Can-Opener Bridge Claims 102nd Victim

America’s aging infrastructure, coupled with a rise in distracted and fatigued driving, has created a recipe for disaster. Durham Bridge was built before the regulation of minimum clearance heights, and while a series of large warning signs line the roadway approaching the bridge, they are proving ineffective at reducing the number of accidents.

In 2008, Jurgen Henn set up a recording camera in his Durham, North Carolina office in Brightleaf Square, at the corner of Gregson and Peabody streets, across the street from the ”Can-Opener” bridge (a nickname for the Durham Bridge, a train trestle in the city). Since then, the device has captured 102 accidents, averaging a little more than 1 every month. The most recent collision occurred on January 7, resulting in a scalped delivery truck. According to RT.com, city officials face serious problems modifying the bridge. Train tracks above and a 100-year-old sewer main below make renovations cost-prohibitive.

Durham isn’t the only city with problems like this. On Christmas Day in Paoli, Indiana, a 23-year-old truck driver tried to cross a historic cast-iron bridge. Though both the height and weight limits were clearly posted, the driver managed to wedge her truck on to the bridge and rip the top off her trailer before the bridge collapsed under the overweight rig.

Minimum vertical clearance standards weren’t adopted until 1956 during the construction of the Interstate Highway System. Historic structures were modified in some areas to meet this requirement, but in others, it was and is impractical and cost-prohibitive. Such bridges and overpasses are road hazards that create potentially deadly situations.

However, these historic structures aren’t actually inherently dangerous. The true danger lays with driver inattention and the adverse work conditions that commercial drivers face. These factors contribute to the errors in judgment that result in accidents.

Bad drivers place you and your loved ones at risk

When big trucks collide with stationary objects, they do massive damage. While repeated impacts can compromise structural integrity, the main threat is to other drivers on the road. Debris from the collision can cause panicked drivers to lose control, and the sudden stop presents an unexpected obstacle regardless of the speed of travel.

Big trucks cause big accidents, and dangerous and distracted drivers put you and your family at risk every day. If you have been involved in a commercial truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation for you pain and suffering and lost time from work. The experienced South Carolina truck accident attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips LLC can fight for your rights and help get you the compensation you deserve. We serve all of South Carolina. Contact us today for a free consultation.