Not all truck accidents happen on the open road. Frequent collisions occur around loading docks or in loading zones. Both pedestrians and motorists can be struck by a tractor-trailer or other large vehicle. Contact Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys if you were injured as a truck backed up or pulled away from a loading zone. An Atlanta truck accident attorney at our firm can schedule a time to meet if you call (404) 529-3476.
Types of Loading Dock Accidents
Loading docks or zones are hectic places. Often, the dock is in an alley, but some are closer to the general parking lot, so there might be considerable foot traffic.
Here are some common accidents:
1. Backing Up Accidents
A truck can crash into a dock worker or even a pedestrian when it is backing up. The truck has a large blind spot immediately behind it, about 20 feet in size. The trucker cannot see someone scooting behind the truck or even standing there.
Newer trucks are outfitted with rear-view cameras which provide a clear view of the area behind the truck. But the trucker might be distracted or in a rush as they throw the vehicle into reverse and back up to the loading dock. A pedestrian or worker could be clipped, struck, or even run over in these accidents.
2. Override Accidents
The truck also has a blind spot in front. The trucker might not see someone crossing in front of the vehicle when the truck pulls away from the loading dock or loading zone.
The risk of an accident is very high at places like big box stores, where the loading dock might be on the side of the building instead of in the rear. Some pedestrians or store workers might wander into the loading zone and get run over when the truck tries to pull into traffic.
Similarly, some motorists park temporarily into a loading zone, while the driver runs inside. A truck could crash into the car.
3. Premature Truck Departure
A truck could pull away from the loading dock too early. Dock workers can be hurt when the truck unexpectedly separates from the dock. For example, a forklift could tumble onto its side. Some forklifts or workers can fall into the “gap” between the truck and the dock, where they can be crushed or suffer other traumatic injuries.
Premature truck departure is often the result of miscommunication between the trucker and workers in the loading zone. Fatigue and distraction also contribute to these accidents.
Common Injuries in Loading Dock Accidents
Although these accidents happen at low speeds, they can still cause major injuries:
- Crush injuries. A truck can run over a pedestrian or worker or otherwise ride over a smaller vehicle. The occupants can end up crushed. Crush injuries are sometimes fatal and almost always result in fractures and other serious injuries.
- Concussions and head injuries. A worker who falls off a dock can strike their head and suffer a traumatic brain injury.
- Neck and spine injuries. Heavy trucks can lead to life-altering injuries, including paralysis or impaired sensation if the spinal cord is damaged. A crush injury might cause bone fragments to nick or lodge in the spinal cord.
- Organ damage. A pedestrian or motorist can suffer internal organ injuries, such as perforated bowel, kidney damage, punctured lung, and heart damage.
- Facial injuries. Disfiguring facial injuries include broken nose, abrasions, orbital fracture, and permanent scarring.
These injuries require medical attention. Injured victims usually need time at home resting but not working. Our firm will calculate the full value of your legal claim. If you were hurt by a negligent trucker in a loading zone, we can negotiate fair compensation.
Who is Responsible for a Truck Accident in a Loading Zone or at the Dock?
These accidents are usually caused by:
- Miscommunication. Loading docks often have lights or flaggers who instruct the trucker on when to back up or pull away from the dock. A loading dock might have insufficient lights or no flaggers.
- Distraction. A lot is going on in the loading zone, especially those near the front of a store where other motorists are parked. Truckers and others can become distracted, causing them to run into other vehicles.
- Impatience. A trucker might be impatient to unload the cargo, so they fail to check cameras or follow instructions when backing up.
- Fatigue. At the end of a shift, some truckers are exhausted, which increases the likelihood of a critical error because they are not thinking clearly or suffer from blurred vision.
- Equipment malfunction. A truck’s camera might not be working, but the truck’s owner does not fix it. As a result, the trucker cannot see in the back of the truck.
- Poorly designed loading zone. The property owner might also share liability for an accident in a loading zone, especially if the lights are not working or the zone is poorly laid out or missing signage.
Contact our firm to speak with an Atlanta truck accident lawyer to review the facts. We can bring a legal claim against a trucker or their employer in most situations. We might also sue a store if a property defect contributed to your collision.
Defendants usually push back on our claims. We need rounds of negotiation to obtain a fair settlement. Some defendants even blame the victim for the accident, so we will need time to fully canvas the factual record.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
Low-speed collisions are still serious accidents. Anyone struck by a backing-up truck can face a lifetime of medical bills and lost income. Other accidents might even prove fatal. Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys has negotiated favorable settlements for many people hurt in all types of truck collisions, including those in parking lots or near big box stores.Ready to learn more? Call our office at (404) 529-3476 to schedule a consultation with a truck accident lawyer in Atlanta. We can review how much compensation you might request and where to file a lawsuit, if necessary.