Thanksgiving trips often begin with small comforts, from packed snacks to children eager to see their grandparents. A highway backup can turn that joy into stress as brake lights stretch out of sight.
If your plans involve I-65 or I-85 in Alabama, knowing where traffic builds and how 18-wheelers respond can help you prepare for sudden stops. These precautions address those risks.
Plan around interstate bottlenecks
Before your Thanksgiving trip, check ALGO Traffic for crashes and camera views. Review I-65 through Birmingham and along the widening project between Alabaster and Calera, plus I-85 near Auburn, Opelika and Montgomery’s I-65 interchange. Use current traffic conditions to decide when to leave. Allow extra time to avoid rushed lane changes near exits.
If I-459 fits your route, compare its travel time with driving through downtown Birmingham. Check conditions before choosing local roads, where traffic lights and extra turns could add delays.
Check construction updates before departure
Consult the Alabama Department of Transportation’s (ALDOT) travel information for current lane closures and construction updates along your route. In those work zones, watch for barriers and lane shifts that can require you to slow down.
Give commercial trucks braking room
An 18-wheeler’s size and weight mean it needs more braking room than a car. A fully loaded truck at highway speed can need nearly two football fields to stop. Cutting into that space may give its driver less room to react.
A trucker who speeds or tailgates through congestion may further reduce that margin, increasing the risk of a chain-reaction crash. Leave additional space, avoid blind spots and signal early so others can see where you plan to go.
How to preserve evidence in case of a multi-vehicle collision
Despite precautions, a pileup may leave several drivers disputing responsibility. Alabama’s contributory negligence generally bars compensation on a negligence claim if your own carelessness contributed to your injuries. Evidence of who hit whom therefore matters.
Put emergency care first and never enter traffic to collect proof. Once you can act safely, take these steps:
- Report the collision: Call 911 and describe injuries and your location. Ask for the police report number.
- Photograph the scene: Capture vehicle positions, damage, debris and lane markings from a safe location. Note each impact you remember.
- Identify everyone involved: Exchange names, phone numbers and insurance details. Note truck company names, license plates and witness contacts.
- Protect supporting records: Save dashcam footage before it overwrites. Seek prompt medical care and keep records that link your injuries to the wreck.
These records can allow investigators to piece together events when accounts conflict. Ask an attorney to promptly request preservation of driver logs, onboard electronic data and company footage.
Why you need to address uncertainty promptly
Clarifying insurance coverage early can help you assess potential out-of-pocket expenses before settling your claim. Track insurer correspondence and follow up on unresolved coverage questions.
Managing these demands often leaves less time to focus on healing. An Alabama attorney can clarify responsibility among multiple parties and identify additional information needed to evaluate compensation.