Georgia Truck Accident Lawyers Blog

An Atlanta tractor-trailer accident seriously injured a H.E.R.O worker on I-85 in Gwinnett County on Tuesday, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The victim was removing debris from the highway when he was struck near Old Peachtree Road, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation. Our Atlanta semi accident attorneys know such pedestrian crashes are typically fatal. Too often, a crash occurs when victims are standing outside a disabled vehicle at the side of the road. You are encouraged to wait well off the road -- well away from your vehicle, whenever possible.

Georgia's Highway Emergency Response Operators work to reduce congestion and clear roads after an accident. Unfortunately, that means they are often working outside their vehicles, along busy highways. In January, another H.E.R.O. operator was killed while helping a motorist on I-85 in downtown Atlanta. He was the first killed on the job since the program began 15 years ago.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports more than 380,000 accidents involving large trucks each year. In 2008, a total of 4,229 people were killed. Of those, 413 on-occupants (including bicyclists and pedestrians) were killed and another 3,000 were injured.

In this case, the worker was removing tire debris from the road. Several vehicles had stopped behind him, including a blue pickup. A tractor-trailer reportedly hit the truck and another vehicle before striking the H.E.R.O worker and coming to a stop. The truck driver told police his brakes failed, according to the AJC. The driver and passenger in the blue truck were transported to the hospital for treatment. The drivers of the tractor-trailer and the other vehicle were not injured.

The H.E.R.O worker was conscious after the accident and was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center. He may have sustained several broken limbs, according to the report.

Three lanes of I-85 were blocked and did not reopen for more than an hour. Authorities investigating include the Gwinnett police, the Georgia Highway Patrol, the Georgia Department of Public Safety's Motor Carrier Compliance Division and several other H.E.R.O. units.

Safety tips for stranded motorists include:

-Pull to the shoulder and stop as far right as possible.

-If possible, don't stop along a guardrail, which limits your ability to escape in the event of an accident.

-Switch on your hazard lights.

-Exit the vehicle via the right-hand door.

-Make sure all passengers stay well away from the road.

-Wait to use the phone until at a safe location -- well away from traffic.

-Never stand between your vehicle and oncoming traffic.