Martinson & Beason, P.C.
Interstate 40 travels through the entire state of Tennessee, from west to east. I-40 begins at the Arkansas border, from the Mississippi River, to North Carolina, at the northern base of the Great Smoky Mountains, connecting the three largest cities in the state—Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville. The Tennessee section of Interstate 40 is longer than that of any other state—455 miles. An I-40 Interchange Improvement Project was undertaken as a result of rapid growth on the east side of Memphis, to improve traffic flow for east and westbound traffic. New ramps and a widening of I-240, improved traffic flow on I-40 as well.
Interstate 55 in the state of Tennessee, lies entirely within the city of Memphis, in Shelby County. I-55 enters Memphis from Southaven, passing through Whitehaven, and bypassing the Memphis International Airport. I-55 is considered an alternate route for those who choose not to take Interstates 40 and 240, through the downtown area of Memphis, to cross the Mississippi River. TDOT wants to work on a new interchange at Interstate 55 and E.H. Crump Blvd., stating the current interchange is both ineffective and unsafe.
In fact, this particular I-55 interchange has been called the “worst interchange we have in the state of Tennessee,” by TDOT Commissioner, John Schroer. However, because the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge would have to close for nine months in 2017, repairing the I-55 interchange has plenty of opposition, some who claim closing the bridge would “devastate local economies throughout Eastern Arkansas,” crippling emergency services in the event of an accident.
Interstate 22 provided the city of Birmingham with an interstate link to Memphis through the 213-mile route from Byhalia, Mississippi, south of Memphis, to Birmingham. I-22 indirectly connects I-60, I-55, I-40 and I-240 in the northwest, and was designed to close the gap in the Interstate network, allowing more direct connections between southeast cities with those in the Great Plains, like Oklahoma City and St. Louis.
I-40 is a heavily-traveled Interstate, running 2,555 miles across the United States. When the 100 most dangers Interstates were ranked (for the number of fatalities between the years of 2004 and 2008), I-40 in the state of Tennessee ranked #62, with 321 fatalities during those years, or 0.62 fatalities per mile. I-55 ranked even closer to the top at #10 for the 12.28 miles through the state of Tennessee. There were 16 fatalities on this small stretch of Interstate between the years of 2004 and 2008, with 1.22 fatal accidents per mile. Interstate accidents—like virtually all auto accidents—are the result of fatigue, distraction, careless or reckless driving and inclement weather. Unfortunately, due to the sheer numbers of cars on Interstates, the odds of having an auto accident increase exponentially.
Between the years of 2012 and 2016, Shelby County ranked second among other counties in the number of auto accidents across the state of Tennessee. Shelby County additionally ranked 72nd in fatal crashes, 6th in motorcycle crashes, 62nd in crashes due to excessive speed, second in the number of crashes among young drivers between the ages of 15 and 24, and 4th in the number of auto crashes among senior citizens—those over the age of 65.
In 2014, there were 1,004 auto collision fatalities across the state of Tennessee. Of those,
As a resident of the city of Memphis, you have likely been on I-40, I-55 and I-22 at one time or another, and you are probably aware of how busy—and therefore potentially dangerous—these Interstates really are. Having an auto accident on a busy Interstate can be a very traumatic experience. You are left with injuries, and potentially with medical expenses you are unable to pay. If your injuries were extensive, you may also have been unable to return to work, for a few weeks, or for an extended period of time. To preserve your right to compensation following your auto accident, remember the following:
Having an experienced personal injury attorney by your side from the time of your accident can ensure you receive equitable compensation for your injuries, and that the negligent party is held responsible. Because auto claims can often be complex—particularly when an Interstate accident involves multiple vehicles or a large truck—having a Martinson & Beason attorney on your case can be invaluable. Our attorneys believe every client deserves the best legal representation possible and we know how stressful it can be to struggle to pay your day-to-day expenses due to your injuries, and the negligence of another. If you are facing an unsure future after your automobile accident, call Martinson & Beason today.
