Traffic in Washington County was backed up on Highway 88 after a semi-truck flipped over Wednesday afternoon, December 9th, near Sparta Davisboro Road. Authorities at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to the wreck and reported no serious injuries, which is a miracle for accidents like these.
The truck was found on its side and another car in the median was also badly damaged. An investigation is still underway as to what causes this close call.
Common types and causes of truck accidents
Rollovers
Rollovers most often occur due to high winds, when the semi-truck begins traveling over loose road surfaces, or when the driver attempts to steer back onto the smooth pavement and he or she overcorrects and the truck rolls over. It’s unclear yet as to what caused the truck in Washington County to rollover.
Unsecured loads
No one wants to drive behind any car or truck carrying a load of furniture, lumber or other cargo because there’s the increased risk of getting into an accident if that load isn’t properly secured. Should something fall off, or start throwing its weight around, this can cause serious damage and injury to multiple vehicles.
Jackknife
When the axle brakes on a semi-truck lock up, the driver has little to no control over their truck. This loss of control or a sudden sharp maneuver can cause the trailer of a semi to swing out perpendicular to the truck cab. This is known as a jackknife, which can also cause serious truck accident injuries.
Underride
Semi-trucks tend to be the biggest vehicles on the road, which means if a sedan, sports car or other smaller vehicle rear-ends or T-bones an eighteen-wheeler, they tend to get pinned underneath the truck. “Underride” accidents, as this is called, often result in extensive damage to the smaller vehicle and fatalities.
Tire blowouts
Underinflated tires, improper maintenance, overloading cargo and bad road conditions can all lead to a tire blowouts. Most semis have 18-wheels in the event of a blowout and therefore can usually steer to safety if a tire blows, but it sometimes causes the truck to swerve suddenly and potentially lose control—especially if they are hauling a heavy cargo load. In addition, driving near a truck when a tire blowout happens can be dangerous for many reasons—one of which is flying tire debris that can strike a nearby vehicle or cause them to lose control.
Wide turns
When a truck attempts to make a right-hand turn from the outer lane, they need significantly more space than the average passenger vehicle. If another driver tries to make a right-hand turn from the inside lane, it often results in the semi and the other vehicle crashing into each other.
Bad weather
Anything from rain to snow to fog to high winds can cause a truck accident. Decreased friction for the tire treads increases the risk of a truck or auto accident.
Poor road conditions
Potholes are the bane of every driver’s existence, and they riddle roads and highways across the United States. They can cause severe damage to trucks when they drive over them at high speeds, especially to the tires.
Improper training
Due to their size and engines, special schools exist to train professional truck drivers on how to safely operate and care for semi-trucks, but some trucking companies skip essential training in order to save money. When improper training leads to severe consequences, the trucking company may be liable for the resulting damages and injuries.
Overloaded cargo
The maximum load of cargo for 1 semi-truck trailer in the U.S. is 80,000 lbs. Unfortunately, drivers and trucking companies often overload trucks in order to boost their bottom line. When this happens, drivers run the risk of overloading and causing unnecessary stress on their trucks.
Negligent driving
All drivers can show reckless and negligent behavior when behind the wheel, including truck drivers. Examples of such behavior includes speeding, tailgating, driving under the influence, and drowsy driving. For instance, when a truck driver is tired and stressed from driving all day to get to their destination on time, the damage and risk of an accident is significantly increased.
Truck accident statute of limitations
Georgia residents have 2 years to file a personal injury claim following a truck accident and 4 years to file a property damage claim, according to the Georgia statute of limitations. Typically, the clock starts ticking the moment the accident occurs.
Don’t want to wait until the last minute to file a claim with a Georgia truck accident attorney. Once this deadline has passed, filing a claim becomes much more difficult if not impossible.
Why hire a truck accident attorney?
It’s no secret how scary a truck accident can be. Luckily, there were no severe injuries reported in the recent Washington County truck wreck on Highway 88, but this isn’t always the case. If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a truck accident and are facing a pile of medical bills, the attorneys at Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson would like to talk to you about how we might help.
Our offices are conveniently located in Macon, Albany and Warner Robins, and we’ve been helping truck accident victims understand their legal rights for over 50 years. If you’re ready to speak with a Georgia truck accident attorney, call us today for a free initial consultation.