The truck accident occurred on Tuesday when the tractor-trailer apparently hit a Ford Focus, which triggered off a multivehicle crash. The driver of the Focus crashed into a Toyota Camry. The tractor-trailer driver fled the scene of the accident. As a personal injury lawyer, I see far too many hit and run accidents. It is especially shocking that a truck driver who possesses a commercial driver’s license would flee an accident scene.

 When the drivers of the Focus and the Toyota Camry got out of the car to check on the damage, they were both struck by an oncoming car. Both drivers sustained fatal injuries, and were declared dead at the scene. The driver of the last vehicle sustained injuries, and was rushed to the hospital. The wrongful death and personal injury suffered by these drivers was tragic and clearly preventable. Had the truck driver stopped his vehicle and immediately placed warning flares out, the other drivers may very well have not been killed on the interstate.

Police have now launched a hunt for the hit-and-run truck driver. They are likely to file charges against the driver of the tractor-trailer as soon as he is found. 

Trucking companies have a responsibility to hire only responsible, safe and reliable drivers, and failure to do so can lead to liability if an untrained or inexperienced driver causes an accident. Additionally, trucking companies may be exposed to liability if they fail to maintain their trucks. 

Maintenance companies and truck repair companies can also be named in a truck accident claim if the accident was caused by poor maintenance of the truck or shoddy repairs. If the truck accident was caused by defective vehicle parts, a truck accident claim can also include the truck manufacturer. Truck drivers can be held accountable in an accident involving rash driving, speeding, intoxicated driving, distracted driving or other behaviors resulting in an accident. 

Victims, who have been injured in a truck accident in Atlanta, may be eligible for a number of damages, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and  future lost wages. Additionally, survivors of people who have been killed in a truck accident may be eligible for wrongful death damages. In a wrongful death claim, survivors may be eligible for funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support and other damages.

Filing a truck accident claim is different from filing an auto accident claim in Atlanta. In a truck accident claim, you can expect to be up against the trucking company, lawyers and insurers, all of who can be guaranteed to have experience in accident litigation. It's the reason why you need an experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer on your side.

The Atlanta truck accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent persons injured in truck and tractor trailer accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

Failure to obey traffic laws is important for any motorist, but these failures can be critical and can have devastating effects when they involve tractor-trailer drivers. Drivers of these massive commercial trucks are at a high risk of causing an accident when they run red lights, tailgate or break other traffic rules. The risk to motorists in the vicinity of a truck is high because drivers of smaller vehicles involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer are at a much higher risk of being injured. As truck accident attorneys know, an overwhelming majority of accidents that involve a tractor-trailer and a smaller passenger vehicle end with serious personal injury or wrongful death of the occupants of the smaller vehicle.

Those are frightening odds for any motorist to beat, and tractor-trailer drivers must always keep that fact in mind. Further, tractor-trailer drivers must avoid dangerous behaviors like speeding or distracted driving. Speeding is believed to be the number one factor in commercial truck accidents in the United States, contributing to more accidents every year than drunk driving or distracted driving. Driving at speeds beyond the posted limits for commercial trucks, or at speeds that are inappropriate for current traffic, weather conditions, can lead to devastating accidents.  

Drivers must also focus 100% of their attention on the road. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation have recently been strengthening their efforts on reducing distracted driving accidents involving commercial truck and bus drivers. There is now a ban on texting while driving for commercial truck drivers.

The Atlanta truck accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent persons injured in commercial truck and 18-wheeler accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

The agency had been required to meet the deadline of October 28 for the publication of the new rules. However, in a statement, the agency says that several parties that have been opposed to the rule have agreed to an extension of the deadline for publication. The agency expects a deal to be announced on November 28, 2011.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's decision to postpone the publication of the rule is no surprise to any Atlanta truck accident attorney. After all, the agency's proposal to review the Hours of Service for truck drivers has been a controversial one, and is heavily opposed by the trucking industry. 

One of the most controversial aspects of the proposal has been the reduction of the Hours of Service for truckers from the current eleven hours to ten hours. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has indicated its preference for a reduction of the number of hours that a driver can drive continuously, from eleven hours to ten hours. 

It is a fact that truck accident fatalities have dropped over the past few years, but it is very doubtful that this has had to do with increased trucker work hours.  There are several other more logical and compelling explanations. For one thing, the floundering economy has contributed to a decline in truck accident fatalities. Freight volumes have been down for the past couple of years as the economy struggled, and that has naturally meant fewer truck accident fatalities. 

The biggest reason for the trucking industry's opposition to the reduction in driver work hours is the losses that are expected to occur as a result. Experts estimate that the trucking industry could suffer as much as $2 billion in losses annually through a reduction in driver work hour rules. The industry insists that it cannot afford the increased costs of compliance with any new rules.

The Atlanta truck accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent persons who have been injured in tractor-trailer and 18-wheeler accidents across Georgia.

Several states have authorized higher truck weight limits, allowing an increase on the weight of 18- wheelers from 80,000 pounds to 97,000 pounds. Congress is also debating such increases in weight limits. Unfortunately, during a recession, calls for increases on truck weight limits have grown louder, because of the potential benefits to the trucking industry. 

According to advocates for an increase in truck weight limits, such an increase will increase efficiency and productivity, lowering the number of trips needed for transportation of cargo. According to them, higher truck weight limits may also lead to lower strain and wear and tear on highways, and reduced maintenance and repair expenses. However, the number one factor behind the trucking industry’s support of increased truck weight limits is the fact that these are expected to save the trucking industry billions of dollars every year.

However, what trucking companies do not like to mention is the increased risk to motor vehicles when tractor-trailer and trucks become bulkier and heavier. According to the Truck Safety Coalition, there were more than 3,500 truck accident-related deaths that occurred in the state of Georgia between 1994 and 2009. The Truck Safety Coalition says that heavier trucks are simply more difficult to control, and take a much longer time to come to a stop when the brakes are applied. Additionally, these trucks may be much more prone to rollover crashes. According to statistics, the risk that a commercial truck accident will result in a death or injury rises with every increased ton of the truck. Supporters of increased truck weight limits say that a vehicle’s braking power will remain the same even with an increase in weight limits.

Trucking safety groups cite the reduced number of truck accident deaths across the country to support their demand for a higher weight limit. However, the decline in truck accident fatalities has been part of an overall decline in traffic accident deaths across the country. It has also had a lot to do with the recession and lowered trucking activity.

The Atlanta truck accident attorneys at the Katz Law Firm represent persons injured in truck accidents across the metro Atlanta region and Georgia.

A bulletin by the Hart County Sheriff's Office has a description of the driver of the 18-wheeler, who left the scene of the accident. There's nothing to indicate that the driver of the tractor-trailer was aware of the accident, or that it resulted in a fatality. Local Hart County officials are asking any witnesses who saw the tractor to contact them immediately. Police are asking people to look out for a damaged trailer.

Being involved in a commercial truck or tractor trailer accident is one of the most terrifying experiences imaginable. It's not just the size of these vehicles that makes them so intimidating. It's also the bulk that these vehicles pack into their large frames that places smaller vehicles at serious risk when they are involved in accidents. Not surprisingly to many truck accident lawyers, in any accident involving 18- wheelers and smaller vehicles, it is the occupants of the smaller car who are most at risk for injuries or deaths. Even when motorists survive these accidents, they may suffer from debilitating injuries that require extensive hospitalization, surgery and long-term care.

A tractor-trailer accident claim in Georgia can differ significantly from a regular auto accident claim. When a person is involved in an accident with a truck, he is dealing not just with the driver of the 18-wheeler, but also the trucking company that owns and operates the truck. In contrast, in an auto accident, it may only be you against the other motorist. 

To protect your rights, it's important that you limit your interaction with representatives of the trucking company, and consult with an Atlanta truck accident attorney.

The Atlanta truck accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent victims who have been injured in tractor trailer and truck accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia. If you have been involved in a commercial trucking accident, consult an experienced lawyer at our firm. All initial consultations are free. 

According to police, the thirty-five-year-old motorcyclist was riding his vehicle in the left lane of northbound I-85 when his motorcycle struck the tire tread. The impact caused the motorcyclist to lose control. He was lying in the center lane of the highway, and in the path of an oncoming 18- wheeler. The truck driver did not see him, and ran over him. He was rushed to the Gwinnett Medical Center, but died.

This is the most recent in a series of motorcycle accidents that have left Atlanta personal injury lawyers very concerned. In recent months, according to police officers, there have been at least half a dozen motorcyclists killed in accidents in metro Atlanta highways. In August, a motorcyclist was killed in an accident involving two vehicles. He had been riding a Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle, when his motorcycle was struck by two vehicles on I-75 near Cobb County. He sustained fatal injuries. Police believe that the accident was caused by a Porsche driver who fled the scene of the accident. Both the driver and his passenger were located by police about two weeks later.

Another accident in south Fulton County involved a motorcycle and a sports utility vehicle that had stopped with a flat tire.   A 74-year-old riding a Harley-Davidson struck the stopped SUV. In May, a female motorist was accused of crashing into a motorcycle and killing a student. That driver was arrested earlier for DUI.

Look out for motorcyclists even closer at accident magnets, like intersections. Remember that a motorcyclist may be hidden in your blind spots, and may be concealed from view. Don't assume that a motorcyclist is speeding - a motorcyclist may seem like it's traveling at higher speeds than it is. Most motorcyclists know that their chances of surviving any accident involving their vehicle and an automobile, are not very good, which is why Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers find that most motorcyclists prioritize obeying safety rules.

The Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent motorcyclists injured in accidents across Georgia.

A bulletin by the Hart County Sheriff's Office has a description of the driver of the 18-wheeler, who left the scene of the accident. There's nothing to indicate that the driver of the tractor-trailer was aware of the accident, or that it resulted in a fatality. Local Hart County officials are asking any witnesses who saw the tractor to contact them immediately. Police are asking people to look out for a damaged trailer.

Being involved in a commercial truck or tractor trailer accident is one of the most terrifying experiences imaginable. It's not just the size of these vehicles that makes them so intimidating. It's also the bulk that these vehicles pack into their large frames that places smaller vehicles at serious risk when they are involved in accidents. Not surprisingly to Atlanta truck accident lawyers, in any accident involving 18- wheelers and smaller vehicles, it is the occupants of the smaller car who are most at risk for injuries or deaths. Even when motorists survive these accidents, they may suffer from a debilitating personal injury that require extensive hospitalization, surgery and long-term care.

A tractor-trailer accident claim in Georgia can differ significantly from a regular auto accident claim. When a person is involved in an accident with a truck, he is dealing not just with the driver of the 18-wheeler, but also the trucking company that owns and operates the truck as well as its insurance carrier. In contrast, in an auto accident, it may only be you against the other motorist. 

To protect your rights, it's important that you limit your interaction with representatives of the trucking company, and consult with an Atlanta truck accident attorney.

The Atlanta truck accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent victims who have been injured in tractor trailer and truck accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia. If you have been involved in a commercial trucking accident, consult an experienced lawyer at our firm. All initial consultations are free. 

The deal was announced last month by the Department of Transportation. Already trucking safety groups have raised questions about whether Mexican trucks will be able to meet safety standards in the United States. The Teamsters Union has already made clear its concerns about trucking safety. 

However, the Department of Transportation says that there is no need to worry, and that Mexican drivers will be held to the same high standards that American drivers are. According to the agency, Mexican truck drivers will be put through drug and alcohol tests to make sure that there are no intoxicated drivers on the street. Besides, the Department of Transportation will also electronically monitor truck drivers through onboard recorders. These truckers will also be held to high emission safety standards.

However, all these assurances are doing nothing to placate the concerns of Atlanta truck accident lawyers. For one thing, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s assurances about the safety of Mexican trucks have been debunked earlier. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration had released the results of studies which showed that Mexican trucks have a high 90% compliance rate with US regulations. Those studies have been criticized by the Department of Transportation Inspector General. According to the Inspector General, the research was flawed because it failed to take into consideration random border crossings. Additionally, the research failed to consider the fact that trucks built in Mexico after 1996 may not be compliant with US safety regulations.

Lawmakers are already moving to limit the implementation of the agreement. A group of lawmakers headed by Representative Peter Defazio has already written to Transportation Sec. LaHood, challenging the agreement. Legislation to limit the Department of Transportation’s implementation of the agreement has been introduced. Lawmakers are outraged that the federal administration intends to use taxpayer money to install safety devices on Mercian trucks. There are plans to install onboard recorders in Mexican trucks to make sure that drivers do not drive beyond the maximum allowed hours. However, these devices would be paid for by taxpayer money, and that is something that many lawmakers will not take kindly to.

Atlanta truck accident lawyers don't believe that our trucking inspection and safety programs are sophisticated enough to prevent unsafe Mexican trucks from coming through the border, or even monitoring their safety while they are on American highways.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s concern over truck rollover accidents comes through in its report into a truck accident in Indianapolis in 2009. The accident which injured five people was ultimately blamed on a tanker truck careening out of control, and flipping over, setting off an explosion. The tanker truck had been loaded with 9,100 gallons of liquefied petroleum gas at the time.

Tanker trucks represent just 6% of the total number of trucks in the country, but account for more than 30% of all fatal truck rollover accidents. Tankers carry liquid cargo, and this cargo may be prone to shifting while in transport. This shift can cause a redistribution of weight, possibly causing the truck to flip over. Tanker trucks very often carry hazardous materials like gasoline, and so, the risks from a rollover accident do not end as soon as the truck flips over. In most of these cases, the hazardous material can leak, posing a serious risk of explosions, fires and toxic exposure.

In the Indianapolis accident, the National Transportation Safety Board mentions a number of factors, including road design and reckless driving. In particular, the report mentions excessive and faulty use of the steering mechanism. However, the National Transportation Safety Board says that this accident could have been prevented if the tanker truck had come with stability control systems to minimize the risks of rollover.

The Board also wants the National Traffic Safety Administration to establish stability control standards for commercial trucks and buses that have a GWR of more than 10,000 pounds. It also wants the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to set new standards for cargo tanks, and require mandatory installation of stability control systems on all commercial vehicles.

Trucking safety experts have found rollover prevention technology in tanker trucks to be very effective in preventing rollovers. In many of these accidents, truck drivers are not even aware that the cargo tank is about to flip over until it's too late. The stability control system can actually override the tanker truck driver, effectively preventing a possibly serous, or even fatal, rollover accident.

This accident proves to Atlanta car accident lawyers the crash risks involving motorists with chronic illnesses. However, the risks to drivers who suffer a medical condition at the wheel would soon be reduced if plans to develop a car that monitors human health come to fruition. 

It is extremely fortunate that no one was injured in this accident. Police believe that the driver had a medical condition and blacked out at the wheel, causing him to lose control of his vehicle. It was most likely a diabetic coma that caused him to black out. The driver sustained minor injuries, and was taken to the hospital for treatment. No charges have been filed against him.

Ford Motor Company recently announced that it is working together with a number of medical and health technology companies to develop human health monitoring systems for its vehicles. These technologies would be incorporated into Ford's Sync system. So far, the company has tested an allergy monitoring system that would use web-based information and the car’s GPS to display pollen levels in the road that the driver wants to take. Engineers have also tested a device that continuously monitors a diabetic driver's glucose levels, letting him know when he is in danger of his levels dropping too low. What's more, the device will even direct him to the nearest restaurant, and suggest foods that will help increase blood sugar levels.

http://www.ajc.com/news/north-fulton/truck-plows-into-neighborhood-975717.html?cxtype=rss_news_81960

The legislation, called the Safe Roads Act, has been introduced by US Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman. The legislation would implement the recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office, advising the establishment of a driver test database. The database would contain information about positive drug test results from commercial truck and bus drivers from around the country. 

The database can be used by trucking companies before they hire a prospective employee. Doctors, trucking companies and service agents would be required to furnish updated and accurate information about positive drug test results. With accurate, reliable and frequently updated information available, trucking companies would be able to make safe hiring decisions, thereby reducing the risk of trucking accidents involving one of their vehicles.

Currently, truck drivers with a drug use history are able to find employment because they conceal this information from their future employers. Often, trucking companies do not have access to the information they need to hire a safer driver. Both of these problems can be solved with the establishment of the database. 

Commercial motor vehicle drivers are at a high risk of drug use and abuse. The trucking industry has always denied that there's a problem with truck drivers who are able to find jobs at trucking companies even with a prior history of drug use. However, Atlanta truck accident attorneys have been aware for a while that the current system is rife with loopholes that fail to keep such drivers out of the system.

According to the survey, 70% of Americans feel that traffic safety laws should be strictly enforced. There's a lesson here for Atlanta and throughout Georgia which has recently banned texting while driving - laws can be meaningless unless these are enforced and violators penalized sufficiently. 

Additionally, the survey also indicates that there is plenty of support for tough teen driver licensing standards. 86% of the respondents believe that new drivers should be required to complete a driver’s education course before they are allowed a driver’s license. American motorists also want to see automakers invest in technologies that will help prevent accidents and keep motorists safe. 60% of the respondents wanted automakers to do more to make their vehicles safer. 

There are really no surprises in this survey for Atlanta car accident lawyers. One of the factors contributing to the declining rate of traffic accident deaths in Georgia has been strict state and local action against devastating driving behaviors, like drunk driving and distracted driving. Several states around the country, including Georgia, have passed laws aimed at keeping intoxicated motorists off the street. Newer laws prohibit drivers from texting while driving, and in some states, using hand-held cell phones while driving. More government action in the form of enacting new laws and enforcing current safety laws can help reduce accidents and keep people safer.

While truck drivers are limited by the number of hours that they can spend consecutively behind the wheel, the lack of enough numbers of convenient resting and parking areas means that drivers are often forced to continue to drive even beyond their maximum work hour limits. Besides, the establishment of safe truck stops and rest areas would also keep truck drivers safe from assaults, burglaries and other crimes.

Jason’s Law is named after Jason Rivenburg, a truck driver who was killed during an assault at an abandoned gas station in South Carolina. Rivenburg was early for a delivery and parked his tractor-trailer at the gas station.   After his death, his widow Hope lobbied for passage of legislation that would dramatically increase truck driver access to safe resting and parking facilities.

It hasn't been an easy process. The first version of the bill died in Congress during the last session. The new version of the bill would provide for $20 million to be spent in increasing truck driver access to dedicated resting and parking facilities. A range of initiatives would be covered under the legislation, including the construction of more numbers of truck parking and resting facilities, improvement of existing commercial truck parking and resting areas with space for more vehicles, as well as enhancements to current facilities to accommodate larger tractor-trailers. The bill also provides for the creation of public and private partnerships that will work at the maintenance of truck stops and parking facilities.

There have been several bus accidents over the past two years that have indicated the need for new safety regulations that can help deal with some of the serious bus safety issues that we currently face.  The new proposals aim to do that. For instance, one of the issues that have bothered Atlanta bus accident attorneys has been the fact that bus companies find it too easy to reappear under a new name and address after one of their vehicles has been involved in a fatal accident. The new rule would create a federal standard that would help determine whether a carrier used to exist under a different name earlier. This would close current loopholes that allow carriers to resurface a few months after a serious accident, under a new name.

The new proposals also make it tougher for commercial drivers to get their licenses. Under the proposals, a driver would need to have a commercial driver’s learner’s permit before he can receive his commercial driver's license. Besides, the federal agency wants to establish a uniform CDL testing standard across the country. 

For the first time, consumers are being included in the loop. The new rules will allow consumers to verify the safety record of the bus company by visiting the FMCSA’s bus safety website. Consumers can look up a carrier’s safety record and other essential information before a journey.

The new rules sound very promising, and do a good job of addressing the safety issues to which Atlanta bus accident lawyers have been drawing attention.

Seatbelt usage among commercial truck drivers increased to 78% in 2010 from 74% the previous year. That is the fourth consecutive annual increase in seat belt usage in this section of the population. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, approximately 80% of commercial truck drivers in states that have primary seat belt laws wore seatbelts. However, in states which do not have primary seat belt laws, the seat belt usage rate among commercial truck drivers dropped to only 72%. 

The FMCSA is also reporting an increase in seat belt usage rates among both commercial truck and bus drivers in 2010. Those rates were 78% in 2010, compared to just 65% in 2007.

Atlanta truck accident attorneys credit the fact that most states now have primary seat belt laws that allow law enforcement officers to ticket a driver for failing to wear seat belts even if no other infractions are noted, for this spike in seat belt usage. Besides, the federal agency believes that greater enforcement has led to an increase in seat belt usage rates. The federal administration has also been spending more time educating commercial truck and bus drivers about the need to buckle up at all times. 

Commercial truck drivers are at a high risk of ejections during serious truck accidents like rollovers. Due to the weight and balance specifications in these vehicles, commercial trucks are at a much higher risk of rollovers, especially when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds and makes a turn.

The Nissan rolled over on its side, killing the female driver. Her husband, who was a passenger in the vehicle suffered injuries, and was taken to the hospital.

The driver of the tractor-trailer has been charged with vehicular homicide in the second degree and making an improper lane change. Accordingly, a wrongful death action will likely arise due to the accident. Sadly, according to news reports, the couple was newly married.

When you're driving a vehicle that can weigh up to 80 thousand pounds, there's little room for driving errors. That may seem harsh, but it's true. Drivers of tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers simply do not have the luxury of making the mistake of getting distracted while driving. An investigation into this particular truck accident is on, but it will be a few weeks before we know why the tractor-trailer made an unsafe lane change. Driving errors like this are often the result of negligence, or distractions while driving.

Atlanta accidents that are linked to driving errors or distracted driving can result in a truck accident claim being made against the trucking company. As the employees of truck drivers, these companies are responsible for hiring only experienced, qualified and trained drivers. In such cases, an Atlanta truck accident attorney will conduct his own investigation into the accident to determine whether driving error was a factor in the crash. However, an official investigation report by the Georgia Highway Patrol and other agencies can also help support your claim.

The tanker truck suffered serious damage in the accident, and the driver was trapped in the truck. When the driver of the 18 wheel got out, he noticed the beginning of a fire in the tanker. He was able to escape in time to avoid the massive explosion that ripped through the tanker, killing the driver instantly. The fire from the explosion lasted for more than two hours. 

According to the 18-wheeler driver, he saw the tanker truck coming up from behind him, and flashed his lights. However, the tanker simply ran into his carrier. The driver of the tanker truck didn’t try to apply his brakes.    Police are investigating the possibility that the tanker truck driver had dozed off at the wheel. However, investigations are bound to be impacted by the fact that the tanker truck driver died in the accident, and his vehicle has been too severely damaged to detect mechanical failures. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. 

Driver fatigue has been a major source of concern to Atlanta truck accident attorneys and federal trucking safety authorities. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has posted a Proposed Rulemaking for Hours of Service for truck drivers.  The agency is currently taking comments from the public about the Hours of Service rules.

Fatigue has been a vastly underestimated cause of auto accidents a while now, but in the trucking industry, it has been clear for many years now that fatigued, drowsy and sleepy truckers are a serious risk to their own safety as well as the safety of others.

The Georgia/South Carolina/Alabama/Tennessee/Florida region recorded 6,375 car accident deaths in 2010, a drop of 3% from 2009, when there were 6,573 accident deaths. Overall, nationwide, there were 32, 788 auto accident, truck accident and motorcycle accident deaths in 2010, a decline of 3% from 33,808 fatalities in 2009. Moreover, the decline in car accident deaths was the lowest on record since 1949. Last year accident deaths also marked a 25% drop since 2005.

The statistics also seem to put to rest the theory that the decline in car accident fatalities has had a lot to do with the recession. Last year, Americans traveled more vehicle miles, but fewer Americans died in accidents. There are other reasons that have contribute to this decline that have been evident for the past few years. Higher seat belt usage rate is typically one of those factors. More drivers in Georgia now buckle up than ever before and this has meant fewer fatalities in accidents. 

Besides, cars now come packed with the latest safety features that are designed not just to minimize the risk of accidents, but also protect occupants better in the event of an accident. Side airbags are becoming popular on more and more automobiles while electronic stability control has been available on most new models for a while now. Besides, lane departure warning systems, forward collision warning systems including those that include pedestrian detection, and other advanced safety features have helped reduce car accident deaths.

More could be done, however. For instance, we could save more lives every year if we had harsher laws in place against the use of cell phones and texting while driving.

The bill, called the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act has been reintroduced by Republican lawmakers from Maine and Ohio. It would allow states to adjust the weight limits on commercial trucks on interstates within their borders.  The increase in weight limits could be as much as 97,000 pounds from the current 80,000 pounds. The current weight limits have stayed the same since 1982, and trucking safety groups and Atlanta truck accident attorneys oppose any increase in the weight limits on our interstates.

Most of the arguments in favor of increased weight limits on commercial trucks have to do with profits for the trucking industry. The industry believes it could save billions of dollars every year, if trucking companies were allowed to use up every inch of free space in their trailers. Trucking companies talk about reduced fuel consumption, and even bring up lower accident risks from fewer trucks needed to transport the same amount of cargo. 

By all indications, the bill has tremendous support from the trucking industry, including the Coalition for Transportation Productivity, which is a coalition of more than 180 shippers and transportation associations. The bill has been introduced before, but could find more traction in a depressed economy and with support from a strong lobbying force. Trucking safety groups and Atlanta truck accident lawyers need to push back against any attempt to crowd our already congested highways with bulkier, heavier trucks.

Under ride guards hang low at the back of a tractor-trailer, and are designed to protect occupants of a passenger vehicle in case of a rear end accident. When a small passenger vehicle crashes into the back of a tractor-trailer, the bumper and front of the car can slide under the trailer. The under ride guard is supposed to prevent this. However, the Institute Insurance for Highway Safety has found in a study that in low-speed rear-ender accidents involving a tractor-trailer and cars, the under ride guard failed to prevent catastrophic injuries. 

The Insurance Institute relied on an analysis of 1,000 accidents between 2001 and 2003. There were 113 accidents that involved passenger vehicles crashing into the back of a tractor-trailer. Out of these, 73% resulted in the passenger vehicle sliding under the tractor-trailer. 28 of these accidents were fatal, and out of these, 23 accidents involved those in which the entire front portion of the passenger vehicle slid completely under the trailer.

The occupants of a passenger vehicle in a case like this are at risk for catastrophic injuries, specifically to the head and torso. The Institute Insurance for Highway Safety is now calling on the federal administration to get more involved in ensuring the strength and reliability of these under ride guards, and also to make sure that all trucks come with strong under ride guards.