Georgia Truck Accident Lawyers Blog

The tragic death of a 10-year-old boy in a Madison County tractor-trailer accident this month is a painful reminder of the dangers these large trucks pose to young people through the summer months.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports the rear-end accident claimed the life of the boy and critically injured a friend. The crash happened on Highway 441 (Commerce Road) near Nature Center Road. The 57-year-old North Carolina trucker rear-ended a car driven by the victim's mother, according to the AJC.

All of the occupants were wearing their seat belts.

Our Atlanta semi accident attorneys understand the risks posed by large commercial vehicles can impact anyone, from the very young to our oldest residents. However, teen drivers and other young people are at particular risk through the summer travel season.

This month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sponsored "Teens and Trucks," a program aimed at warning teens about the dangers large trucks pose on the road.

Teens promised to give trucks plenty of room, to avoid blind spots, and to participate in the "No Texting Promise."

“We want everyone to be safe, but as newer drivers, teens must adhere to a few simple rules,” said Anne Ferro, Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “They are: buckle up, don’t drink and drive; don’t speed, don’t text or use your phone, and steer clear of a truck’s blind spots.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 9 of the 10 deadliest days for teen drivers are during the summer. Teens are nearly twice as likely to die compared to the rest of the year. On average, 16 young people are killed on the nation's roads each day during the summer -- compared to an average of 8.8 deaths per day during the rest of the year.

"Prom, graduation, and summer are fantastic times for youth to celebrate and enjoy. However, with these fun times come unfortunate tragedies,” said Sandy Spavone, President of the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS). “Through education, enforcement, and legislation lives can be saved and injuries prevented."

Young drivers ages 16 to 24 have the highest fatal crash rate in the nation. About 4,000 were killed in accidents involving large trucks during the last five years. And it's not just large trucks -- teens are at high risk for every other type of accident on the road, in large part because of inexperience and poor driving habits. Teens are most likely to be distracted, have low seat belt use and are most likely to ride with too many passengers in the vehicles. Speeding and drunk driving are the other most common causes of car accidents in Georgia involving young drivers.