Why Are There So Many Trucks On Interstate 81?
Using large trucks to ship freight is an important part of our national economy. Without tractor trailers and large trucks, transportation of supplies to inland areas would be much more difficult. While Virginia’s sea ports are important, Virginia doesn’t rely only on the coastal ports for shipping activity. This article explains one reason why there are so many trucks on Interstate 81.
Virginia’s Inland Port
To ease the burden on coastal ports and make shipping more efficient inland, Virginia built an “inland port” in Warren County. The Inland Port is connected to ocean-going ships through railroads that run between the Shenandoah Valley and Norfolk. After the inland port was built, attention was focused on increasing shipping to the Norfolk port in hopes that companies located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland would ship to a Virginia port rather than to Baltimore.
Because not all distribution centers are located near railroads, tractor trailers and other large trucks carry much of the freight short distances from the Virginia Inland Port. Many of these distribution centers are located 50-100 miles away. Since it was built in 1989, the Virginia Inland Port has been successful in attracting enough traffic to become the first successful inland port in the United States.
Inland Port Brings Jobs, Revenue and Growth To Valley
The Virginia Inland Port has brought numerous jobs as well as revenue to the Shenandoah Valley. Shipping from the Hampton Roads area to the inland port in Front Royal has drawn many trucks to make hauls along the Interstate 81 corridor and beyond, increasing the amount of traffic traveling I-81. So that’s one reason why there are so many trucks on I-81!
With Increased Trucks Come Increased Accidents
As in many situations, too much of a good thing can end up being bad. With increased trucking along the Interstate 81 corridor, we’ve seen an increase in trucking accidents as well. Because trucks are so large and are often very heavy when loaded, accidents with big trucks can be devastating.
Talk to a Lawyer First!
Have you been injured by in an accident involving a large truck or tractor trailer? Determining who is responsible for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of future earnings can be complicated in the case of a tractor trailer accident. If you’ve been injured in an accident with a large truck or tractor trailer, you might be contacted by the trucking company’s insurance representative very quickly. Sometimes, insurance companies will try to call you as soon as the day after the accident. Before you talk to any insurance company, you should get the advice of an experienced truck accident lawyer. Most lawyers will give you a free consultation to talk about what you might be entitled to receive. At the Ritchie Law Firm, you can talk to an experienced truck accident lawyer for free . . . NO STRINGS ATTACHED!!
Whether the insurance company contacts you quickly or not, the faster you seek legal advice from a lawyer who knows truck accidents, the better. With a tractor trailer crash, prompt investigation is critical to successfully recovering money damages in your case. Making sure that things like skid mark measurements and impact marks are preserved is essential to a good recovery.
Experienced Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyers
The five lawyers at the Ritchie Law Firm have more 145 years of combined experienced handling truck accident cases. See our tractor trailer accident Case Results here. Throughout the nearly half century history of the Ritchie Law Firm, our lawyers have handled thousands of devastating crash cases, such as wrong way accidents, as well as crashes involving serious and complex injuries such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal organ damage, multiple bone fractures, and even death.
You should not have to bear the financial burden of a wreck that was caused by a negligent truck driver. Accidents involving tractor trailers are devastating. At the Ritchie Law Firm, we can help you hold the other driver accountable and help you get the compensation you need to pay your bills and recover.
Talk with a Virginia and West Virginia Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffered significant injuries in a truck or tractor trailer accident in Virginia, Ritchie Law Firm is here to help. The experienced, certified attorneys at the Ritchie Law Firm has helped thousands of injured victims and their families recover the compensation they deserve after an accident. Contact us by phone at 800-277-6124 or by using our online contact form.
Ritchie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm devoted to helping individuals who have suffered serious and catastrophic injuries or lost a loved one as a result of someone else’s negligence. Ritchie Law Firm serves all of Virginia, while helping clients in cities and surrounding areas of Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Staunton, and Winchester also serves clients in West Virginia, including Martinsburg, WV
