By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2010-07-08 22:24:58 | Word Count: 664
Over 1,500 people were killed in car or truck accidents in Georgia in 2007. Georgia is in the list of top five states for serious and or fatal accidents. This does not take into account the numbers who were hurt or sustained major physical injuries that led to being disabled. Large trucks are far more likely to be involved in serious accidents than automobiles.
Accidents that involve a semi truck can bring catastrophic damage and can be far more complicated than car accidents. The average weight of a fully-loaded semi truck is approximately 80,000 pounds. Not only can semi truck accidents cause intensive, often fatal damage to individuals, because of the size and weight of the vehicles there can often be extensive damage to highways and overpasses, and traffic can be backed up for hours.
[ advertisement ]
In the United States, there are complex state and federal regulations that determine driver conduct. For example, drivers cannot be on the road for more than a set number of hours, and they are required to take regular breaks and keep a record that demonstrates that they have complied to these regulation.
These semi truck accidents can be caused by different circumstances: fatigue, faults in how the highways have been designed, loads that are not evenly balanced, driving too fast in unsafe weather conditions, or a miscalculation on the part of the driver due to aggressive driving to meet unrealistic deadlines. No matter what the reason, accidents involving automobiles and semi trucks almost always result in much more extensive damage than when two automobiles collide.
Since the biggest cause of semi truck accidents is driver fatigue, transportation officials have created much more stringent guidelines governing logbooks for commercial truckers to make sure breaks are taken and drivers get enough rest.
Just as often, when a semi truck is involved in an accident, it can mean problems with the truck and trailer itself. Inspectors can uncover problems with brakes or other mechanical troubles, as well as violation of safety regulations.
Sometimes the fault falls with the companies who hired the drivers. Some cut corners and end up using under experienced or dangerous drivers.
If you or anyone in your family has injured in a semi truck accident, a complete investigation should be conducted to reveal the facts of what actually took place. Evidence is needed in this kind of accident that are not required in regular car accidents. Your attorney should be well versed in handling semi truck cases and if necessary, issue a restraining order so that the rig itself and be fully inspected to glean all the facts of the case. Your attorney should be prepared to hire all experts required to make a complete and full evaluation of the case.
If you have not yet spoken to an attorney after having been involved in a semi truck accident, it is a prudent idea to do so to find out the best way to proceed.
