Did a failure to maintain the truck cause 2 cars to collide?

On Behalf of | Dec 28, 2014 | Uncategorized |

Truck drivers are governed by a certain set of laws and regulations regarding their driving habits and the condition of their trucks. A failure to maintain the truck could be just as disastrous as a fatigued driver. For instance, a recent head-on collision on Georgia Highway 84 is believed to have been caused by an errant tire from an 18-wheeler.

Preliminary reports from the Georgia State Patrol indicate that when the tire came off the semi-truck, a westbound vehicle was forced to take evasive action in order to avoid hitting it. Unfortunately, the driver moved into the oncoming lane of traffic, directly into the path of an eastbound vehicle. The two passenger cars collided.

A woman and her three sons were in the westbound vehicle. She and one of her sons suffered serious enough injuries that they were still hospitalized and were in stable condition at last report. Fortunately, her two other boys’ injuries were not as serious, and medical personnel have already released them.

Three people — one of which was a baby — occupied the eastbound vehicle. The 59-year-old driver’s condition was reported as stable. The 57-year-old woman was said to be in critical condition. She suffered a serious skull fracture. The baby was examined at the scene and should be all right.

If it is determined that a failure to maintain the truck and/or driver error led to this accident, the truck driver and his or her employer could face claims for financial liability in civil court for the injuries suffered by the victims. A vehicle and its driver do not necessarily have to be part of the actual collision to be found negligent and, therefore, liable for a crash. A person’s responsibility to others on the road is not just about driving habits and paying attention. It extends to ensuring that the vehicle is in proper working order as well.

Source: wtoc.com, “One woman in critical condition after head on collision on Hwy 8”, Dec. 20, 2014