Trucking Accident Causes Tragic Fatality

A tragic accident occurred several days ago on the Pleasantdale Road access ramp to I-85 south, according to CBSAtlanta.  The ramp was closed because of this fatal accident.

DeKalb County police said that a man driving a Honda left a roadway and crashed into the rear of a tractor trailer.  This occurred around 8:30 a.m.

Apparently, this tractor trailer was parked unattended along the shoulder of I-85.  The man driving the Honda was pronounced dead on the scene. 

Why Trucking Accidents Are More Dangerous

Trucking accidents are very serious and can cause major damage to vehicles and serious injuries to the humans inside.  As seen in the image here to the right taken from another trucking accident, the collision can be extremely powerful.  Truck accidents may have a higher chance of causing serious injuries or a fatality in comparison to car accidents. There are several reasons why truck accidents are more likely to cause serious injury or death. The reasons include:

1. Trucks are much heavier than cars (80,000 lbs. or more when fully loaded) which causes a greater impact in a collision;

2. Trucks are higher up aboce the ground than cars and therefore hit above the car versus head-on like a car crash;

3. Materials, like metal, used to build a truck are stronger than most other materials like plastic used to build modern cars today; and

4. Some trucks carry chemicals or flammable liquids, thus they may cause burns or explosions.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings While on the Road

While truck drivers are required to pass state and federal driving tests which prepare them for operating their trucks,  truck drivers are expected to drive long hours oftentimes fatiguing them.  Mix in “bad” drivers who are out on the roadways every day as they commute to work, or drivers who use their cell phones to text or email while driving (activities that are illegal), and even if you are paying attention, if the other driver is not, it could lead to a terrible result.  Be aware and alert of your fellow vehicles and drivers.

What To Do If You Are Hit or Involved in a Truck Accident

Our experienced attorneys have handled many trucking accidents. If you or a loved one have been involved in a trucking accident and have questions on how to proceed, please feel free to call our attorneys and we can help.