Atlanta Boy Killed When Truck Transmission Crashed Through Windshield

Trucking companies can be held liable for failing to maintain their trucks.

2012-11-15

November 15, 2012 (Press-News.org) Though heavy trucks are a vital part of the Georgia economy, their presence does pose a significant risk to others on the road. A lot of the danger arises from the simple fact that these trucks are so large -- a fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average passenger vehicle weighs just 4,000 pounds. This great disparity in size means that even a low-speed collision between a car and a semi-truck can have disastrous consequences.

Georgia trucking companies and truck drivers have a duty to prioritize safety and minimize the risk of accident. Part of this duty includes a responsibility to maintain their vehicles in reasonably safe condition.

A recent accident in Atlanta shows just how devastating the consequences can be when this responsibility isn't met. Last summer, an 8-year-old Georgia boy was killed when a piece of a transmission broke loose from a semi-truck and crashed through the windshield of an SUV in which the boy was riding. His mother and sister were injured as well.

After the accident, it became clear that the company that operated the broken truck had a long record of safety violations. According to federal safety officials, the company had previously been cited for a whole string of violations including loose wheels, missing wheel fasteners, defective axles, unsecured brake hoses and other mechanical problems. Federal records show that the company's vehicle maintenance record was worse than 94.6 of comparable trucking companies.

An investigation into the accident is still pending, so no official statements have been released regarding how and why the part came loose. However, the facts of the accident, combined with the company's poor safety record, indicate trucking company negligence and failure to maintain the truck may be to blame.

Georgia Trucking Accidents

Sadly, poor vehicle maintenance is a problem all across the trucking industry. Some of the most common defects include inoperative lamps and turn signals, defective warning lights, worn out tires and oil leaks. All of these things make it more likely for a serious accident to occur, either because the truck breaks down or because the driver cannot react appropriately to hazards in the road.

When an accident does happen, it is important for injured victims to understand that they have rights. If the accident was caused by truck driver or trucking company negligence, the victims may be able recover financial compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.

However, trucking company negligence isn't always obvious in the immediate aftermath of an accident. Instead, the negligence only becomes evident after an investigation is launched, either by law enforcement or by the victims' attorneys.

As such, it is important for Georgia trucking accident victims to take steps to protect their rights soon after the crash. If you or a loved one has been hurt in an accident with a tractor trailer, an Atlanta personal injury attorney can help you understand your options.

Article provided by Watkins, Lourie, Roll & Chance, PC
Visit us at www.wlrlawfirm.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Fatal Denver Hit-and-Run Highlights Accident Victims' Rights

2012-11-15

There are few things worse than losing a loved one to a fatal car accident. However, when the at-fault driver refuses to take responsibility for his or her actions, the pain of the loss is often accompanied by an unshakable sense of injustice. Thankfully, Colorado police take fatal hit-and-run car accidents seriously. They will investigate the crash and work to identify and apprehend the responsible driver. If found, the driver will face serious criminal penalties. Take, for example, the case of a recent fatal hit-and-run accident on South Broadway in Denver. A 32-year-old ...

The Problem of Retained Surgical Objects

2012-11-15

Undergoing surgery can be a stressful -- both physically and mentally. After going through a medical procedure, the last thing that patients should have to worry about is having a surgical instrument left behind inside of their body. But studies show that every year at least 4,000 patients around the country who have surgical procedures need to worry about just that -- and after going through the stress of the initial surgery, these patients have to deal with the fact that some kind of medical instrument was left inside their body. The objects left inside patients can ...

Can Workers' Compensation Cover Repetitive Strain Issues?

2012-11-15

Repetitive strain injuries can be debilitating for employees, causing them to miss work and perhaps change their fundamental job duties. Fortunately, it is possible for workers to claim Pennsylvania workers' compensation benefits for repetitive strain injuries directly linked to work duties. What Is a Repetitive Strain Injury? A repetitive strain injury, also known as a repetitive stress injury or RSI, is an injury that causes pain in the muscles, tendons or nerves of a joint or other area of the body. RSIs are usually attributed to the performance of repetitive tasks. Repetitive ...

Virginia Court Further Defines Characteristics of Legal Checkpoints

2012-11-15

The commonwealth of Virginia vigorously fights drunk driving by using sobriety checkpoints as part of the annual Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign -- a 10-year-old law-enforcement program in conjunction with surrounding states to fight drinking and driving. While the program is multifaceted, it focuses largely on the use of checkpoints to prevent drunk driving and uncover other traffic offenses. 2012 Checkpoint Strikeforce Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling officially kicked off the 2012 campaign in September at a NASCAR event, confirming that Virginia is committed to ending drunk ...

Prenuptial Agreements are a Wise Move for All Texans

2012-11-15

When a couple gets married, they vow to stay together "until death do us part." However, we all know this isn't always the case. Divorce is a fact of life in Texas and around the world. For that reason, many couples would be wise to consider drafting and executing a prenuptial agreement before they marry. Of course, no one wants to think about the consequences of divorce at the same time that they are planning a wedding. However, prenuptial agreements can provide much-needed protection and peace of mind in the unlikely event that the marriage ends. A prenuptial ...

Woman's Car Accident Death Highlights Unsafe South Carolina Highways

2012-11-15

Car accidents can happen for many different reasons. Most people are familiar with accidents caused by speeding, drunk driving and distracted driving. However, not everyone realizes that poor roadway design is also a significant contributing cause of South Carolina car accidents. In fact, a recent report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ranked South Carolina as having the most dangerous highways in the entire country. Though the rankings were based on a number of factors, the condition of the state's infrastructure played a major role. South Carolina's ...

Child Custody May Get Easier for US Service Members

2012-11-15

In 2007, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class John Moreno was deployed, leaving his pregnant wife behind in Virginia. When he returned, he found his wife had taken their then seven-month-old daughter, Vanessa, to Arizona and refused to let Moreno see the child. A Virginia judge (where Vanessa was born) declined jurisdiction and would not order the wife to return Moreno's daughter because Moreno's military orders were to leave Virginia. Justifiably, Moreno feels like he has fewer legal rights because of his military service. Unfortunately, Petty Officer 2nd Class Moreno's situation ...

Surge of Black Lung Disease Hitting Appalachian Coal Miners

2012-11-15

A lot of people think of black lung disease as a thing of the past. However, for coal miners in West Virginia, the threat now is as real as it has ever been. According to an investigation by National Public Radio and the Center for Public Integrity, cases of severe black lung disease among Appalachian coal miners have quadrupled since 1980. Even worse, the investigation revealed that federal regulators and coal mining industry officials have known about the problem for more than 20 years, but have made little effort to stop the surge. As a result, even young coal miners ...

Divorce Rate Among Baby Boomers Growing

2012-11-15

On the whole, the divorce rate is falling in the United States. However, this isn't true across all sectors. Over the last 20 years, the divorce rate for people age 50 and older has more than doubled. There are many different reasons for the uptick in these so-called "grey divorces." Part of the reason comes from the fact that the baby boomer generation tends to have different views on marriage than their predecessors. Baby boomers are more likely to view marriage as something done for personal fulfillment. As a result, they are less hesitant to divorce if ...

Pennsylvania's Medical Reporting Law Addresses Older-Driver Safety

2012-11-15

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, once a driver reaches the age of 70, the rate at which she or he is in a car accident begins to rise gradually each year until the age of 80. After 80, the car crash rate begins to increase rapidly. In fact, only teenagers and people in their 20s have more car crashes per mile driven than drivers in their 80s, and drivers age 85 and older are involved in more fatal car accidents per mile driven than any other age group. Because it is predicted that by 2030 a quarter of all licensed drivers will be over 65 years ...

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 upregulates the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling pathway to mitigate hepatocyte ferroptosis in chronic liver injury

Atlanta Boy Killed When Truck Transmission Crashed Through Windshield

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: