You can’t turn on the news here in Nashville (or probably anywhere in Tennessee) without hearing about the Southwest plane that skidded off the runway at Nashville International Airport. We are so, so thankful that only nine people were injured, and that those injuries were all minor. The results could have been much worse, so we’re thrilled that all of those people will be able to get back to their families, especially at this time of the year.
The most recent report in The Tennessean says that “Southwest Flight 31, a Boeing 737 carrying 133 passengers and five crew members, rolled off taxiway T4 near the terminal into the grass and came to a halt about 5:20 p.m. Tuesday. Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority officials said emergency personnel immediately responded, along with Nashville fire department crews to assist passengers hurt in the wreck.” The paper also said that the National Transportation Safety Board may come in to investigate, and they’ll be in charge if they do.
Safety tips for traveling at the holidays
While we don’t yet know what happened with that plane – and it could be a while before we find out, depending on what the preliminary reports find – we do know that safety should be or paramount importance when you travel. We’ve put together this list of safety tips for holiday travelers to and from Tennessee this year, because we want your holidays to be as safe and happy as possible.
- Make sure all of your appliances, your taps and your oven are off before you leave the house. Double check any fireplaces or candles, too.
- Email your flight information to a trusted friend or neighbor, not just the family members you’re going to see. This way, if something does go wrong, you have more than one person looking out for you.
- Make sure your phone is charged, and that you have a couple of dollars in small bills on you. You want enough money to pay for a cab if you get stranded somewhere, but not so much that you’ll make a tempting target to thieves.
- Double check any and all medications before you travel: do you have enough? Did you get a doctor’s note about needing to take those medications on the plane with you? If you pack them in your luggage and the bag gets lost, you could be in for a problem. If you can’t bring them in your carry-on, get another emergency prescription from your doctor, or ask him or her to call a local pharmacy with an emergency supply for the length of your travels.
- Whether you’re in a car or a plane, keep that seatbelt on. This recent situation with Southwest showed us all how much danger we could be in without any notice.
From all of us here at the Rocky McElhaney Law Firm to all of you, we wish you safe and happy travels! And if you do suffer an injury while traveling or while at your destination, just know that we’re always here to help. You can contact us any time to set up an appointment in one of our offices in Nashville, Gallatin or Knoxville with an experienced personal injury attorney who will fight for you when you need it most.
