Skip to Main Content

Call US now 404 LAW-FIRM

Common Causes of Atlanta Truck Accidents


Anyone who has been injured in a truck accident in the Atlanta area or who has lost a loved one in a deadly trucking accident knows how serious and devastating these crashes can be. After a collision, it is critical to learn about your options for seeking financial compensation. While it can feel difficult to consider the possibility of a lawsuit when you are facing the loss of a loved one or a debilitating injury yourself, it is essential to remember that you will only have a limited amount of time to determine liability and file a lawsuit. In order to determine liability, you will need to know what caused the trucking crash. What caused the trucking crash in which you were injured? The answer to that question will depend upon the facts of your case. In some circumstances, multiple causation factors may have played a role in causing the wreck. Our Atlanta trucking accident lawyers can provide you with more information about common causes of Atlanta truck accidents.

Driver Error is Common in Truck Accidents

Driver error is one of the most common causes of trucking crashes and other types of motor vehicle collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Driver error in a truck accident can take many different forms, and the crash may be caused by the truck driver’s error or by the error of a driver in another passenger vehicle involved in the collision. The following are some of the most common types of driver error cited by the NHTSA and the FMCSA:

  • Distracted driving, which can involve any behaviors that take the driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind away from the task of focusing on the road;
  • Drowsy driving, which is especially common among long-haul truck drivers, particularly when they fail to adhere to the FMCSA regulations concerning rest periods;
  • Intoxicated driving, which can include drunk driving or drugged driving (including the use of prescription drugs that affect the driver’s abilities), or a combination of the two;
  • Speeding;
  • Tailgating, or following too closely;
  • Weaving in traffic; and
  • Road rage behaviors, such as intentionally cutting off another driver or attempting to block a driver from changing lanes.

Keep in mind that a truck driver’s employer may be responsible for the trucker’s negligence in these types of circumstances.

Road Debris or Damage

Sometimes road debris or road damage can cause a trucking accident. In most cases, the city, state, or other government entity (depending upon the road where the accident occurred) is responsible for clearing debris and ensuring that roads are safe.

Improperly Loaded Trailer

Large trucks like 18-wheelers must be properly loaded in order to be safe on the road. According to an article in Industry Today, there are many different kinds of improper loading that can result in devastating truck crashes, including but not limited to:

  • Unbalanced loading, where the cargo is unbalanced in a way that can affect the effectiveness of the truck’s brakes, or could cause the truck to swing to one side;
  • Overweight loading, which can result in the truck driver losing control and being unable to stop;
  • Unsecured loading, which can shift the truck’s center of gravity and can affect the way the truck handles.

Contact an Atlanta Trucking Accident Attorney for Help

If you were injured in a truck accident, one of our truck accident lawyers in Atlanta can evaluate your case to help you determine causation. Contact Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys online or call us at (404) 529-3476 for more information.

Free Case Evaluation

Contact

We are more than ready to help.

We fight

for your justice.

award-winning Atlanta personal injury law firm