When you are involved in a tractor-trailer accident, it can be frightening because there is a vast difference in the size of the semi-truck and the size of your vehicle. However, that fear level goes up astronomically when you are riding a bicycle on a roadway and are hit by an 18-wheeler.
That is what happened to one unfortunate fellow in Seattle, Washington. On Friday, Aug. 1, 2014 at approximately 3:00 p.m., a person riding a bicycle was struck by a tractor-trailer truck in a bizarre accident that could have very nearly killed him.
The bicyclist and the semi-truck were traveling near 4th Avenue South and South Spokane Street. It is not apparent exactly how the truck accident transpired, but the Seattle Fire Department states that a 26-year-old male was struck by a semi-truck. He became stuck underneath it for a period of time while the driver proceeded on, not realizing at first that he had hit the bicyclist. The driver stopped immediately upon learning that he had struck the bicyclist.
The Seattle Fire Department dispatched several crews to the scene of the truck accident and arrived quickly to assess the situation.
The report states that they were forced to use industrial airbags to lift the rear of the semi-truck off the man on the bicycle and triage him for injuries. The 26-year-old bicyclist was said to have sustained many fractured bones and was in pain. He also sustained a severe case of road rash in this accident.
He remained conscious and alert throughout the assessment. The medics on the scene transported him by ambulance to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.
While he is currently said to be in stable condition by the fire department spokesman, he may suffer emotionally from this harrowing experience.
Everyone has a right to safe passage on the roadway. Just because a vehicle is larger, doesn’t make it right for them to endanger your life. Being in this type of wreck can be frightening and confusing.
Don’t feel like you need to face this alone. Talking to a legal professional can bring you a sense of peace and justice. He or she can guide you through the steps needed in order to be compensated for any lost wages you suffered as a result of the accident, as well as other damages and losses.
Source: KOMO News, “Cyclist expected to survive after being hit, dragged by semi” Aug. 04, 2014
