The Causes of an Atlanta Jackknife Accident

By Grant Law Office on August 26, 2013

A “jackknife accident” occurs when a tractor-trailer folds in on itself like a pocketknife. In other words, the semi truck comes to a halt while the heavy trailer maintains momentum and pushes the tractor from behind, causing the trailer to swing around until it is nearly side-by-side with the tractor.

Jackknife accidents, although less fatal than other types of truck accidents, can be catastrophic to the involved motorists. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), jackknife accidents caused 254 fatalities along with more than 1,000 injuries in 2005. In addition to personal damages, jackknife accidents are responsible for thousands of dollars in property damage annually.Read more…

One Woman Killed in I-85 Rollover Crash Involving a Tractor Trailer

By Grant Law Office on July 17, 2013

According to a report on myfoxatlanta.com, on the early afternoon of July 8, a crash on the I-85 in Gwinnett County proved fatal for one woman. Two children were also injured in the crash. The father of the two children walked away unscathed.

A chain of unfortunate events resulted in this tragic accident. The four were in an SUV on I-85 close to Pleasant Hill Road when a tractor-trailer clipped the SUV, causing it to collide with a truck. The SUV proceeded to drive up an embankment and flip several times before going over a guardrail and finally landing and coming to a stop on an on-ramp at Steve Reynolds Boulevard.Read more…

Marine Killed in Albany Motorcycle Tractor Trailer Collision

By Grant Law Office on July 15, 2013

According to a report on WALB News 10, a Marine Sergeant, 26, was riding his motorcycle in Albany on June 30 when he was killed in a collision with a tractor trailer on Cordele Road. He was based in the Marine Corps Logistics Base and worked with the Command Maintenance Assistance Team.

The Albany Marine was traveling north when he encountered a truck going the other way and turning left into a truck stop. He couldn’t stop in time and ran into the passenger side of the large truck. He was taken to the hospital, where he passed away.

At the time of his death, charges were still pending, and the investigation of the crash site was not concluded.Read more…

EMTs and Patient Killed in Georgia Ambulance Crash

By Grant Law Office on June 14, 2013

A 65-year-old patient and two emergency medical technicians were killed in a Georgia car accident involving a collision between their ambulance and a semitrailer. According to a news report in The Associated Press, the fatal truck accident occurred on state Highway 32 near the town of Ocilla in South Georgia. Officials say the ambulance had its lights and sirens on when a semi jackknifed across the centerline. The ambulance struck the left side of the semi and the driver, patient, and other medical technician were killed. It is unclear what caused the truck to jackknife.

Jackknifing is when a trailer pushes on a tractor from behind and rotates at an acute angle, like a folding pocketknife. Jackknifing is extremely dangerous for a number of reasons. Smaller vehicles can get crushed by the swinging trailer, and the momentum of the truck may force it into other vehicles as the truck driver struggles to bring it to a halt. Jackknife accidents can even prove dangerous after the truck has stopped because the positioning of the trailer will likely impair further motion of the truck. This means that the large tractor-trailer will be sitting in traffic as a giant hazard for approaching vehicles.Read more…

Driver Killed in I-75 Semi-Truck Collision

By Grant Law Office on May 13, 2013

A driver was killed and another was injured in a Georgia big rig accident involving a collision of two semi-tractor trailers. According to a report by The Associated Press, the fatal truck accident occurred on I-75 about 17 miles north of Valdosta in Cecil. The Valdosta Daily Times reports that the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Officials suspect that either the rear truck was going too fast or that the front truck was going too slow. The driver of the rear truck was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash and the driver of the front semi was hospitalized.

Because of the size and weight of trucks, the injured victims of truck accidents are typically occupants of smaller passenger vehicles. It is possible, however, for truck drivers to suffer serious or fatal injuries as well. A wrongful death suit against the at-fault driver or trucking firm may help provide the support needed for funeral expenses, lost future wages, loss of companionship, and other related damages. In many cases, it is advisable for the family of someone killed while working to pursue compensation through multiple avenues.Read more…

Trucker Currently Facing Reckless Homicide Charges Arrested for DUI

By Grant Law Office on May 10, 2013

WCIV News has reported that a truck driver, who was scheduled to be in court on a reckless homicide charge as the result of a fatal crash in January, was again arrested recently for a DUI in Georgia. Officials say the 35-year-old driver, Arnold Williams, was stopped on Interstate 20 after several people called the Newton County Sheriff’s Office complaining about a tractor-trailer swerving in and out of lanes. Police found that the driver was disoriented at the time.

Williams registered a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.22 percent on the Breathalyzer, which is close to three times the legal limit. He also failed field sobriety tests as he stumbled and swayed when standing on one foot. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Williams was facing homicide charges in connection with an incident where the truck he was driving hit a car on the I-526, killing a 27-year-old student at the Medical University of South Carolina.Read more…

Driver Killed in Georgia Highway 196 Car – Dump Truck Collision

By Grant Law Office on April 1, 2013

The driver of a minivan was killed in a Georgia car accident after colliding with a dump truck. The Fort Stewart Patch reports that the fatal truck accident occurred on Highway 196 in Fleming. Officials say the minivan was headed west when it collided with the dump truck, but details regarding how the crash occurred have not been released. The driver was killed and the young daughter of the victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment with unknown injuries.

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, six million people were involved in motor vehicle crashes between the years 2000 and 2006. After that seven-year period, 2,394 people were involved in an accident every day and more than 2,500 injuries were reported every week. In the year 2006, 270 people were killed in Georgia car accidents. One out of six of those fatalities involved a large truck.Read more…

Driving Safely on Georgia’s Icy Roadways

By Grant Law Office on February 4, 2013

A truck driver was injured when his vehicle skidded and overturned in Gilmer County. According to a WSB-TV news report, the truck accident occurred on Old Highway 5 just outside of downtown Ellijay. Officials say the truck, which was transporting more than 1,000 chickens to a processing plant, skidded on an ice-covered bridge. The bridge was frozen over and the vehicle overturned. The driver suffered minor injuries.

The cold, icy conditions have made traveling in Georgia treacherous this winter. It is absolutely vital that all motorists exercise due care when traveling in these icy conditions. Before getting on the road, it is advisable to check your tires. You want to have properly inflated tires that have adequate tread to grip the road.Read more…

Children Killed in Georgia Tractor Trailer Accident

By Grant Law Office on January 9, 2013

Two boys, aged 6 and 12, were killed in a Georgia car accident involving a collision between a tractor-trailer and an SUV. According to a news report in The Dalton Daily Citizen, the fatal truck accident occurred on Old U.S. 411 and Georgia 136 in Murray the morning of January 4, 2013. Officials say a GMC Envoy may have failed to stop at a stop sign before colliding with the tractor-trailer. The two children were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Their 39-year-old mother and 13-year-old relative were hospitalized. The 41-year-old truck driver was also taken to a nearby facility for treatment.

Many Georgia traffic accidents occur at intersections. It is crucial for everyone’s safety for motorists to obey all traffic control devices. According to Georgia Statute 40-6-72: “Every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign shall stop…After stopping, the driver shall yield the right of way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when such driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways.”Read more…

FMCSA Pushes to Overhaul Computer Systems, Stop “Chameleon Carriers”

By Grant Law Office on April 17, 2012

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is responsible for keeping track of safety violations and other legal violations made by commercial truck and bus companies within the U.S. If a company’s violations are particularly dangerous, repetitive, or common, the FMCSA has the power to put the company “out of service,” forcing it to stay off the roads until the issues are corrected.

In recent months, however, the FMCSA has found that its outdated computer systems – which are maintained separately and do not share information with one another – are making it increasingly difficult for the agency to keep up with “chameleon carriers.”Read more…