Man Hospitalized after Mississippi 18-Wheeler Accident
A New Hampshire man traveling around the country in a horse drawn wagon sustained serious injuries in a Mississippi 18-wheeler accident.
According to reports, 49-year-old Bob Skelding was riding a home-built recreational wagon atop a hill on Highway 45 in Mississippi. Two 18-wheelers were traveling side by side crested on the same hill when one of the big rigs hit Skelding's wagon. The 7,700 lb wagon was built from scratch and was designed much like an RV, complete with a fully outfitted kitchen, a full sized bed, hot and cold water, and other modern conveniences. The wagon was completely destroyed in the accident, Skelding was admitted to the hospital and is, reportedly, in serious condition.
Skelding set off on his custom built wagon on July 28th from Dearfield. He traveled through several states in his wagon drawn by 4 Percheron horses, two of which were killed in the accident. Now, Skelding is focusing on getting back on his feet. Local communities in Macon, Mississippi are setting up fundraising drives for Skelding's expenses as well as the treatment costs for the two surviving horses.
The exact cause of the accident will be revealed only after an investigation is complete, which could take months. Investigators will probably look into the driving behavior of the two truck drivers in the moments before the crash. They will likely probe whether the tractor trailers were speeding or racing at the time of the accident and whether this caused one of them to lose control and smash into Skelding's wagon. Police have already concluded Skelding was ejected from the front seat during the accident. According to officials, it is legal to drive horse drawn vehicles on a highway in Mississippi.
Truck Accident Lawsuits
Speeding, reckless overtaking and tail gating are dangerous in a passenger car; such driver negligence in an 18-wheeler, however, is only amplified and can cause serious and even fatal injuries to those around. In order to determine liability for the accident, a truck accident lawyer will likely conduct his own investigations into the drivers' conduct as well as the trucking companies' safety records.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a big rig accident, contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation.
