Truck drivers who text behind the wheel are 23.2 times more likely to be involved in an accident, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA). Truckers face other distractions as well when driving, including drinking or eating, GPS devices, in-cab radio or audio, vehicle controls and distracting events outside of the cab. Long-haul trucking can be monotonous and boring at times, making truckers more susceptible to being inattentive behind the wheel.

In Georgia, it is illegal for all motorists to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent. For commercial drivers, this limit is 0.4 percent. Driving while intoxicated or impaired by alcohol or drugs affects a person’s reaction time and greatly increases the likelihood of a truck accident. Even prescription medications can pose a risk depending on the side effects and how it interacts with other substances.

An estimated 13 percent of truck drivers reported being fatigued at the time of a collision, according to the FMCSA. Despite there being federal regulations restricting how many consecutive hours truckers can drive without rest, companies often push drivers past their limits with strict deadlines and long hauls.

Poor visibility, slick roads, high winds and other weather conditions can cause a truck driver to lose control of their vehicle or fail to see road hazards such as stopped traffic. Trucks weighed down with cargo need more time to stop their vehicle, so truck drivers should reduce their speed or pullover when visibility is limited due to bad weather.

If a truck’s cargo load isn’t properly secured, the load can shift during transport or even fall out of the tractor-trailer. This released cargo can wreak havoc on nearby motorists as they attempt to avoid hitting the objects, commonly resulting in multi-vehicle (pile- up) crashes.

While driving around Atlanta, you’ve probably seen the remnants of tire blowouts in the form of massive shreds of tire rubber in the median or shoulder of a road. A tire blowout can be dangerous in a couple of ways: 1) the truck driver might lose control of their vehicle and roll over or collide with a nearby vehicle; and 2) the tire rubber can fly up and strike a nearby car or cause them to wreck.

Speeding is one of the most common causes of all motor vehicle crashes, but it’s particularly deadly when commercial truck drivers hauling heavy loads make the choice to speed. Vehicles traveling at faster speeds take longer to slow down or stop.

Brake failure is the most commonly cited reason for truck accidents caused by a defective or malfunctioning part. In fact, brake failure is a shockingly common cause of truck accidents, accounting for an estimated 30 percent of truck crashes. However, other equipment and parts can also malfunction and cause accidents, such as steering components, trailer hitch failure, tire blowouts or defective lighting.

The driver may bear a large chunk of responsibility for damages if their actions (speeding, falling asleep at the wheel, drinking and driving, texting behind the wheel, etc.) directly led to the wreck. Truck drivers are also responsible for inspecting their rig regularly to ensure it is safe before getting on the road.

In Georgia, most employers are liable for any harm caused by their full- or part-time employees. It is the trucking company’s duty to hire qualified drivers and properly train them. Carriers that pressure or order drivers to break federal regulations by, for example, driving longer than they are allowed to can be fined and held liable for an accident.

Sometimes, neither the trucking carrier nor the truck driver actually owns the truck; rather, they lease or rent the vehicle from the truck owner. In cases where the truck was insufficiently maintained, the owner may be liable for damages.

Trucking and transportation companies sometimes partner with cargo shipping and loading companies to help load and unload cargo. If unsecured or improperly balanced cargo was to blame for a truck crash, this company may be to blame as well.

Vehicle parts naturally wear down over time, but sometimes a defective part fails too soon or without warning, causing an accident. In such cases, the manufacturer or distributor of the defective part may be liable for any injuries that result.

Truckers aren’t always responsible for an accident. If another passenger vehicle driver is to blame, then truck crash victims may be able to sue them or seek compensation from their insurance company.

If poor road conditions (such as a pothole) or construction road work contributed to the truck accident, then the government agency or contractor responsible for managing the site of the crash might be liable.

While an insurance company is not usually directly liable for a truck accident, they are often one of the many parties involved in a truck injury lawsuit and may
ultimately pay out a settlement claim. Sometimes, multiple insurance companies may get involved if different insurers represent the truck driver, the carrier, a parts manufacturer or another motorist.