Truck accidents are frequent occurrences in Atlanta. Each year, truck accidents cause thousands of serious injuries. They also cause hundreds of deaths. This article discusses the common causes of truck accidents in Atlanta.
You have the right to seek compensation if you’re injured in a truck accident. However, you must prove that the truck driver’s negligence caused the collision. Here are some common examples of truck driver negligence:
Truck drivers must keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the steering wheel. Unfortunately, they’re often distracted by their mobile devices. Other truck drivers lose control when they attempt to eat and drink, or change the radio station.
Some truck drivers consume powerful stimulants to remain awake. Those drugs impair the drivers’ judgment. Also, they needlessly endanger other drivers on the road.
Trucks have huge blind spots. Therefore, truck drivers must check their blind spots prior to changing lanes or turning. Unfortunately, even experienced truckers often forget to check their blind spots.
Truck drivers are compensated based on the number of miles they drive. In fact, they don’t get paid when they’re not on the road. Therefore, truck drivers tend to drive long routes without resting. That leads to fatigue which causes serious accidents.
Trucking companies often hire drivers with minimal experience. Then, they put those drivers on the road without properly training them. That inevitably causes road collisions.
Truck drivers must not transport cargo that exceeds weight restrictions. If they carry too much cargo, their trucks become overloaded and unbalanced. Overloaded trucks are more likely to roll-over. Overloaded trucks also take a long time to stop.
Some truck drivers recklessly operate their vehicles. Reckless driving includes violating speed limits, tailgating other vehicles, ignoring traffic signals, weaving in and out of lanes, and driving while distracted. It’s particularly dangerous for truck drivers to speed because their vehicle can’t stop quickly.
Trucking Company Negligence
Trucking companies are also one of the common causes of truck accidents in Atlanta. Some are small operations with loose rules. Others are national motor carriers without accountability. These companies hire or contract truck drivers to haul cargo for them. Truck companies must abide by the laws and regulations that are designed to protect the public. Truck accidents are inevitable when truck companies cut corners to save money.
Skilled Atlanta truck accident lawyers understand how to prove that trucking companies cut corners. If you can prove that, you can recover compensation from the trucking company, in addition to the truck driver.
Trucking companies must do the following:
- Avoid making irresponsible driving demands to truckers
- Confirm that truckers aren’t exceeding their hours of service or maintaining inaccurate driving logs.
- Ensure that truckers are properly trained and supervised
- Safely maintain the vehicles in their fleet.
Improper Loading Practices
Trucks on Georgia highways typically carry heavy loads. Those loads may include cargo from industrial sites or agricultural farms. Sometimes truck cargo includes dangerous and toxic substances. Trucks must be loaded appropriately so that they are not overweight or unstable. The following parties are responsible for safely loading cargo:
Drivers must ensure that they are not hauling negligently loaded cargo.
Truck companies cannot overload trucks, even if they are trying to save shipping costs. Additionally, truck companies sometimes must purchase safe loading equipment.
There are often third parties that assist with loading. Those loaders are frequently untrained. Unfortunately, that increases the likelihood that a truck will be improperly loaded.
You need an experienced investigative team to determine whether improper loading contributed to your truck accident. Your legal team will start by reviewing the cargo records. Then, they will analyze the accident scene photos. That way, they can determine if the cargo was improperly secured.
Mechanical Errors
Mechanical errors are also one of the common causes of truck accidents in Atlanta. Trucks have all of the crucial vehicle parts that cars do, such as suspension, steering, and brakes. However, trucks also rely on a lot of additional equipment, especially for securing thousands of pounds of cargo. If one of those parts fails, it can easily lead to a deadly accident.
If a defective truck part caused the collision, then you must determine:
- Whether the owner or operator of the truck should have replaced that part during routine maintenance
- Whether the part was defectively manufactured or assembled. In that case, the product manufacturer might also be liable for your damages.
- If the truck driver drove his vehicle in a manner that caused the equipment to fail
Our Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You
At Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers we’ve helped hundreds of truck accident victims. We’re here to help you, as well. Just give us a call.
Call us today at (404) 939-9470. Also, you may fill-out our online contact form to schedule a free case review with an Atlanta truck accident lawyer.
