truck accident

Published on: April 27, 2021

Commercial Truck Accidents in Work Zones

This April, transportation safety authorities in Georgia conducted a campaign drawing attention to the high risks facing construction workers in work zones. It’s also equally important for truck drivers to be aware of these risks.

Large trucks are involved in a significant percentage of the total number of accidents that occur in American work zones every year. The last week of April this year was commemorated as National Work Zone Awareness Week to draw awareness to the special risks facing construction workers working in these zones. In 2019, which is the last year for which data on these types of accidents is available, there were a total of 842 accident deaths occurring in work zones across the United states. That was a significant increase from the 757 fatalities in work zones that occurred in 2018.

Truck accidents account for a significant percentage of these types of accidents. While truck accidents constitute approximately 5% of all vehicular traffic, they are involved in a staggering 33% of all accidents that occur in work zones. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is specifically calling on commercial truck drivers to look out for construction workers in work zones, and follow all safety protocols while driving through these zones.

Published on: December 15, 2018

Georgia’s Trucking Accident Statistics Continue to Rise

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Thousands of trucks travel on Georgia’s highways and interstates every year, moving freight and working as indispensable components in the state’s trade and commerce system. However, there are also countless accidents every year involving these massive vehicles on Georgia’s roads that result in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Large trucks and tractor trailers, by their very nature and design, are more likely to cause serious injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicle when they are involved in an accident. These trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and their bulk can make any collision with them especially dangerous.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s statistics from 2006 to 2016 portray an interesting picture of Georgia’s truck safety record. A look at the data indicates that the state was able to make significant progress in reducing the number of people killed in truck accidents between 2006 and 2010. During this 5-year period, there was a continuous decline in truck accidents beginning with 232 fatalities in 2006 to ending at 153 in 2010.

Published on: January 15, 2012

Police Looking for Truck Driver Involved in Multivehicle DeKalb Truck Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Police in DeKalb County are looking for the driver of a tractor-trailer believed to have triggered a multivehicle truck accident on interstate-285 that left two people dead.

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.

Published on: June 13, 2011

Children Narrowly Escape Injuries in Fulton County Truck Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Several children barely escaped injuries when a work truck crashed into a swimming pool in Johns Creek, Fulton County this week.The accident occurred on Monday, when the work truck crashed through a fence surrounding the pool, and into the water.There were about 12 people in the water at the time, including children.At least one child escaped injuries when the truck flew right over his head and into the pool.According to witnesses at the scene, another child almost got sucked under the truck.

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.

Published on: July 19, 2010

Sandy Springs Man Involved in Fatal Truck Accident Arrested

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A truck driver from Texas, believed to have been involved in a fatal tractor-trailer accident that killed a woman from Sandy Springs two weeks ago, has now been arrested.The driver, Joseph Leon Golden drove his truck into the emergency lane, where Rosario Velez had stopped her minivan to make a call.The truck crashed into Velez’s vehicle, leaving her seriously injured.She was rushed to the Grady Memorial Hospital and died a while later.Golden has now been arrested and charged with second-degree vehicular homicide and a lane violation.Sandy Springs police have been investigating the accident.

The catastrophic damage and loss of life and property that can result from truck accidents is why trucking companies and their drivers are held to such high standards of operations and safety.Traffic violations by any motorist can have serious consequences, but when it is the driver of a tractor-trailer guilty of such violations, the results can be horrific for those unfortunate enough to be at the receiving end.

Pursuing a truck accident claim in Georgia can be complicated and daunting. In any auto accident, you’re up against the driver of the other car and /or his insurance company.In a truck accident claim, you’re up against not just the driver, but also the trucking company, the insurers, their legal team, and other experts.The entire process of filing a claim can leave an Atlanta resident intimidated and frustrated.

Published on: July 10, 2010

Risk of Trailer Accidents Increases During Summer

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Risk of Trailer Accidents Increases During Summer

USA Today has a report on the higher risk of towing trailer accidents during summer, when many Americans hitch a trailer to their vehicle to tow boating gear and head to the nearest lake. Summer is also when many people plan a move, increasing the risk of a trailer accident.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, towing trailer-related accidents kill at least one person every day somewhere in the country. In Georgia alone, since 1975, these accidents have cost a total of 280 lives. Over the past two decades, such accidents have contributed to close to 8,500 injuries, which have led to a total economic loss of more than $42 million. Property damage caused from these accidents has resulted in more than $65 million in damages in Georgia. Those statistics come from dangeroustrailers.org, a website established by trailer safety activist Ron Melancon.

Published on: May 25, 2010

Rear End Truck Accidents Reviewed by Federal Agency

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Rear-ender accidents involving passenger vehicles hitting large commercial trucks, are far more common than we think. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are approximately 23,500 such truck accidents every year in the country, and these kill approximately 160 people.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is working on technologies that will help minimize the number of these accidents. The agency is working on a number of configurations of lights that will alert motorists approaching the back of an 18 wheeler to the risk of a collision. But the most promising configuration involves two sets of six LED lights, each placed on the back bumper. When a passenger vehicle gets too close to the back of the truck, a rear-facing radar system will activate the lights, alerting the motorist to slow down. The agency has already begun testing the system, and will likely move on to dynamic testing on the highways of Virginia. The FMCSA is likely to begin field operational testing involving the placing of these systems on fleet vehicles, by the end of this year.

A commercial truck can be up to 40 times heavier than other vehicles on the road. Whether it is a rear end accident involving a large commercial truck striking a smaller vehicle, or whether the truck is the one being hit, the consequences are the deadliest for the occupants of the smaller vehicle.

Published on: February 2, 2010

Poor Weather Blamed for Fatal Gwinnett County Tow Truck Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Investigators looking into a fatal accident on Interstate 20 believe that bad weather could have been a factor in this crash. The victim, the mother of an 11-month-old infant, had been involved in a minor collision with another motorist. Both women were standing outside their cars when they were hit by a tow truck. The victim sustained serious injuries, and died at the scene of the crash. Investigators now believe that rainy weather could have been a factor in the accident.

With all the weather prediction technologies at our disposal and the precision of meteorological updates, it’s appalling that we continue to see weather-related accidents in Atlanta. We enjoy sunny weather for too much of the year, and the climate can be monotonously predictable, perhaps lulling motorists into complacency. The result is that several motorists and truckers continue to drive as they usually do, even during inclement weather.

Lack of experience with certain weather conditions can be no excuse to drive carelessly. As Atlanta auto accident lawyers, we find it frustrating to read about an increase in auto accidents when the weather gets icy, or when there are sudden showers. Part of your duty as a motorist is to drive not just taking into consideration the road and traffic conditions, but also weather conditions. It’s pure common sense that you need to drive more carefully during storms, strong winds, rains and icy weather conditions.

Published on: December 13, 2009

Georgia Tractor Trailer Accident Leaves Four People Injured

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A tractor trailer accident in Spalding, Georgia last week left a mother and four children seriously injured.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the accident occurred as Cindy Lynn Fain was driving her minivan. A tractor trailer driver apparently ran a stop sign, and crashed into the passenger side of the van. Fain and her three children aged 2, 4 and 5 were seriously injured in the accident. They have been transported to Atlanta hospitals. Investigations into the accident are going on. The truck driver Solomon Debala, has been charged with failure to stop at a stop sign and other charges.

The huge potential for catastrophic injuries in an accident involving a tractor trailer is why there are federal regulations in place governing the conduct of truck drivers. Truckers must drive with greater care than drivers of passenger vehicles. There is simply no room for traffic violations when you’re in control of a massive rig.

Published on: December 3, 2009

Atlanta Firefighter Injured in Accident Involving a Loose Truck Tire

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Atlanta Firefighter Injured in Accident Involving Loose Truck Tire

As Atlanta truck accident lawyers, we often find a common misconception that in a tractor trailer or commercial truck accident, the truck must be involved in a direct impact accident with the other vehicle for it to qualify as grounds for liability. As we often see, semi rigs and 18 wheelers can cause injuries to motorists and bystanders even if there is no contact between the rig and smaller vehicle. An example of an injury like this occurred in Atlanta in June this year when a firefighter was seriously injured from a tire that rolled off a nearby 18-wheeler.

Firefighter Willie Surry was fighting a brush fire on Interstate-285 near Langford Parkway.According to Surry, the last thing he remembers is putting out the brush fire, before he woke up severely injured in the hospital. A wheel had flown off a tanker truck, hitting the firefighter. Surry suffered serious injuries, including a punctured lung, multiple broken bones and a tear in the knee. He was hospitalized for a month and a half, and may need more surgeries.