Leading Safety Issues in Georgia Tractor-Trailer Accidents
The unique character of tractor-trailers makes for unprecedented safety issues for other motorists with whom these extremely long and enormously heavy vehicles share Georgia roadways. While there are many factors that can play a role in a Georgia tractor-trailer collision, there are certain safety factors that are particularly problematic. When a person in a passenger vehicle is involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer, the results will almost always be severe injury for the passenger vehicle occupant. Though tractor-trailers are involved in a disproportionately high number of collisions given how many of these vehicles are on the roadways, virtually all of the collision can be linked to a number of specific safety issues.
- Truck Driver Fatigue: Despite efforts by regulators to keep fatigued truck drivers off the road, many commercial drivers continue to violate hours of service rules resulting in drivers that are less attentive and responsive. Driver fatigue is one of the leading safety factors in most trucking accidents.
- Failure to Safely Load Cargo: When tractor-trailers are not properly loaded, the load can shift in transit causing the vehicle to tip or the driver to lose control of the vehicle. If the vehicle is overloaded, the tractor-trailer will take longer to stop and be less maneuverable. Either of these situations can result in catastrophic tractor-trailer collisions because tire blowout, rollovers and brake failure are common results.
- Inattentive Truck Drivers: Distracted driving is dangerous under the best circumstances but when a commercial driver is distracted while driving an 80,000 pound fully loaded tractor-trailer the results can be horrific. Cell phone use and other forms of distraction are common for commercial drivers because they spend such significant amounts of time in their rig. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that distracted driving may be the cause of thirty percent of trucking accidents.
- No Zones: Tractor-trailers have enormous blind spots called "no zones." When truck drivers fail to pay attention to these areas, they can easily move into a passenger vehicle.
- Drugged drivers: While alcohol use has declined amongst truck drivers, a growing number of tractor-trailer drivers use drugs like methamphetamine so that they can continue to drive with less rest. While many commercial drivers think these drugs keep them more alert and driving better, the drugs impair driving ability and cause collisions.
- Improperly Maintained Vehicles: Tractor-trailers are supposed to be inspected before and after a run. When these inspections are not conducted, tires may blowout or brakes fail. Either of these malfunctions can result in the loss of control of the tractor-trailer.
While this is hardly a complete list of safety factors that contribute to Georgia tractor-trailer accidents, these are some of the leading factors in Georgia trucking accidents.
Contact Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation
If a Tractor-Trailer accident has left you or a loved one injured, it is important that you consider speaking with a Georgia Tractor-Trailer Accident and Injury Attorney at Montlick & Associates as soon as possible. Tractor-Trailer accidents can leave you with excessive medical bills, lost income, and an uncertain future. At Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, our firm has more than 39 years of experience helping injured individuals from all over Georgia.
If you would like to discuss your or a loved one's personal injuries with one of our Georgia Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyers, contact Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law today by calling (800) LAW-NEED (529-6333) to schedule your free consultation. You may also visit us online at www.montlick.com to complete a Free Case Evaluation Form, and you may also participate in a 24-hour Live Online Chat.
Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law
17 Executive Park Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
Telephone: 1 (404) 529-6333
Toll Free: 1 (800) LAW-NEED
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Source:
https://one.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/announce/testimony/distractiontestimony.html