Common Types of Truck Crashes in Georgia
Many different types of trucks roll through the roads and highways of Georgia, from Atlanta to Macon to Savannah. In any accident involving a truck, the injuries are typically severe due to the force of these large vehicles colliding with smaller cars and motorcycles.
The following sections represent some of the common types of truck accidents. Find out more about each type of accident by clicking on the links below. If you need immediate assistance, contact our law firm now or complete the free consultation form on this page.
- Delivery Truck Accident
- Semi-Truck Accident
- Logging Truck Accident
- Rollover Truck Accident
- Jackknife Truck Accident
- Underride Truck Accident
- Fatal Truck Accident
Delivery truck drivers working for parcel delivery services face tremendous pressure to meet delivery deadlines. While many drivers follow Georgia laws and safely share the road with others, this pressure can lead to truck driver negligence. For example, a driver might back up to an address he drove past without checking for other vehicles or pedestrians behind the truck.
At the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays, we understand that it is not unusual for delivery trucks to be poorly maintained in Georgia. A business owner's failure to maintain trucking equipment may lead to a serious accident. For example, a delivery driver might lose control of his or her vehicle when trying to stop or turn. A trucking company may even fail to conduct drug testing of delivery drivers, increasing the risk of a drug-related truck accident.
In this video, lawyer Gary Martin Hays shows you what to do if you or a loved one have been injured in a tractor-trailer accident. Tractor-trailer accidents occur every 16 minutes, so it's critical to know your rights if you've been injured in a tractor-trailer wreck.
A semi-truck is inherently unstable because of the high center of gravity of its design. An over-weighted truck only makes this situation worse. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety closely regulate the commercial trucking industry, but accidents due to truck driver negligence and trucking equipment maintenance still occur.
The following are a few contributing factors in semi-truck accidents:
- Violations of restrictions on hours of driving, resulting in driver fatigue
- Overweight semi-trucks and unbalanced loads
- Semi-truck equipment maintenance
A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. A typical passenger vehicle weighs about 3,000 pounds. Because of the significant forces involved, fatal truck accidents sadly are not uncommon. If you or a loved one has been injured in a semi-truck accident, this is the time to act.
In the greater Atlanta area, the timber industry supports many jobs. Loggers take to the highways across Georgia and neighboring states every day. Unfortunately, serious accidents sometimes occur due to the negligence of loggers. They may be experiencing driver fatigue after a long day of hard work.
Logging trucks often travel narrow rural roads where any type of brake failure can lead to the vehicle leaving the roadway or striking another vehicle. An over-weighted truck can make navigation of dark winding roads impossible, particularly if the driver is not aware that the truck has been loaded incorrectly.
We have the experience and resources to stand up to logging companies and their insurance companies. Contact the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates today for your free case evaluation.
Truck accidents involving rollover are some of the most frightening and devastating accidents on any road. When the trailer of a semi-truck falls onto its side, it may block several lanes of traffic and cause numerous collisions. Rollovers can be even more devastating when the truck is carrying loosely packed or hazardous cargo, which may spill out onto the road.
Many factors can contribute to a rollover accident, which makes determining liability a tricky process. Fault may lie with the truck driver for taking a turn too quickly or braking improperly. The trucking company may be liable for failing to maintain the truck's brakes or tires, or for improperly balancing the cargo. If speed was a factor, we may be able to show that the trucking company pressured the driver to drive too fast in order to make an unrealistic delivery deadline.
Sometimes, liability for a rollover doesn't lie with the trucker or trucking company, but with a third party. For instance, if the trucker had to swerve to avoid a collision with another vehicle, that other vehicle's driver may be liable. If the rollover happened because of dangerous road conditions, you may have a case against the municipal government responsible for maintaining the road.
Because of the number of parties that could be involved in a rollover accident, it's critically important that you contact an experienced attorney from our firm as soon as possible. We may be able to find sources of compensation that can help pay for the full cost of your accident. Give us a call today for a free consultation.
A truck is said to have "jackknifed" when the cab and the trailer fold together, forming a "V" shape. Jackknife accidents can cause catastrophic and even fatal injuries when the heavy trailer makes contact with a smaller passenger car. You may have been seriously hurt or lost a loved one to a truck that jackknifed.
Jackknife accidents have several possible causes, but many of them boil down to an inexperienced or reckless driver. For example, if the truck is going over 55 mph on a highway and the trucker then slams on the brakes, the trailer may swing out of control. Failing to appropriately negotiate curves or compensate for slippery road conditions can likewise lead to a jackknife accident.
Depending on the circumstances, we may have a case against the trucking company for failing to adequately train the driver or properly maintain the truck. A third party may also be liable if, for instance, the driver had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision with another vehicle. With so many possible legal implications, it's critically important to have a veteran attorney on your side. That's why you need to call Gary Martin Hays today.
Serious accidents often occur when smaller vehicles become trapped underneath the trailer part of a tractor-trailer. These accidents are known as underride accidents. And they're among the most serious truck accidents we deal with at our law firm. Often, the driver or passengers in the smaller vehicle trapped underneath the truck sustain serious or fatal injuries.
Because underride accidents can be so serious, numerous rules and regulations exist which require tractor-trailers to be equipped with safety devices designed to prevent them. If trucking companies fail to have such devices installed or if the device was not working properly due to negligence or poor maintenance, injury victims may be able to take legal action against the trucking company. That's why it's critical that injury victims or family members talk to an attorney as soon as possible about their potential case.
If you lost someone in a fatal truck accident, you may find it difficult to focus on anything more than your family's grief and suffering. At the same time, it's important to pursue justice.
You can rely on the responsive, determined legal representation of Gary Martin Hays & Associates. We can ask the important questions that may determine the full compensation you are owed:
- Was the driver going too fast for road and weather conditions? This may be grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit based on truck driver negligence.
- In the event of a drunk driving trucking accident, did the trucking company adequately train, and supervise employees, conducting appropriate background checks and screening?
We have the resources and expertise to fully investigate the factors involved in the accident to help our clients build the strongest possible case. Call us right away.
Find a location near you