Commercial Vehicle Collisions

Georgia Truck Accident Statistics

According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, fatal truck collisions are on the rise in Georgia and nationally. This is true based on the total number of fatal collisions and the number of fatal truck collisions and commercial vehicle collisions per million residents. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s data, in 2010 there were 138 fatal truck collisions in Georgia. At the time, this meant that there were 14.24 fatal collisions in Georgia involving large trucks per 1 million Georgia residents. In 2019, there were 180 fatal collisions in Georgia involving large trucks. This means that in 2019 there were 16.95 fatal collisions involving large trucks in Georgia per 1 million Georgia residents.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Driver fatigue, including drivers who are violating the law due to the amount of time they have been driving relative to rest time.

• Drivers falling asleep while driving a truck
• Drivers who are impaired due to drug use
• Drivers who are distracted due to improper use of a cellular telephone or other electronic device
• Poor driver performance due to improper training
• A trucking company that has negligently retained a driver with an history of unsafe driving
• Reckless driving
• An improperly secured load in the truck trailer
• Negligent maintenance of the truck, including brakes that are not functioning properly

Intoxicated motor vehicle operators are a serious component of fatal large truck crashes. According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in 2019 58.7% of drivers of large trucks in fatal crashes were not drug tested. Even though only 41.3% of drivers involved in fatal crashes were drug tested, 6% of the total number of drivers involved in fatal crashes tested positive for drugs of some type. Stimulants and cannabinoids were the most prevalent drugs of abuse identified in large truck drivers who were in fatal crashes.

Potential Defendants in a Truck Wreck Case

There are several potential defendants who may be responsible in a case arising out of a commercial vehicle collision or truck wreck. The at fault driver of the truck is an obvious defendant. The at fault driver’s employer is also a potential defendant. If a freight broker was involved, the freight broker may have responsibility. The shipper may also have responsibility. In Georgia, the insurance company for the defendant trucking company is normally responsible and may be sued in a direct action. O.C.G.A. §§ 46-7-12, 46-7-12.1, and 40-2-140. Additionally, an insurance company may also have legal responsibility for providing safety advice to the at fault trucking company. A safety compliance company may have legal responsibility. In some instances, more than one company may be considered the carrier. Identifying the appropriate defendants in any Georgia truck wreck case will require a careful analysis of the facts by an experienced truck collision attorney.

If you have questions about a Georgia large truck crash or a commercial vehicle crash, call The Parrish Law Firm at 404-891-0141 for a free consultation.