Georgia Truck Accident Lawyers Blog

Georgia injury lawyers representing victims of tractor-trailer accidents look carefully at the facts of the these cases to determine who may be liable. Just this week, a Georgia man died after his truck slammed into the side of a semi trailer Wednesday night. According to the Georgia State Patrol the collision happened around 9:30 p.m. on Highway 84 at Clancy Lane. Troopers said Willie Houston, 54, was driving a 1993 Chevy pickup westbound when he collided with a the side of the trailer. The impact wedged the cab of the pickup under the tractor trailer. Troopers said the driver of the semi, 39 year-old David Hines of Midway, was parking his truck for the evening when the accident happened.

As Georgia injury lawyers, we would want to know more about the circumstances surrounding this collision. It would appear that the pickup truck broadsided the trailer at night. Was the trailer visible? Was it properly illuminated? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has specific rules and regulations on this subject. All lighting devices required on vehicles must be capable of being operated at all times. Guidelines for the color and positioning of lights on commercial vehicles are set out in 49 C.F.R. §393.11. Lights and reflectors on the vehicle must meet visibility requirements under nighttime conditions. Reflectors must be applied to the side and rear of the trailer. Reflective sheeting must be applied to each side of a trailer from as close to the front and rear as practicable.

Whether or not the tractor trailer was in compliance with these federal regulations is unknown; however, these would be key points of investigation for any Georgia injury lawyer investigating the possible wrongful death of the pickup truck driver.