A catastrophic tractor-trailer collision can happen at any moment in Macon or elsewhere in Georgia, resulting in serious injuries or even fatalities. Victims of these accidents have rights, including filing a lawsuit or insurance claim for compensation. A skilled tractor-trailer accident lawyer can guide you through the legal process, aiming for maximum compensation and justice. Below, Dozier Law Firm, LLC explains what a tractor-trailer accident case involves, discussing the types of accidents, legal options for victims, possible damages, and the role of a tractor-trailer accident lawyer. Types of Tractor Trailer Accidents In tractor trailer-accidents, the most common types you might encounter include jackknife accidents, where the trailer swings out at an angle to the cab, often due to sudden braking or slippery roads. Rollover accidents occur when the tractor-trailer tips over, either onto its side or completely upside down, often caused by sharp turns or high speeds. Underride accidents are…

On Aug. 8, 2011, a deadly trucking accident occurred on Highway 32 in a road construction zone west of Irwinville. Seven vehicles were at a standstill on the roadway when a truck driver failed to stop and crashed into the line of cars. Three of the drivers were killed when their vehicles became engulfed in flames. The male truck driver found responsible for this fatal accident received a 3-year judgment on March 13 in the Irwin County Superior Court. After pleading guilty to six counts of misdemeanor vehicular homicide earlier in the week, the trucker was ordered to begin serving 18 months in jail. Once he is released, the man will be on probation for an additional 18 months. He is also prohibited from driving commercial vehicles and was ordered to pay $3,000 in fines. A family member of at least one of the victims of the crash was dissatisfied…

Every year, large truck accidents happen on highways in Georgia and throughout the U.S. These accidents often result in catastrophic injuries or deaths. An accident may happen if a driver of a passenger vehicle fails to take extra caution when driving near a large truck or if certain circumstances cause the truck driver to lose control of the vehicle. Repercussions of large truck-related wrecks may be more severe in nature than consequences of a wreck between two passenger cars due to the large, heavy structure of trucks. Even minor errors made on the roadway could cause major damage to an individual who collides with a commercial vehicle. A division of the U.S. Department of Transportation has indicated that large truck accidents may take place more frequently than people might realize. There were 333,000 traffic accidents that involved a commercial vehicle in 2012. That same year, large truck accidents resulted in…

Some Georgia residents may be unaware that commercial motor vehicle drivers must comply with a set of federal regulations known as Hours of Service rules. This applies to, among others, truck drivers traveling in tractor-trailers that weigh at least 10,001 pounds or that transport enough hazardous material to require placards. All transportation companies must ensure that their drivers are following Hours of Service rules. Pursuant to these regulations, drivers are limited to, per day, 11 hours of driving and 14 hours of work altogether. Moreover, drivers may not work more than 70 hours per week on average, and once this maximum is reached on any given week, the drivers must rest for at least 34 consecutive hours, within which must pass two nights. The Hours of Service rules also call for drivers to take a half-hour break within the first eight hours of each shift. These new rules reduce by…

Georgia residents might be interested in figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding crashes in 2012 that involved large trucks. Fatalities stemming from these accidents increased by 4 percent over the previous year, with 3,781 deaths in total, reportedly. Among the 1,688 vehicles involved in fatal crashes in Georgia during that same year, 149 of them were large trucks or about 9 percent. Research reveals that 81 percent of fatal accidents involving semi-trucks include multiple vehicles, whereas 58 percent of fatal crashes involving no semi-trucks are multiple-vehicle accidents. Researchers say that, with regard to fatal collisions in 2012 involving a semi-truck, at least one of the involved vehicles was attempting to negotiate a curve in 12 percent of them. In 9 percent of these wrecks, both vehicles were making a turn, and neither vehicle was attempting a turn in almost half of them. According to statistics, almost…

A car accident that occurred in Villa Rica, Georgia, involving a semi-truck and a bus left two people with injuries on Aug. 20. According to the report, the incident took place in the westbound lanes of Interstate 20 in Carroll County just after 6 a.m. A representative for the Georgia Department of Public Safety stated that the driver of the FedEx semitrailer rear-ended the bus while traveling down the interstate. The impact of the collision caused both vehicles to leave the roadway before overturning. Both vehicles then reportedly caught fire. The driver of the semi-truck was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital hospital via a Life Flight helicopter, and the bus driver was taken via ambulance to Tanner Medical Center. Their identities had not been released when the report became available, and the extents or their respective injuries were not known. Those who become involved in truck accidents are at risk for suffering…

Local authorities reported that an accident involving two semi-trucks in McDuffie County left one driver dead and the other with minor injuries on August 11. The former driver was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. According to the Georgia State Patrol, the accident occurred at approximately 11:00 p.m. at the intersection of Wire Road and Highway 17. Authorities said a 28-year-old man driving a semi-truck westbound on Wire Road failed to stop at the sign located at the intersection and struck another semi-truck driven by the victim, a 40-year-old man. The news source did not mention any speculation from authorities as to why the surviving truck driver ran the red light. However, the Georgia Department of Public Safety said that charges could be filed against him pending the findings of an investigation by it Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team. When a family suffers the loss of a loved one…

Georgia drivers might be interested in a recent report on the risks of drowsy driving and the trucking industry. According to the report, truck accidents resulting from driver fatigue have been a concern to authorities for many years. The amount that a driver earns can be contingent on how many miles that driver travels, and this reality applies pressure on the drivers to be behind the wheel even if they are tired. While some sources suggest that this problem is relatively well known between truck drivers, the issue has come to the public's attention after an accident involving comedian Tracey Morgan who was severely injured in a fatal accident that occurred outside of New York City. According to reports, the driver of the Walmart tractor-trailer that crashed into the van carrying Morgan and several other passengers had not slept in over 24 hours. By some estimates, fatigued driving is the leading…

A driver in Georgia was trapped in her vehicle after part of a tractor-trailer landed on top of her car and sliced the roof. According to the police, the accident occurred near the intersection of Lawrenceville Suwanee Road and Horizon Drive. Firefighters were brought to the scene of the crash to rescue the driver. The driver was eventually transported to a hospital and is in stable condition. The tractor-trailer driver did not have any injuries. Investigators believe that the crash occurred when the trailer separated from the truck and crushed a car that was in the opposite lane. The road where the crash occurred was blocked so crews could assess the damage, and the Georgia State Patrol is still investigating. While most truck drivers do a good job of performing their duties, it takes only one to destroy an innocent life. Anybody who has been injured in a truck accident…

In Macon, as with most American cities, we drive a lot. Many people work in Atlanta or the southern suburbs. Most people think nothing of driving there to go shopping or to catch a Braves or Falcons game. And the more miles we drive, the greater the exposure to the risk of a car accident. Many people believe themselves to be safe drivers. They drive the speed limit, most of the time. They pay attention to road signs and changing road and weather conditions. They signal their turns and leave an appropriate following distance to the car in front of their vehicle. Many have driven years or even decades without a car accident. But none of that makes them immune to having a car or truck accident in the future. Because, in reality, driving always involves some amount of luck. Luck that you are not glancing at your phone at the very…