Fatal Collision Involves 27 Vehicles, 7 Tractor-Trailer Trucks & Petroleum Tanker
Our Atlanta personal injury attorneys have previously addressed many types of the most serious motor vehicle accidents and risks, including tractor-trailers, multi-car pileups and tanker-trailers transporting hazardous materials.
While these types of particular hazards have been involved in collisions before, it is extremely unusual to have all three of these dangers involved in a single motor vehicle collision.
However, a multi-vehicle pileup involving 27 motor vehicles just two hours outside of the Atlanta metro area on Interstate 16 combined all of these hazards. When any multi-car pileup occurs, the result is often devastating carnage, many injuries and multiple fatalities. This multi-vehicle collision was no exception as it caused injuries to twelve people and at least four tragic deaths. The scope of the wreckage covered almost a half a mile of roadway.
The dangers posed by tractor-trailers are enormous because a fully loaded commercial truck may exceed the weight of a passenger vehicle by 25 times or more. The likelihood of debilitating permanent injuries and fatalities is much higher when big-rigs are involved in a motor vehicle collision. The unique dangers posed by tractor-trailers include reduced maneuverability, longer stopping distances, decreased range of vision, and greater force of impact as compared to passenger vehicles. Because of their large mass, the party that suffers serious injury or wrongful death in a trucking accident is the occupant of the other vehicle more than 95 percent of the time. There was not just one commercial truck in the I-16 collision but seven.
As if seven tractor-trailers in a multi-vehicle accident did not pose enough of a hazard, a tanker-truck transporting petroleum exploded in the collision. There are special rules that apply to tanker-trailers transporting hazardous substances like explosive or flammable materials. When a tanker explodes, the blast can cause injury to those anywhere in the vicinity.
A collision involving this many vehicles including tractor-trailers and petroleum tankers will have a wide array of investigators and government safety regulators descend on the scene. The process of sorting out the responsible parties and identifying the insurance companies for the many parties can be a difficult task. Our experienced multi-vehicle accident attorneys understand the importance of identifying all potential defendants and uncovering all sources of available insurance.
Montlick and Associates is available to provide effective legal representation to clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.
No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.