Georgia Truck Accident Attorney Blog

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 2,790 people killed in large-truck crashes in the year 2010, reflecting a 9.1 percent increase from the year 2009. Many of these accidents could have been prevented had the truck driver or other motorist taken more care to drive defensively and cautiously.

There are several safety measures motorists can take in order to prevent large truck crashes:

• Avoid traveling in the blind spot of a large truck. If you cannot see the mirror of a truck, the truck driver will not be able to see you.
• Look for a signal before trying to pass a truck. If the truck has a turn signal on, it may be about to take up a couple of lanes and you would be well advised to keep your distance.
• Do not pass a truck on the right if there is a chance that the truck is about to turn that way. They often have to swing far to the left before turning to the right in order to completely make the turn.
• Maintain a consistent speed when passing a truck and do not change lanes in front of a big rig until you can see the entire cab in your rear-view mirror.
• Leave about four to six seconds of space between you and a truck in wet conditions and at highway speeds.
• Never cut off a truck to make an exit.
• If you see unsafe driving behavior, pull over and notify the authorities. You could end up saving someone else’s life.

If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one as the result of a truck driver’s or trucking company’s negligence or wrongdoing, an experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer reached at (404) 995-3955 can help you better understand your legal rights and options.

A bipartisan group of House transportation leaders is asking the Transportation Secretary to postpone the effective date of the new truck drivers hours-of-service (HOS) rule. The top majority and minority members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee wrote a letter to Secretary Ray LaHood requesting the extension on the HOS rule, which is set to take effect on July 1.

American Trucking Associations (ATA) and other groups have challenged the rule, and a court decision is expected in June. House leaders say that a postponement will avoid “costly and unnecessary training of enforcement officials.” This request is similar to the one made by the ATA to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). That request was rejected on the grounds that it would set aside a safety improvement.

Trucking associations are riled up about the new HOS rules because they will significantly affect the time truck drivers can be behind the wheel. The new rule, in particular, will affect restart breaks and consecutive driving hours. This means that drivers must not work for 34 consecutive hours after driving 60 hours in the last week. Also, this off duty period must have two back-to-back days when the driver does not work between 1 and 5 a.m. Fines for “egregious” violations, which includes working for at least three hours beyond the required 14-hour limit, can be as high as $11,000 for the carrier and $2,750 for the drivers.

There is no question that these HOS rules are an important safety improvement. Fatigued or drowsy drivers who are behind the wheel of a large big-rig can cause significant damage. If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent truck driver, please contact an experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer to better understand your legal rights, and ensure that the negligent parties are held accountable for injuries and damages.

A man was injured in a recent car accident when his Corvette ended up underneath a box truck. According to a news report in The Encino Patch, the truck accident occurred on the southbound San Diego Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass. While information has not been released regarding how the crash occurred, the entire front of the car was crushed underneath the back of the truck in the collision and the driver was trapped inside. After being rescued from his vehicle, he was hospitalized with injuries that appear to be non-life-threatening.

According to a recent news report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 260 of the 2,241 passenger vehicle occupants killed in large truck accidents were killed when the fronts of their vehicles collided with the rears of trucks. An underride accident occurs when a smaller vehicle ends up underneath part of a trailer or box truck. Many modern semi-trailers are able to prevent these types of devastating accidents from occurring, but partial underride collisions do occur in Georgia and throughout the United States.

An IIHS study of 115 crashes in the year 2011 found that nearly half of the vehicles involved in a collision with the back of a heavy truck had severe or catastrophic underride damage and those vehicles accounted for 23 of the 28 fatal crashes in the study.

Following an underride accident, it must be determined if the truck driver behaved erratically before the crash or if the trailer had adequate rearguards. In cases involving trucking firm or truck driver negligence, financial compensation may be available for the victim’s medical bills, physical pain, mental anguish, lost wages, lost future wages, the cost of rehabilitation services, and other related damages. Unfortunately, it is common for trucking companies to deny responsibility for serious injury accidents and for victim’s to struggle to get the support they need.

An experienced Atlanta underride truck accident lawyer with The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. will be able to advise injured victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options. Call us today at (404) 995-3955 for a free consultation and learn more about your legal options.

A 39-year-old driver was killed in a Georgia truck accident when his vehicle veered off I-75 near milepost 201 in Butts County and struck a guardrail. But officials say the crash was not the cause of his death. An investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s medical examiner found that the accident might have resulted from his heart problem. It is unclear if the victim or his employer was aware of his medical issues.

Driving a large truck can be extremely complicated. Truck drivers must be properly trained and they must remain completely focused at all times. When a truck driver is ill, injured, or suffering from a serious health condition, he or she should not be on the roadway. Trucks are dangerous and when a big rig driver is not fit to drive, the results can prove fatal. There are medical rules for truck drivers that have been established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a federal agency that oversees commercial trucking companies.

Under federal law, “a person … must not operate a commercial motor vehicle unless he or she is medically certified as physically qualified to do so.” Following a Georgia crash, a skilled semi truck accident lawyer in Atlanta will review the medical and personnel information of the truck driver. Sick truckers who are suffering from debilitating illnesses or who are currently on medications that can make them drowsy should not be behind the wheel.

If you have been injured in a Georgia tractor trailer accident, you will need an attorney who will help you determine liability for the crash. At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., we review every possible cause of the accident including the health of the drivers involved. We offer no-cost consultations at (404) 995-3955 to anyone who has suffered a loss in a truck accident.

Georgia truck accident lawyers know the devastation and damage that truck underride crashes can cause. If you have ever driven alongside a tractor-trailer, you may have noticed that the height of the trailer is about at your head level. When the top of a car is crushed under a trailer, it is called an underride accident. These types of accidents are some of the most devastating collisions that occur on Georgia highways and they often result in catastrophic or fatal injuries.

Under federal regulations, all trailers with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or greater, manufactured on or after January 26, 1998 must have an underride guard. These are those metal structures you see on the back of trailers. In low speed collisions, these guards will prevent an underride collision from occurring. These rear bumper guards do not, however, always have the strength to prevent a vehicle from going under the trailer.

Federal regulations require rear-impact guards to be only 22 inches above the ground and no more than four inches from the side extremities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regularly collects data to determine the impact that increasing the dimensions and strength of rear bumper guards would have on the injuries suffered during truck accidents.

The VC-COMPAT project held in the Netherlands, for example, found that 11 percent of the fatally injured occupants and 30 percent of the seriously injured vehicle occupants in their study could have been saved if trucks were equipped with energy-absorbing underrun systems instead of rigid guards.

Trucking companies that fail to have rear guards on their vehicles that do not adhere to federal standards can be held accountable in the event of a fatal or serious injury underride crash. Victims or their families in such cases would be well advised to contact an experienced lawyer who will ensure that the negligent parties are held accountable and that victims are justly compensated for their significant losses.

Shortly after leaving school for the day, three teenagers were injured in a Georgia car accident when their car was partially crushed by the wheels of a tractor-trailer. According to a WALB news report, the truck accident occurred on Highway 300 near Crisp Academy in Crisp County. Officials say the 16-year-old driver of the car may have pulled into the path of a tractor-trailer. The driver and his twin brother were taken to a nearby hospital and a 15-year-old passenger was airlifted to a Macon medical center. They are all expected to survive. The cause of the collision is still under investigation.

Truck accidents can have devastating consequences, especially for the occupants of the smaller vehicles. The size and weight of large trucks make them particularly dangerous on the roadway. Truck accidents may occur due to truck driver negligence, a vehicle defect or malfunction, a dangerous roadway, or due to the negligence of a motorist other than the truck driver.

When a tractor-trailer accident occurs, it is important to determine precisely what caused it. If the truck driver is determined to have been at fault, then the driver and his or her employer can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, pain and suffering, and other related damages.

An experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer from The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. can help you fight for your rights and ensure that the negligent parties are held accountable.

Truck accidents often have devastating consequences because of the size and weight of the vehicles involved. A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds or more. There are many reasons why these catastrophic truck crashes occur. Regardless of why these happen, they often result in major injuries or even fatalities. It is often the occupants of the smaller vehicles that suffer the more serious injuries.

Here are some of the many common reasons why truck accidents occur:

• Truck driver negligence: This may include driving a truck without the necessary qualifications or training, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, breaking the speed limit, and violating the federal Hours-of-Service regulations, like driving without the required break or rest periods. Distracted driving, such as texting or talking on the cell phone while driving, can also cause major injury truck accidents.
• Overloading: Failing to properly secure heavy loads on the truck can cause the rig to go out of control or cause the items to fly off the truck, posing a serious hazard to other commuters. When a load is unevenly distributed, it can also cause a tractor-trailer jackknife.
• Inspections: Truck drivers and trucking companies have a responsibility to make the necessary inspections before and during the trip. This will ensure that the cargo is safe and secure and also that the truck is in good working condition. Failure to perform these legally-required inspections can have devastating consequences.
• Proper vehicle maintenance: When a truck is not maintained or serviced properly, a number of things could go wrong. Brake or tire failure could occur on the highway, causing the truck to go out of control and cause significant damage.

In cases where a truck driver or trucking company is at fault, injured victims and their families can seek compensation from the at-fault parties for injuries, damages, and losses. Trucking companies have powerful legal defense teams that fight aggressively to protect their best interests. Accident victims can be helped by experienced Georgia truck accident attorney Wayne Grant on their side, who will fight tirelessly to protect their rights.

More than two dozen vehicles, including a number of tractor-trailers, were involved in a Georgia pileup that resulted in at least four fatalities. The Associated Press reports that the fatal truck accident occurred on Interstate 16. Officials say they have not determined why the 27 vehicles collided during the foggy early morning hours, but believe that the accident was a chain-reaction crash. The four fatally injured victims were residents of Covington, Effingham County, and Dublin. There were nine others who were hospitalized, including one patient who required a transfer to another facility.

The Georgia Department of Transportation was allegedly on its way to place caution signs on the interstate before the collision occurred because of visibility issues. It is not clear, however, if the poor visibility was a result of fog or of smoke from a nearby controlled burn that was permitted the day before. Investigators will also have to consider what role large vehicles played in the crash, as seven tractor-trailers were involved in the pileup, including an empty fuel tanker that caught fire.

It is common for fatal pileups, chain reactions, and rear-end collisions to involve large trucks because smaller vehicles can get easily crushed by heavy trailers. Underride collisions, for example, occur when a car crashes into the back or side of a trailer. When this occurs, the top of the smaller car can be sheared off and the vehicle occupants can be crushed.

Whenever a truck is involved in an accident it must be determine if the truck driver was negligent in some way. Drivers who are fatigued, intoxicated, distracted, or otherwise negligent may be held accountable for the damages they cause. Anyone who has lost a loved one in a crash would be well advised to protect his or her rights by calling an experienced Atlanta fatal truck accident lawyer. It is common in these types of cases for insurance companies to refuse liability and for victims to struggle to get the support they need.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a Georgia truck accident, you know how devastating a collision can be. The sheer size of tractor-trailers makes them capable of crushing passenger cars. A moment of distraction, an act of carelessness, or a patch of ice can cause an impact that forever changes the life of the victims.

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation Crash Analysis, Statistics & Information Notebook of 2008, between the years 2000 and 2006, more than six million people were involved in Georgia motor vehicle crashes. On average, 2,394 people are involved in a Georgia collision each day.

In the year 2006, 13,275 Georgia traffic accidents involved a tractor-trailer. When considering all types of motor vehicle accidents, tractor-trailers were only involved in two percent of all accidents. Tractor-trailers were, however, involved in 6.2 percent of all fatal collisions. Other types of trucks were involved in fatal accidents as well, including: single unit trucks (56), panel trucks (11), truck tractors (9), and logging tractor-trailers (9).

In the year 2006, one out of six traffic fatalities in Georgia involved a type of large truck. There was a 4.32 percent increase in nonfatal truck accidents and a 12.26 percent increase in fatal crashes from the year 2000 to the year 2006. If you or a loved one has been involved in a Georgia truck crash, it may be in your best interest to discuss your legal rights and options with a skilled attorney.

The experienced truck accident attorneys at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., offer free consultations at (404) 995-3955 to anyone who has been hurt in a tractor-trailer accident. We know how to get our clients fair compensation for their significant losses. Please contact us today to find out how we can help.

Two drivers were injured in a Habersham County accident involving a tractor-trailer and a Honda CRV. According to a news report in AccessNorthGa.com, the truck accident occurred on Georgia Highway 365 at Cody Road near Mt. Airy. Officials say the truck left the roadway, crossed the median and entered the northbound lanes. The truck clipped the northbound Honda before overturning and coming to rest on the shoulder. The 52-year-old driver of the Honda and the 35-year-old driver of the truck were hospitalized following the crash. The truck driver was cited for failing to maintain his lane of traffic.

It is the responsibility of all motorists including truck drivers to maintain their lane of traffic. According to Georgia Statute 40-6-48: “A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety.” Drivers who fail to maintain their lane may be held accountable for the damages they cause.

A skilled car accident attorney will work with investigators to prove who was responsible for the crash. Was the at-fault driver speeding at the time of the crash? Was he or she fatigued or intoxicated? Was the driver using a cell phone or otherwise distracted before causing the accident?

In cases involving negligence, the at-fault motorist can be held accountable for all of the injuries and damages suffered by the victim. For example, if the victim was physically injured in the collision, he or she can pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, the cost of rehabilitation services and other related damages.

The experienced Georgia truck accident attorneys at Wayne Grant, P.C., help injured victims and their families get fair compensation for their losses. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, please call our offices at (404) 995-3955 for a comprehensive case evaluation.