A recent — and peculiar — collision involving two tractor-trailers left three people dead and near Atlanta. The fatal collision blocked multiple lanes of highway just outside the city.
The sequence of events leading to this truck accident began when one of the semi trucks inexplicably drifted on to the left shoulder of the freeway. The truck struck a nearby guardrail and then hit a pillar that was holding a road sign over the highway. This truck eventually rolled over and wound up on its side in flames. The driver died.
Meanwhile, the sign that road sign fell off the pillar that was struck by the first truck and hit another semi truck. The second truck’s driver lost control and also ran his rig off the road. Both the driver and the passenger in the second vehicle passed away.
This tragic case illustrates that it’s not just passenger cars that are impacted by truck accidents. In fact, other semi drivers (and their passengers) share the risk of becoming involved in a serious accident through no fault of their own. Just as is the case in a car-truck accident, accident victims in a tractor-trailer may also be able to receive compensation for his or her medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering.
A legal professional with knowledge of Georgia personal injury laws should be able to describe what sort of compensation may be available to an injured trucker or to a family contemplating a wrongful death suit. In light of this case, it is important to remember that, no matter how surprising or unusual the details of an accident may be, drivers can be held accountable for their negligence.
Source: CBS Atlanta, “Victims identified in fatal crash involving two tractor trailers on I-75,” Mary Gleason, Dec. 19, 2012