An 8-year-old boy was killed in an Atlanta truck accident after a part of a truck broke off and crashed through the windshield of his parents’ SUV. According to a news report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the fatal truck accident occurred on the I-20 near downtown Atlanta the night of July 11, 2012. Officials say transmission parts from a passing truck flew over the median and crashed through the windshield of a Chevrolet Blazer. The debris sliced the driver’s arm and struck her 8-year-old son near his collarbone, fatally severing an artery. The victim’s 19-month-old sister suffered minor cuts from the flying glass as well.
According to a CBS Atlanta news report, the trucking company involved in this tragic accident has a poor maintenance record. Federal safety officials say CW Transport has a worse maintenance record than 94.6 percent of trucking companies of a similar size. They have a history of having loose or missing wheel fasteners, defective axle parts, and other mechanical issues. Additionally, CW drivers ranked worse than 67.5 percent of similar sized companies.
Trucking companies and truck owners have a legal responsibility to properly maintain their vehicles. When there is a failure to properly repair and maintain a truck, the at-fault party can be held responsible for the resulting injuries and losses. In such cases, compensation may be available for medical bills, funeral expenses, lost future wages, suffering, loss of companionship, and other related damages.
The experienced Atlanta truck accident wrongful death lawyers at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., offer free consultations at (404) 995-3955 to anyone who has suffered a loss in an accident involving a commercial truck or big rig. Please contact us for a free, comprehensive, and confidential consultation.
