While trucking accidents constitute one of the most deadly forms of vehicular accident, the industry is closely regulated in order to help reduce the number of crashes involving these massive motor vehicles. Despite such regulations, trucking accidents in Atlanta and the surrounding areas of Georgia still claim the lives of vehicle occupants and cause disabling injury to many others. While tractor-trailer crashes in Georgia can be the result of a range of factors, our experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Attorneys at Montlick and Associates have provided a summary of the most common causes of these accidents based on a study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:
Excessive Speed: While it may be fairly predictable that exceeding the speed limit in a vehicle that can weigh up to forty tons causes a significant number of crashes, it may be surprising to know that it was a factor in close to a quarter of all trucking accidents studied (23 percent).
Drug Use: Although the use of strict DUI laws for commercial drivers has been effective, drug use continues to play a significant role in many trucking accidents. Although the use of illicit drugs like methamphetamine and prescription stimulants to stay awake and drive farther might be predictable, some industry experts were surprised that these drugs were a contributing factor in more than one in every four trucking accidents. The researchers also found that over-the-counter (OTC) medications were a factor in nearly one in five tractor-trailer crashes.
Driver Fatigue: This was an area where the study provided some good news. Many traffic safety experts have long presumed that fatigue is the most common factor in crashes involving semi-trucks. However, hours of service (HOS) rules and recordkeeping requirements seem to have reduced the number of crashes caused by driver fatigue. However, the news was not all good because driver fatigue still was a contributing factor in almost one in five semi-truck collisions.
Lack of Familiarity with Route: Commercial drivers routinely travel unfamiliar roads and highways which increases the probability of making an error. The study found that lack of familiarity with the roadway played a factor in 22 percent of semi-truck accidents.
Blind Spot Errors: Tractor-trailers have enormous blind spots called “no zones” that commercial drivers are trained to be aware of when executing lane changes or making turns. Drivers involved in the collisions studied failed to adequately check or be award of vehicles in their blind spots in fourteen percent of crashes.
Other factors that were involved in a significant number of crashes included distracted driving, failure to observe a basic safety practice, miscalculations regarding appropriate maneuvers and road rage.
Put Our Law Firm’s Over 39 Years of Experience to Work For Your Trucking Accident in Georgia
If you or a family member is involved in an Atlanta tractor-trailer crash, our Atlanta Truck Accident Attorneys at Montlick and Associates have been representing injury victims for over thirty years 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.
