Atlanta Logging Truck Accident Risks and Your Rights in an Injury Claim
Logging trucks pass through Atlanta regularly and carry extremely heavy loads. They have a long history of causing injuries, whether due to collisions or when large limbs fall off the back, impacting motorists nearby.
Unfortunately, logging truck accidents can cause devastating injuries to drivers and passengers involved. Our experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyers explain how they happen and your rights in holding those at fault liable.
How Do Logging Truck Accidents in Atlanta Happen?
Logging is a major industry in the Peach State. According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, the state is one of the country’s biggest exporters of wood, wood fuel, and wood pellets. As a result, logging trucks are a regular sight on local highways and interstates. Unfortunately, this can pose risks for other road users.
According to the Georgia Highway Safety Office, more than 500 crashes and collisions involving logging trucks happen each year. That’s in addition to incidents in which a log falls off and onto another vehicle, which happens nearly monthly. These accidents can seriously harm motorists and everyone in their vehicle. Common causes include:
- Improperly secured logs, which can cause shifting loads and loss of control over the rig.
- Overloaded trucks, which make cargo spills more likely to happen.
- Driver fatigue, speeding, and other dangerous behavior, which increase the overall risk of a crash.
- Improper turns or lane changes, which can cause rollover crashes.
- Falling or shifting logs, which impact other drivers on the road.
Georgia law requires commercial motor vehicles to have secure loads. Considering the hazards posed by logging trucks, there are additional rules addressing the securement of logs and pulpwood.
Who Can Be Held Liable for an Atlanta Logging Truck Accident?
When a logging truck accident happens in Atlanta, it can cause potentially life-threatening harm. Victims and their families have the right to seek compensation for their property damages, medical care, lost earnings, and other costs. Those who may be liable in a claim include:
- The logging truck driver, if their dangerous behavior caused the crash.
- The trucking company, for negligent hiring practices, lack of training or supervision, or poor maintenance.
- The company or person responsible for loading the rig, if overloading or failing to secure logs was a factor.
- A maintenance company or manufacturer, if vehicle malfunctions contributed to a collision.
A thorough investigation can help determine how the crash happened and whether more than one party contributed to your injuries. Evidence such as driver records, maintenance documents, loading records, photographs, video, and the truck’s electronic data helps support your claim.
Contact Our Experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyers Today
Atlanta logging truck accidents are common and can cause devastating injuries. To get the compensation you are entitled to in a claim, contact Shiver Hamilton, LLC.
Our experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyers investigate these cases, determine who is liable, and help victims and their families get the compensation they need to recover. Our office serves clients in Alpharetta, Decatur, Johns Creek, Marietta, and throughout DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties. Request a consultation today.
Sources:
gatrees.org/forest-industry/
gahighwaysafety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2021-Large-Trucks-Georgia-Traffic-Safety-Facts.pdf
dps.georgia.gov/document/publication/chapter-four-georgia-forest-products-trucking-rules/download
