Classic Car Pinned Under Semi-Truck on Michigan Highway, Driver Dies
The WDIV newsroom in Detroit recently reported an early morning Westbound M-14 fatal crash between a vintage vehicle and a semi-truck. The wreck closed at I-275 after Michigan State Police concluded through a preliminary investigation that the vehicle was speeding, lost control and spun under a semi-truck trailer. Although the driver was wearing a seatbelt, the crash killed the driver of the vintage car instantly. The crash happened on westbound M-14 near Sheldon Road in Plymouth Township and closed the freeway for several hours. WDIV reported to have seen a vehicle appearing to be pinned under the truck trailer.
As the investigation continues, and more details emerge, our team of motor vehicle accident attorneys plan to update our blog readers. In the meantime, our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased driver and also with all motorists involved.
No Room for Error, Especially in Older Vehicles
Speeding can quickly become a deadly choice to make no matter why type of vehicle you are driving, but if you are driving recklessly in a vintage car or truck, the end game is likely to end in disaster, especially when a semi-truck is involved. Older vehicles, even including those 10 years older and more, have missed out on decades worth of safety improvements and technology advancements that reduce accidents and prevent injury to motorists. But for drivers who enjoy the nostalgia of owning a classic car or cruising in a vintage model, the inevitable is more likely to happen. Here is a look at the older vehicle parts and pieces in question that could create a high injury or accident fatality risk for drivers and their passengers.
- Lack of Safety Belts
- Weak Brakes
- Old Tires
- Weakened Doors and Window Glass
- Faulty Steering
- Cloudy Headlights
- No Airbags
- Broken, Loose Seats
- Old, Leaky Gas Tanks
- Varied Crash Test Scores (if available)
- New Technologies:
- Forward Collision Warning
- Backup Cameras
- Blind Spot Detection
- Lane Departure
But some old cars can learn new tricks and several safety features can be carefully updated and added by professional car outfitters. For example, forward-collision warning systems, reduce the risk of a crash by 27 percent, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and can be installed for just $300-$500.
Some pieces of advice for classic car owners is to keep maintenance on their vehicle and know its restrictions, avoid interstates or congested roadways, but most important, follow traffic laws, be an alert, defensive yet considerate driver and recognize the limits of a classic or vintage car’s capability. And know there’s always the chance of a collision or other unavoidable circumstances because any car can become unsafe when the road is shared with the wrong person.
Contact Us Now About Your Car Accident
Working with insurance companies to ensure you get the compensation you deserve can be frustrating and confusing. The Lee Steinberg Law Firm can help. Please call Lee Free and speak to our car accident attorneys at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733) or fill out the Free Case Evaluation Form. And remember, you pay nothing until we settle your car accident case.
