Macon Big Rig Accident Lawyer

How Cargo Weight and Load Shifts Create Deadly Big Rig Crashes

Large trucks pose a particular threat on roads throughout Georgia and across the country because of the hulking size of the vehicles and the high speeds at which they often travel. When truck crashes happen, they are more likely than other traffic accidents to cause serious and life-threatening injuries.

About 14% of all fatal traffic accidents in Georgia involve at least one large truck, according to data compiled by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. About three-quarters (76%) of people who die or are severely injured in truck accidents are occupants of other vehicles, according to

Truck accidents happen in many different ways and are caused by a wide range of factors. That said, trucker fatigue and distraction are among the leading causes, along with vehicle maintenance and inspection failures. Trucking companies often force drivers to spend long stretches of time behind the wheel to meet tight deadlines. They also routinely cut corners when it comes to ensuring that big rigs are safe to be on the road.

The Macon big rig accident lawyers at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm help people and families who have been injured in crashes. We are experienced attorneys who have dedicated our careers to getting our clients the full compensation available under the law.

These collisions are not just “accidents.” They often are the obvious result of negligence by truck drivers and their employers. Holding them responsible not only helps injured people get the compensation they deserve but also can protect communities by ensuring that those responsible for crashes are made fully accountable.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck or other traffic accident, our Macon big rig accident lawyers are just a phone call away. Call us today at 478-845-6464 to speak with an attorney about your rights and options.

Why Truck Accidents Happen

Georgia sees heavy commercial truck traffic across its highways and freight corridors. When truck accidents occur, understanding how they happened is vital to determining legal liability. Often, more than one factor contributes to a single truck crash—and more than one party may be legally responsible.

Here are some of the most common causes of large truck crashes, according to our Macon big rig accident lawyers.

Driver Fatigue

Truck drivers regularly work long hours under tight delivery schedules. Despite federal hours-of-service rules, trucking companies push drivers to the brink and ramp up the risk of serious collisions.

Distracted or Impaired Driving

Cell phone use, GPS mapping systems, eating while driving and impairment by alcohol or drugs can be especially dangerous when operating a massive vehicle.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving

Large trucks traveling too fast for traffic may be unable to stop or maneuver safely when needed. This is particularly true when combined with poor weather conditions.

Improper Training or Inexperience

Operating a commercial truck requires specialized training. Inadequate driver education can lead to poor decision-making in emergencies.

Mechanical Failures

Brake failures, tire blowouts, steering issues and lighting defects can all cause or worsen crashes.

The Impact of Cargo Weight and Load Shifts

One of the most dangerous and least understood causes of big rig crashes has nothing to do with how a truck is being driven. Instead, it has to do with what the truck is carrying and how that cargo is loaded. Improper cargo weight and shifting loads can turn an already massive vehicle into an uncontrollable hazard.

A fully loaded tractor-trailer can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds. That weight dramatically affects how a truck accelerates, turns and stops. When cargo weight is miscalculated, unevenly distributed or exceeds legal limits, it can create significant risks:

• Longer stopping distances
• Reduced steering control
• Increased rollover risk
• Excess strain on brakes and tires
• Loss of traction in wet or uneven conditions

Even the most experienced and skilled large truck drivers may not be able to prevent crashes when the laws of physics take over.

Shifting cargo can throw off a truck’s center of gravity when a big rig brakes, turns or changes lanes. A driver whose load shifts may not be able to correct the truck’s movement, especially at highway speeds.This frequently is the cause of jackknife crashes, trailer rollovers and collisions that result when truckers lose control of steering, among other accidents.

Drivers behind the wheels of tankers face unique risks. Liquids continue moving even after these trucks slow or turn, a phenomenon called the “sloshing effect.” That delayed movement can flip tankers or push them into other vehicles on the road.

There are certain warning signs point to cargo problems as the culprit in truck accidents:

• The truck rolled over during a turn or lane change
• The trailer jackknifed suddenly
• Cargo spilled or shifted visibly
• The truck swerved without warning
• The driver lost control while braking
• The crash occurred at normal speeds

Multi-vehicle and chain reaction crashes are especially common when trucks are involved. About 92% of all Georgia truck accidents that result in serious injuries are multi-vehicle crashes. Roughly 86% of all fatal truck collisions are multi-vehicle crashes.

Big rigs are a common sight on large highways during busy traffic hours. Shifting loads can cause trucks to cross into oncoming traffic, roll over onto smaller vehicles or spill cargo across multiple lanes. When overturned trailers block highways, it can result in chain reactions as other motorists do not have the time to properly react or are caught off guard.

Common Truck Maintenance and Repair Problems

Truck maintenance and repair issues also are often to blame when big rig accidents happen. Although trucking companies and truck drivers are required to perform routine inspections to ensure vehicles are safe to hit the road and address maintenance issues that pose traffic hazards, many cut corners with tragic results.

Problems caused by insufficient maintenance and repair include:

• Brake failure
• Tire blowout
• Steering failure
• Headlight defects
• Powertrain failure
• Suspension issues
• Trailer hitch malfunctions
• Poorly secured loads

When truck owners and drivers do not live up to their responsibilities to make sure that their vehicles are adequately inspected and properly maintained, they are likely to be liable for any accidents that happen as a result.

Who Is Responsible When Truck Accidents Happen?

A person who is injured in a truck or other traffic accident in Georgia has the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the collision.

Money damages awarded in car accident cases are meant to help an injured person get back to the financial position that he or she was in prior to the crash. The amount of the compensation varies widely based on the circumstances, including the extent of the injuries.

Compensation is commonly awarded for doctors bills that an injured person has already incurred, as well as medical expenses expected in the future. An injured person who is limited or unable to work as a result of their injuries can also seek compensation for missed income.

It is critical to be able to identify the people and entities at fault. Multiple parties may be on the hook in many cases.

Truck Drivers

Trucker negligence is frequently to blame when accidents happen.

Truck drivers, like everyone else behind the wheels of vehicles in Georgia, are legally required to operate their big rigs in a reasonably safe manner. They must comply with traffic laws, remain alert at all times, and take basic steps to ensure that their vehicles are in good working order. Truck drivers are also obligated to refrain from dangerous behavior while behind the wheel, like speeding, texting and driving or driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

A trucker who does not live up to these responsibilities is likely to be found negligent and liable for any crashes that result.

Trucking Companies

A negligent truck driver’s employer also is likely to be responsible for accidents caused by the driver.

Trucking companies routinely try to avoid liability for collisions by classifying drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. They also may seek to hide behind a network of smaller, third-party shipping companies to shield themselves from legal responsibility. Our Macon big rig accident lawyers understand how trucking companies try to shirk their responsibilities and have had significant success holding them accountable.

Insurers

Various insurance companies may also be on the hook when truck accidents happen. There is the truck driver’s insurer, the insurer for the company that employs the driver and the insurer for the company that owns the truck. In some situations, an injured person’s own insurance policy may also kick in to cover certain gaps.

Merritt & Merritt Law Firm Helps People Get Back on Their Feet

At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, our Macon big rig accident lawyers are dedicated to helping people and families who have been injured through no fault of their own. We fight diligently to protect and defend our clients rights.

Our goal is to help you move on with your life after an accident by getting the full compensation available under the law. Call our team at 478-845-6464 for a free, no-risk consultation.