Truck Accidents

Published on: October 23, 2019

Records of Truckers’ Drug History Will Be Available to Employers in 2020

Far too many truck accidents are caused every year by drivers under the influence of drugs, especially those like methamphetamines which are specifically taken to help drivers stay awake for long periods of time. When the effects of these drugs wear off, the driver may feel extremely fatigued and may fall asleep at the wheel. This sets up not only the truck driver but everyone he is sharing the road with for a catastrophic accident with deadly results.

For years, truck drivers have been able to conceal records of their drug and alcohol use. This was because of a loophole in the law that failed to provide a system through which potential employers could look at an applicant’s drug and alcohol use records. Fortunately, that will change soon.

Beginning in January 2020, all trucking companies will be required to check if the potential truck driver recruit they are planning to hire has a history of drug and alcohol use on the job. They can do this by going through the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse which contains these records.

Published on: August 7, 2019

Can I Recover Damages for PTSD After a Truck Accident?

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The term “PTSD” or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is typically associated with veterans returning from combat duty. However, the vast majority of Americans who suffer from PTSD attribute the symptoms to non-combat causes. In fact, statistics indicate that as many as a quarter of all Americans have experienced some degree of PTSD after a car or truck accident.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a condition that typically arises after a person has been involved in a frightening or life-threatening situations such as catastrophic car and truck accidents, train accidents, plane crashes, or natural disasters. Being involved in any of these can trigger PTSD. Victims of robberies, rapes, shootings or other crimes may also suffer from mental trauma that can severely impede their ability to lead a normal life.

Truck accidents are very common in the Atlanta and North Georgia area. We see them all the time on the highways. These accidents are typically devastating and very serious. They often involve loss of life, and are very likely to cause serious injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicle. All of these factors combined can cause serious mental or emotional trauma which can manifest itself in symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Talk to an Atlanta truck accident attorney about claiming damages after a big-rig accident to see how you can recover in a claim for emotional distress.

Published on: March 26, 2019

Tips for Driving Safely around Large Commercial Trucks

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

There is never a shortage of tractor trailers or commercial trucks on Georgia roads. This seems especially true during rush hour in metro Atlanta. Trying to maneuver around a large commercial truck or 18-wheeler can be challenging, to say the least. One of the main reasons why driving around a large truck is tricky is due to the fact that the truck driver may not always see your car, which makes the chances of a being in an accident that much greater. More often than not, when a passenger vehicle is hit in an accident by a large commercial truck, the resulting injuries can be very severe.

Here are some tips on what you should always keep in mind when driving around a large commercial truck or tractor trailer.

Do not come to a sudden stop in front of the truck. These trucks have a much larger stopping distance. This means that it takes them much longer to come to a complete stop after the driver applies the brakes. If you are driving in front of a tractor trailer, braking suddenly can mean that the truck may crash right into your car with devastating consequences.

Published on: January 30, 2019

Sleep Deprivation and Trucks Make for a Deadly Combination

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

It should be no surprise that commercial truck drivers are more likely to suffer from sleep deprivation compared to other drivers. Studies done by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that sleep deprivation is a factor in as many as 13 percent of all large truck, semi-rig and 18-wheeler accidents. In a high traffic area such as the Atlanta and North Georgia region, this can result in catastrophic, and often deadly, car accidents that result in serious person injury.

A commercial truck driver’s schedule usually involves long hours without many breaks. Drivers are often under great pressure to clock-in a certain number of hours on their logs, which requires them to drive for more and more hours without scheduling a rest break. This can be a grave mistake that can have deadly consequences because a sleep-deprived driver is much more likely to make the types of mistakes that result in accidents. Couple this with an 80,000 pound vehicle like a tractor-trailer, and it’s no wonder that a sleep-deprived truck driver can be one of the most dangerous drivers on the road.

Unfortunately for truck drivers, delivery schedules can be tight and it’s often not possible for a truck driver to rest when he wants to. The secret to sound sleep for a truck driver, therefore, may be to sleep when he can, instead of when he wants. This not only compromises the safety of other drivers, but your own health as well. If you are a big-rig driver, here are a few tips for drivers to get more rest on the job.

Published on: December 15, 2018

Georgia’s Trucking Accident Statistics Continue to Rise

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Thousands of trucks travel on Georgia’s highways and interstates every year, moving freight and working as indispensable components in the state’s trade and commerce system. However, there are also countless accidents every year involving these massive vehicles on Georgia’s roads that result in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Large trucks and tractor trailers, by their very nature and design, are more likely to cause serious injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicle when they are involved in an accident. These trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and their bulk can make any collision with them especially dangerous.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s statistics from 2006 to 2016 portray an interesting picture of Georgia’s truck safety record. A look at the data indicates that the state was able to make significant progress in reducing the number of people killed in truck accidents between 2006 and 2010. During this 5-year period, there was a continuous decline in truck accidents beginning with 232 fatalities in 2006 to ending at 153 in 2010.

Published on: July 18, 2017

Trucking Industry Will Push for Greater Weight Limits on Tractor-Trailers

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

This year, the trucking industry will push for legislation that will increase weight limits on tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers across the country. Unfortunately, heavier trucks on our highways will only increase the risk of accidents, and jeopardize the safety of motorists on the highways.

In 2015, legislators defeated an amendment that would have increased the maximum weight of tractor-trailers on highways to 91,000 pounds from the current 80,000 pounds. In fact, such proposals have been rejected several times by Congress, and with good reason.

It is a proven fact that any accident involving a massive truck weighing more than 90,000 pounds is potentially devastating to the occupants of the smaller vehicle. It’s not just the impact of the accident with a large truck that seriously jeopardizes the safety of the occupants of the smaller vehicle, but also the fact that these trucks are more difficult to maneuver, thus increasing crash risks. They are more difficult to operate, and take a much longer time to come to a complete stop after the brakes are applied. Therefore, Congress has always rejected any legislation increasing weight limits for trucks.

Published on: July 13, 2017

Safety Group Questions Georgia Trucking Highway Project

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A safety group is questioning whether a proposed transportation safety project that would add several new miles of truck-only lanes on I-75 in Georgia has been well thought-out and could pose safety risks.

The two billion-dollar transportation project would add as many as 40 miles of trucks-only lanes between Macon and McDonough, and now it appears that the project was given the green light without a proper audit of whether is necessary or feasible. Earlier, an audit by the Georgia Department of Audits questioned the feasibility and viability of the project, and especially the wisdom involved in allowing such lanes. No other project in the United States has involved the installation of so many truck-only lanes, and according to the Georgia Department of Audits, the Department of Transportation green-lighted the project without sufficient evidence that the $2 billion price tag was a justified investment.

Now the United States Public Interest Research Group is also questioning the advisability of having so many truck-only lanes. The group has listed the project as one of the nation’s biggest highway boondoggles – and one that includes a massive waste of public time and money. Public Interest Research Group in its report is also criticizing governments across the United States for their propensity to rush into major transportation projects without bothering to fix a massive backlog of highway repair and other safety issues. In the case of the I-75 project, Public Interest Research Group says that the benefits to the trucking industry have been prioritized over recommendations to use railroads for movement of freight.

Published on: March 19, 2017

Drones Could Play a Critical Role in Post-Accident Emergency Care

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

In the future, drones carrying blood products and medical supplies could prove to be an integral part of emergency and critical care after an accident.

The first few hours after any car or truck wreck are critical for a victim. In fact, in severe accidents, the first hour after the event is extremely crucial, and is often referred to as the “golden hour.” It is during this time that the quality and speed of care delivered to the victim really matters. Delays in receiving emergency medical care during this important time could mean the difference between life and death for injured victims.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that drones can be used effectively to transport large bags of blood products to accident sites and other areas where such critical measures are needed. The cooler technology used in the study was able to maintain the proper temperature of the products.

Published on: October 16, 2016

The Underestimated Accident Risks of Road Debris

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Thousands of accidents in the United States every year are linked not to drunk driving, or speeding, but to road debris. According to a new study, these accidents killed as many as 500 people between 2011 and 2014.

The data were released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, and found that road debris was responsible for more than 200,000 car accidents in the United States over a four-year period. These resulted in approximately 39,000 injuries and 500 fatalities. An analysis of the data indicate worse news. It appears that accidents that are linked directly to road debris have increased by 40% since the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety began analyzing these risks back in 2011.

Most accidents seem to be the result of drivers swerving the car in order to avoid hitting a piece of debris on the road. About 37% of all fatalities occurred in accidents like these. In these cases, the driver is at a high risk of losing control of the steering and the vehicle.

Published on: April 28, 2014

Efforts Underway to Reduce Truck Blind Spots and Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

One of the biggest concerns for motorcyclists while traveling anywhere near a tractor-trailer or commercial truck is the possibility that the truck driver will not see the motorcycle.The National Transportation Safety Board recently released a report asking the National Highway Safety Administration to target blind spot mitigation in commercial trucks, especially in those cases where blind spots significantly impact motorcyclists and cyclists.

It’s not difficult to understand why motorcyclists and cyclists may be so easy to miss for a truck driver.A truck driver has several blind spots that exist behind and around their rig and trailer, and any vehicle that is in one of these blind spots may not be easily visible to the truck driver.Those visibility difficulties become even more pronounced in the case of a motorcycle or bicycle because of the narrow frames of these vehicles.

When a truck driver is not able to identify a motorcycle in his blind spot, he is at risk of colliding with it and causing serious injury or death.While the occupants of a car have some amount of protection in the form of seatbelts, airbags and the frame of the vehicle to protect them from serious injuries in a truck accident, motorcyclists have no such luxury.They are extremely vulnerable to the high risk of injuries in an accident with a commercial truck, and it is these risks that the National Transportation Safety Board wants to target.