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Improper Loads are a Common Cause of Truck Accidents in Atlanta
Atlanta truck accidents can be caused by overloaded trucks or trailers or improper loading or stacking of the cargo. This is a problem that happens quite often on Atlanta highways such as I-20, I-75 or I-575. Load issues can actually be dangerous for an Atlanta trucker as well. A big rig trucker driving in Atlanta can easily be killed or seriously injured if he or she stops and the shifted load comes through the semi cab.
So, in an Atlanta truck accident caused by a loading issue, it’s not just the commercial truck driver and the truck company but it’s the loading company who loaded the truck who also could be sued and should be sued. That is why you need an experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer so you have more defendants to understand so the jury can assess the fault, where it lies.
For example, an Atlanta company such as The Home Depot or UPS could be transporting a load on I-20, I-75 or I-575 in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area and a serious accident could be caused by an improper load. Improper lashing of loads can cause the semi truck driver to lose a load. Most drivers have had the experience, while driving along on an Atlanta interstate and, all of a sudden, there is something there on the road, and it causes an accident. Many Atlanta residents have seen this. When this happens, it is the fault of the trucker, the truck company and the loading company.
Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyers Need to Assess Cause
Improper loading causes an extensive array of accidents and an Atlanta truck accident lawyer needs to understand this to be able to assess the situation properly. Causation is just one element of a successful lawsuit, and can be extremely difficult to prove. In many cases, Atlanta truck accident attorneys must retain the services of scientific and medical experts to prove both the cause of the accident and the cause of your injuries. Additionally, a qualified accident lawyer will obtain all kinds of evidence concerning the scene of the accident, truck logs, and other important information to be used against the trucker, trucking company, or the company's insurer. Arranging expert witness testimony and preparing important physical and documentary evidence is just one of many ways an Atlanta truck accident lawyer can help you after you've suffered a truck accident injury.
Atlanta - Georgia Department of Transportation Regulations
Trucking regulations in Atlanta, GA exist governing permissible truck length, width, height, and weight. These regulations have been set forth by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and apply to all trucks in the state. Some of the regulations are as follows:
Size Limits for Atlanta Trucks and Trailers:
- Legal width limit: 8´ 6´´(102´´)
- Legal height limit: 14´
- Legal Limit for a Truck or single vehicle: 45´
- Maximum Limit for a Truck or single vehicle: 45´
Weight limits for Atlanta, Georgia are as follows:
- Maximum legal gross weight cannot exceed 80,000 pounds.
- Maximum legal weight for a single axle cannot exceed 20,000 pounds.
- Maximum legal weight for a tandem axle group cannot exceed 34,000 pounds.
Overweight or Oversize Vehicles in Atlanta
An accident caused by a truck that is oversized or overweight can be even more dangerous due to its extra equipment, size, and heft. There are specific Georgia regulations that an experienced 18-wheeler injury lawyer will analyze to determine whether the driver complied with these state laws. It is crucial that you hire an experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer because most general practitioners or accident lawyers who do not concentrate their practice on truck accidents are not knowledgeable on these laws.
Truck Scales in Atlanta, Georgia
Truckers should always be sure they are in compliance with federal and state regulations specifying maximum truck size and weight. If the truck driver is unsure of the weight of the load he or she is hauling, there are several truck scales in the Atlanta, Georgia area where loads can be weighed to verify that the Atlanta trucker is within legal limits. If a big rig accident occurs due to improper weight loads, the semi driver will be legally accountable. The following is a list of Atlanta truck scale centers and stops where the driver can weigh the load of the tractor trailer:
Truck Scales in Atlanta, GA:
Pilot Travel Center
Patriots
Fairburn Family Travel Center
Pilot Travel Center #422 |
Map of Truck Scales in the Atlanta area |
| A truck driver's failure to verify the weight of the load he or she is hauling, or failure to secure it properly for roll sway characteristics, is considered negligence, and such failures should result in the trucker or truck company's legal accountability if a truck accident results in Atlanta, GA. |
Truck Accident Attorneys Serve Atlanta and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Northern Georgia, including Atlanta, Austell, Belvedere Park, Clarkston, College Park, Conley, Conyers, Covington, Dallas, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Fairburn, Fayetteville, Forest Park, Gresham Park, Griffin, Irondale, Lithonia, Locust Grove, Mableton, McDonough, Morrow, Newman, North Atlanta, North Decatur, North Druid Hills, Palmetto, Panthersville, Peachtree City, Powder Springs, Redan, Riverside, Scottdale, Smyrna, Snellville, Stockbridge, Stone Mountain, Tucker, Tyrone, Union City, Vaugn, Villa Rica, Worthville, and other communities in Dekalb County and Fulton County.
If you’ve been injured by a shifting load or improperly secured cargo, contact an Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer to discuss your options. You will receive a free initial consultation and quality legal advice from an experience Georgia Truck Accident Attorney.