Georgia Truck Accident Laws

Semi-trucks are responsible for more injuries and fatalities than any other vehicle on the road. The statistics for semi-truck accidents are grim; in fact, every 16 minutes a person is seriously injured or killed in accidents that involve semi-trucks, tractor-trailers or 18-wheelers. Twelve percent of all traffic fatalities can be attributed to truck accidents. Alcohol or drugs play a part in one percent of fatal truck accidents.

Because of the serious injuries and death that can occur as the result of a truck collision, there are laws in place to prevent and reduce the number of truck tragedies. Unfortunately, some truck drivers and trucking companies break these laws. If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a truck accident, contact the experienced lawyers at The Law Office of J. Lee Webb in Atlanta. We will assist you in obtaining compensation for your injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one.

Fatigue plays a large part in many trucking accidents. Because of this, numerous laws regulate the number of consecutive hours a truck or bus driver may drive. The laws also stipulate the number of hours drivers must take off before getting behind the wheel again and the total number of hours a driver can be on duty during a single week, or even over an 8 day period.

Commercial driving regulations can be very complicated and a typical complaint of drivers is that it is very difficult to “run legal” because of waiting times and demands by their employer. Some drivers are also paid by the mile and get paid nothing if they are sitting miles from home and waiting to drive again. A phrase sometimes heard inside the trucking industry is “are we illegal by the minute or by the hour or by days?” While many commercial drivers operate legally, others don’t – and they’re more likely to cause accidents.

Truck drivers are required to keep detailed logs of the hours they are on duty. If you are involved in truck accident, our attorneys will carefully review these logs, as well as gas and toll receipts, to determine if the driver worked more hours than legally allowed.

Other laws regulate truck maintenance. Trucks are required to have proper lighting, wheels, tires, and brakes. Because truck tires and brakes are expensive, many truck drivers and/or truck companies fail to properly maintain their vehicles, resulting in devastating truck accidents.

Overloaded trucks or shifting loads are responsible for many traffic accidents. Flat bed trucks often carry loads such as logs or construction materials. These items are stacked on the truck and held in place by straps or chains. If one piece of the load falls off, the entire load may shift, with some of the load falling on the roadway. This can go through a car’s windshield or even come up through anther driver’s floorboard.

If you are interested in learning more about Atlanta truck accident laws, contact The Law Office of J. Lee Webb today.