions of the roads or the type of traffic that uses the roads. Drivers who understand these dangerous conditions should be better equipped to take precautions when these dangers arise.

Every day, however, it seems that there is another accident on “the Dragon,” “the Spur,” Chapman Highway, or anywhere on I-40. Drivers need to anticipate the following dangerous road conditions:

• Construction work. Construction work can occur on any type of road. Accidents at construction sites often occur because the construction site companies fail to post warnings far enough in advance of the actual work. Drivers need to know when to switch lanes and what detour routes they need to take. They need proper lighting throughout work areas, and construction trucks should not interfere with the path of motor vehicles.
• Road defects. There are some roads in our area that are in such bad condition that the local news has a bracket system to rank them. For example, I-640 is filled with potholes, and driving over them – or swerving to avoid them – poses risks.
• Bad weather. When it rains, snows, is foggy, or is very sunny, visibility is a problem. Drivers need to slow down or get off the road until they are certain they can see well enough to drive safely. Wet roads can cause hydroplaning. Drivers need to understand how to safely apply their brakes.
• Passing and merging. Roads need to be clearly marked so that drivers understand when it is safe to pass and when passing should be forbidden. Many roads are marked clearly when they’re designed, but the markings fade as time passes. Locations of on-ramps and off-ramps should be clearly marked. Ramps should be properly graded to reduce drivers’ speed while still helping them stay in their lanes.

What are the biggest dangers for drivers on Sevierville roads?

The biggest dangers for drivers are commercial trucks and other cars, though for two different reasons. Cars are simply no match for the size and weight of large trucks. Most trucks have dangerous blind spots that make it difficult for truckers to see cars that are close by. Some of our local roads are not really wide enough for commercial vehicles, including delivery vans and even garbage trucks. In some cases, the trucks may be wider than the lanes themselves, increasing the risk of a side-swipe. Some roads have blind curves or steep gradients, which can make it difficult to avoid an accident. This road design can lead to collisions, where cars can be crushed by trucks that creep into other lanes of travel or make wide turns.

Other passenger vehicle drivers also pose a risk. You cannot control someone else’s behavior, so there is always a risk of being hit by a distracted driver or a drunk driver. For example, speeding has become such a problem that the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) launched a “Slow Down Tennessee” campaign in April. Per Fox 17, “from 2020-2022 there were over 28,000 traffic crashes in the state involving speeding, racing, reckless driving, or aggressive driving.”

Also, because Sevier County is a tourist destination, a high percentage of the drivers on the roadway are unfamiliar with the area. They are constantly distracted by looking at directors or taking in the sights of Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. A large portion of our personal injury practice involved out-of-state defendant drivers who weren’t paying attention.

Urban v. rural: every Sevierville road has risks

When you look at the overall data, more fatal accidents happen on urban roads. This makes sense, because there are more miles of urban road than rural road overall. However, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, “Although 19 percent of people in the U.S. live in rural areas and 30 percent of the vehicle miles traveled occur in rural areas, almost half of crash deaths occur there.”

In short, both types of roads present risks, and in our part of East Tennessee – nestled between the Smokies and larger cities – we face all of them.

Why urban roads are dangerous

Urban traffic is usually congested during the morning and evening rush-hours. Some traffic may be bumper to bumper. A major danger is that there are likely to be many pedestrians and bicycle riders crossing at intersections or traveling on the side of the road at any given hour of the day. You may have to contend with road work and detours – and if you’re traveling around at night on the weekend, more drunk drivers and distracted drivers. In short, more drivers mean more chances to be injured in a crash.

Why rural roads are dangerous

On the other hand, many rural roads are poorly lit or don’t have any lighting at all. Most rural roads only have one lane of travel each way. Drivers on rural roads may have to drive behind tractors or other agricultural trucks, and be on the lookout for wildlife. The roads may be curvier or lack guardrails and signage. Drivers on rural roads may be tempted to take more risks because there aren’t other drivers around them. A key concern for rural drivers is that if there is an accident, there may not be a local hospital or burn center nearby to promptly treat the victims.

At Delius & McKenzie, PLLC, our Sevierville personal injury lawyers handle all types of vehicle accidents. We work with investigators, the police, and others to show how the accident happened and who is responsible. We work with your doctors to understand the severity of your injuries, your economic damages, and your personal damages including pain and suffering.

To schedule a free consultation with an experienced Sevierville car accident lawyer, please call 865-428-8780 or fill out our contact form. Proudly serving Sevierville, Seymour, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the surrounding Tennessee areas.