Macon Semi Truck Accident Lawyer

Why Semi-Truck Stopping Distances Make Crashes Far More Severe

Semi-trucks are some of the largest vehicles that are routinely seen on highways across Georgia. They are involved in accidents all too often and tend to cause serious and life-threatening injuries when these crashes occur.

Semi-trucks go by many names, including tractor-trailers and big rigs. Whatever you call them, these massive vehicles are commonly used for hauling freight across long distances. They come in various types, such as dry vans, flat beds and tankers. What all of them have in common is that the trucks consist of a tractor – a six-wheel vehicle with a cabin for the driver – and some sort of trailer used to haul cargo.

Large trucks are involved in about 14% of all fatal traffic accidents statewide, according to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. That number is on the rise, even as the total miles traveled by large trucks is declining.

Driver fatigue, impairment and just plain error are often to blame when semi-trucks collide with other vehicles on the road. Drivers routinely are pushed to remain behind the wheel for long periods of time, despite federal hours of service rules. Improper truck maintenance and repair are also leading causes of accidents. Trucks that haul heavy loads day in and day out are susceptible to breaking down, especially if they are not routinely inspected.

The Macon semi-truck accident lawyers at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm help people who have been injured in a wide range of collisions. Our attorneys understand the pain and stress that can come with being involved in an accident, both for the person injured and his or her family. We are experienced attorneys who have dedicated our careers to getting our clients the full compensation available under the law.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, you are not alone. Our Macon motorcycle 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.

Common Causes of Semi-Truck Crashes

Semi-truck accidents can happen in a number of different ways, caused by a wide range of factors. They often are the result of preventable decisions made by drivers and trucking companies.

Driver Fatigue

Truck drivers frequently work long hours under intense delivery pressure.

Fatigue is one of the leading causes of serious truck crashes. Rules are in place to require truckers to take breaks and stay off the road for minimum periods after several days of driving, but trucking companies continue to push drivers to the brink.

Tiredness is a contributing factor in as much as 40% of all heavy truck accidents, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of truck drivers across the country report they often or sometimes feel drowsy behind the wheel, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration survey data show. About half of all truckers report falling asleep while driving.

A tired driver has slower reaction times, impaired judgment and a higher risk of falling dozing off at the wheel. Fatigue-related truck accidents frequently involve rear-end collisions, lane departures and other crashes caused by failing to brake in time.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving

Speeding and aggressive driving is reckless behavior, regardless of the type of vehicle a driver is operating. It is even more risky for truckers because big rigs take longer to slow down or stop, especially when traveling at highway speeds.

Small miscalculations can turn deadly at high speeds, which reduce drivers’ ability to react to traffic changes, road hazards and sudden stops. Severe accidents are even more likely when speeding and aggressive driving are combined with poor weather conditions.

Distracted Driving

Phones, GPS devices, dispatch systems, onboard computers and other distractions can take drivers’eyes and mind off the road. Even a few seconds of distraction can mean hundreds of feet traveled without full attention for semi-truck drivers.

Improper Loading or Overloading

Cargo that is improperly loaded or unsecured can shift during transit. This can cause a truck to jackknife, roll over or lose control entirely. Overloaded trucks are also harder to brake and more likely to experience tire or brake failures.

Mechanical Failures

Brake failures, tire blowouts, steering problems and lighting issues are common contributors to truck accidents. In many cases, these failures are linked to poor maintenance practices or skipped inspections. When trucking companies prioritize profit over safety, the results can be deadly.

Inexperienced or Poorly Trained Drivers

Operating a semi-truck safely requires extensive training and experience. Companies that rush new drivers onto the road without proper preparation increase the risk to everyone else.

Stopping Distances and the Severity of Accidents

Stopping distance often plays a huge role in whether accidents happen and the severity of collisions when they occur. Just a little extra distance can mean the difference between a close call and a life-altering crash.

Stopping distance measures everything that happens from the moment a driver perceives danger to the moment the vehicle comes to a complete stop. It includes the time it takes for a trucker to recognize a hazard and react by putting his or her foot on the brake, as well as the distance traveled while slowing down to a full stop.

It can take several hundred feet for a passenger car traveling highway speeds to fully stop. While these vehicles tend to weigh about 4,000 lbs., a fully loaded semi-truck can legally weigh up to 80,000 lbs. That difference matters because heavier vehicles require far more force and far more distance to stop. Even with powerful braking systems, the physics simply do not work in a truck’s favor.

This is why following too closely is a major problem, especially when it comes to trucks on busy highways.

Because trucks need so much more distance to stop, they must maintain large safety buffers. Drivers that follow too closely, whether it is because they are rushing to catch up on deliveries or simply not paying attention to traffic, remove any margin for error on the road.

Rear-end accidents in which trucks plow into vehicles ahead of them are all too common. Many people injured in truck crashes victims were simply driving normally when traffic slowed ahead and a big rig behind them did not have the distance or time needed to stop.

A tragic 2020 crash in Macon underscores the role that stopping distance can play in crashes, as well as the threat posed by driver distraction.

A local pastor was killed when an 18-wheeler smashed into the back of his car on I-75, according to news reports. The truck’s driver reportedly took his eyes off the road for 20 seconds to adjust his radio just before the collision. The truck driver was convicted of first-degree vehicular homicide and sentenced to prison time.

Suing for Wrongful Death

In the tragic situation that a person is killed in a truck crash or other accident, Georgia law authorizes certain family members to take legal action. Spouses, children and sometimes parents have the right to pursue wrongful death claims against those responsible for the collision.

The money damages typically available in wrongful death cases is designed to compensate family members for the loss of the support of their loved ones. It includes compensation for:

• Lost wages and future earnings
• Medical and funeral expenses
• Loss of companionship and emotional support

Family members typically must file a wrongful death claim in order to obtain this compensation. A wrongful death case is a civil matter, which is completely separate from any criminal prosecution against those responsible for a fatal traffic crash.

Family members also have to be able to identify those at-fault in the accident and establish their legal liability.

Trucker negligence often at the center of fatal accidents. Truck drivers, like anyone driving a vehicle in Georgia, are legally required to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner at all times. They are considered negligent when they do not live up to this duty and are likely to be liable for any injuries caused as a result.

Trucking companies also are generally liable for any crashes caused by their drivers in the course of their jobs. These companies can additionally be held liable for negligent training and supervision or failing to properly inspect and maintain semi-trucks.

Multiple insurance companies also may be on the hook for truck crashes. There is the truck driver’s insurer, the insurer for the trucker’s employer and, potentially, the insurer for the company that owns the truck.

Our Macon semi-truck accident lawyers have significant experience in wrongful death cases. We can help you understand your rights and determine if you have a claim.

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

At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, our Macon semi-truck 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.