Atlanta Truck Accident Attorneys

Common Causes of Atlanta Truck Accidents

The majority of truck drivers are professional, courteous, and careful, but despite this fact, accidents do happen. Among the factors that typically contribute to tractor-trailer accidents are:

• Driver fatigue – Drowsy driving is commonplace among long-haul drivers even though there are strict national and intra-company regulations in place, including drive-time limitations and required rest periods.
• Inadequate truck maintenance – Defective equipment doubles the chance that a truck will be involved in an accident involving substantial property damage or injury, according to the IIHS. Faulty brakes and steering top the list of defects.
• Distracted drivers – While state and federal entities have become increasingly aware of the dangers of texting and driving and have instituted firm laws and severe consequences for breaking them, it still occurs.
• Impaired driving – Truck drivers are subject to regular drug and alcohol screening, but this does not completely rule out truckers driving while under the influence of either. There is the added possibility that there are other impaired drivers on the road – a bad combination in even the best of circumstances.
• Aggressive drivers – Trucks have slower response times when it comes to trying to correct their own aggressive driving or combat against another vehicle’s poor driving practices. This is especially true when braking, returning to their own lane, or swerving to avoid a collision with another vehicle or something in the road.

The elements required to prove negligence in trucking accident claims may seem straightforward, but how to substantiate them may be harder than you expect. Identifying the truly responsible parties can be difficult. It could be the driver, the trucking company, a third party who loaded or failed to secured cargo, and even government entities if there were dangerous road conditions that were not identified and the public sufficiently warned.