Gwinnett County is the fastest growing in metro Atlanta and currently is the second most populated county in the state with 877,222 residents.
With rapid growth in population, there's also more traffic and, unfortunately, more car wrecks.
Recent data, according to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, shows that in 2014 there were 36,094 total crashes, with 11,081 injuries and 55 deaths. In 2015, according to stats provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 32 deaths.
From 2011 to 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that 25 fatal deaths in Gwinnett County resulted from large truck crashes.
Here are some facts you need to know about truck accidents:
- Every 16 minutes in the U.S. a person is injured or killed in a tractor trailer accident.
- Approximately 3,700 people that are passengers in vehicles are killed each year in collisions with tractor trailers.
There are a ton of commercial trucks that travel through Atlanta annually - 150 million tons to be exact. And, that number is growing.
As population and jobs continue to grow in places like Gwinnett County, the Atlanta Regional Commission predicts a 76 percent increase in the amount of freight travel around the region by 2040.
So, what can you do to protect yourself from a truck accident?
- Drive with caution around trucks on the road.
Remember they cannot stop on a dime so don't pull in front of one and assume they can safely stop in time.
- Stay visible to the truck driver.
If you can't see the driver's mirrors, chances are he can't see you.
- Pay attention to the trucks turn signals and don't travel for long periods of time next to tractor trailer.
If you've been injured in a truck accident in Gwinnett County, fill out our free case evaluation.
Truck Accident: Common types of injuries sustained in tractor trailer/ truck accidents
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