The Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Atlanta
A truck accident is often more serious than an accident between two passenger vehicles. The force that a truck packs means that colliding with one often causes more serious injuries to the occupants of the vehicle. Knowing why truck accidents most often occur can help keep everyone on the road safer.
1. Driver Error
Like all drivers, sometimes truck drivers make mistakes. They may drive too fast for the road conditions, they may drive recklessly or even drive while impaired. That being said, most trucking accidents that are attributed to driver error are because of passenger vehicle drivers. This means that truck drivers need to drive defensively when they are sharing the road with smaller vehicles.
2. Driver Fatigue
Drivers are limited by federal law as far as how many hours they can spend on the road. This doesn’t mean that drivers aren’t getting in their cab and heading down the road when they are too tired to do so. Lack of sleep, inadequate exercise and poor eating habits can all lead to driver fatigue. Truck drivers are urged to not get behind the wheel if they believe that they are too tired to drive safely.
3. Improper Vehicle Maintenance
A truck needs to be maintained just like any vehicle. When a trucking company or other owner fails to perform routine or necessary maintenance on their vehicle, it creates a potentially dangerous situation. A driver should inspect their rig at the start of every trip and submit a report. Failing to inspect and maintain a vehicle can lead to a truck accident, and in the worst cases, fatality.
4. Improper Loading
Commercial trailers have to be loaded according to procedure and regulations. When a trailer is loaded improperly, the cargo can shift and affect the way the truck operates. A driver can easily lose control of their vehicle when cargo shifts suddenly. This loss of control can cause an accident that leads to severe injury.
5. Inclement Weather
Poor weather conditions can easily lead to an accident. If a driver isn’t properly trained for driving in inclement weather, they may not know how to respond to changing weather. Nothing short of experience will prepare a driver for operating their rig in bad weather, but a driver can slow down and increase their stopping distance.
Being involved in a truck accident is a harrowing experience. If you are lucky enough to walk away, you may still be left with emotional trauma. If the truck driver is found to be at fault, you may have the right to seek compensation in a civil court.
Speak with an Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you are involved in a truck accident in Atlanta, contact our office, your truck accident attorney, to schedule a case evaluation. We will discuss the details of your accident with you and advise you of your legal options. Call our office today.