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Proper Training Is Intended to Prevent Accidents Commercial truck accidents often have devastating consequences, but they can be preventable through proper driver training. A well-trained driver is better prepared to deal with hazards, drive defensively, and ensure their own safety and the safety of other people on the road. Unfortunately, not all commercial drivers in […]
Key Points: Table of Contents Truck Drivers Lives are Full of Distractions We can all identify the frustrations associated with distractions. The daily life of a truck driver, however, can be like one long distraction. Most of us only spend a few minutes behind the wheel of a vehicle every day. Truck drivers spend hour […]
Key Points: Table of Contents Do Mechanical Failures Cause Semi-Truck Accidents? Thousands of 18-wheelers traverse the Atlanta metro area’s highway system every day, and these big rigs have to share the road with many other vehicles – including passenger cars. To keep everyone safe, it’s important that every component of these massive trucks function properly. […]
Key Points: Table of Contents According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), speeding 18-wheelers have become a major concern on Atlanta’s busy highways. The alarming trend is spurred by a dense flow of trucks, Atlanta’s relentless traffic jams, and intense pressure put on drivers to meet deadlines. Drivers of passenger cars that share […]
Key Points: Table of Contents How Does the Size and Weight of a Truck Compare to a Car, and Why Does this Matter in a Truck Crash? In stark contrast to the average car weight of 3,000 to 4,000 pounds, trucks, commercial 18-wheelers, and semi-trucks weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds! This significant disparity in size […]
Key Points: Table of Contents After a truck accident, it’s important to remember that the trucking company, the driver, and the vehicle could have caused the incident. This can be the result of poor driver training, not performing regular maintenance of the truck, or allowing the driver to work beyond the legally permitted hours. For […]
Key Points: What Are Hours-of-Service Regulations? ‘Hours-of-service’ regulations are rules to limit the number of hours that commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver can drive or be on duty in a given period of time.The purpose for these regulations is to prevent driver fatigue and reduce the risk of accidents involving commercial motor vehicles. Georgia’s hours-of-service […]
Key Points: Truck accidents are entirely too common. Unfortunately, a significant number of these accidents are caused by improperly secured cargo items falling off truck trailers, particularly flatbeds. Flatbed trucks are often used when the cargo being transported does not need refrigeration and won’t be harmed by exposure to the elements. When such cargo isn’t […]
Key Points Do We Have Numbers on Hit-and-Run Truck Accidents? Unfortunately, there’s not a ton of data specifically on hit-and-run accidents involving trucks that’s widely available. But places like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety do offer stats on hit-and-runs in general and truck accidents overall. It’s […]
Key Points: In trucking accidents or other commercial vehicle wrecks, a central issue is not only who caused a collision or injury, but how much insurance is available and what the insurence policie(s) will cover. In the State of Georgia, insurance on commercial vehicles is set at specific amounts, often based on the weight of […]
Key Points: Truck accidents can leave a devastating trail of injuries, lost wages, and emotional trauma. If you’ve been involved in one, you’re likely facing a mountain of questions – who’s to blame, what compensation can you recover, and where do you even begin? This guide provides a clear and concise overview of negligence in […]
Key Points: In Georgia each truck accident settlement varies greatly. There is no standard amount because every case is unique, depending on the specific details and consequences. What is the Average Settlement Value of a Truck Accident Settlement? Discussing “averages” in truck accident settlements can be misleading if you’re trying to identify your cases possible […]
Key Points: In many Atlanta or Georgia truck accident cases, you can sue the trucking insurance company directly in what is known as a direct action. This means that—unlike in Georgia car accident cases – the insurance company can be a defendant in your case. In court, this can be a significant advantage, as the […]
Among large cities in the United States, Metro Atlanta has one of the fastest growing populations because of the sharp increase in people moving from other regions. Because people are buying and selling homes at such a high rate, there are more moving trucks on Atlanta roads than ever before. Many people choose to save […]
Key Points: Table of Contents Injured by a sleepy, tired or exhausted tractor-trailer driver? If you have suffered in such a collision, or a loved-one has been hurt or killed, you may still be wondering what to do about it and which law firm to hire and investigate your case. The Millar Law Firm specializes […]
Whenever a car accident victim seeks compensation, the focus turns to the available insurance coverage. If the insurance coverage is there, it gives the person a higher chance of financial recovery, especially if it’s clear that the victim is not responsible for causing the wreck to begin with and the accident expenses are proven. If […]
Key Points: Table of Contents Georgia law requires commercial truck drivers to possess a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), as well as meet specific training requirements. These requirements are designed to ensure that truck drivers have the necessary skills and knowledge to operate a commercial vehicle safely. Commercial truck drivers are required to follow stringent safety […]
Not All Independent Truck Drivers Are Owner-Operators All independent truck drivers work as contractors, which means they are not legally employed by any one carrier and must set up contracts to deliver goods. Using independent truckers instead of employees can help carriers reduce the costs associated with maintaining a large fleet of trucks, and being […]
Key Points: The DOT operates through multiple offices and authorities, including one branch specifically formed in January 2000 to govern trucking businesses—the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The primary mission of the FMCSA is to create and enforce safety requirements, ensure compliance, and maintain records for all truckers and carriers operating in the country. […]
Key Points: Most freight movement in the United States is conducted by truckers, with a growing market worth $791.7 billion in 2019. Of the 3.5 million truck drivers in the U.S., one in nine are independent and a majority are owner operators. Unlike trucking company employees, independent truck drivers can choose their own loads, control […]
Key Points: Truck Accident Negligence Can Take Place in the Loading Stages It is estimated that a severe or fatal accident involving a truck happens approximately every 15 minutes. The brutal delivery schedules and long hours drivers must meet certainly contribute to the epidemic of commercial trucking accidents. However, sometimes the culprit in truck accidents […]
Key Points: Garbage Truck Accidents Can Cause Serious Life-altering Injuries Garbage and recycling trucks are huge, heavy pieces of machinery, which are difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. The old adage applies as these huge trucks lurch from house to house on narrow streets – they operate like bulls in our “China shop” neighborhoods. While […]
Key Points: Compared to car accidents, commercial semi truck crashes often involve complicated factors and require extensive investigations to determine who or what was to blame. For the trucking company, when a large, expensive vehicle transporting goods worth thousands of dollars is potentially liable for severe damage to other cars and people, the stakes are […]
Key Points: A collision with a semi truck, or tractor-trailer truck, can result in extensive damage to vehicles as well as severe injuries to drivers and passengers. If you have been hurt in a truck accident, the truck’s “black box” can be crucial in proving your liability claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. Just […]
Key Points: Georgia Law Requires Commercial Trucks to be Insured The state of Georgia requires every vehicle that uses the roadways to be covered by liability insurance. This law (Ga. Code § 33-34-4), commonly called the Motor Vehicle Safety and Responsibility Act, includes commercial vehicles, like trucks, buses, and vans. Because commercial trucks are typically […]
Key Points Stopping an 80,000-Pound Commercial Truck When we think of brakes, we think of the fairly standard technology found on most passenger vehicles. The brakes in most cars use brake fluid to move components and apply brake pressure to stop the vehicle. However, the brake systems required to stop an 80,000-pound commercial semi-truck operate […]
Key Points: Most trucking companies have a team of lawyers on standby who will work to protect the company and their employees in and against any accident litigations. Any amount a trucking company must pay out is a loss to the company’s profits; therefore, their goal is to limit the liability for the trucking company […]
