Spotlighting negative traffic-linked news relevant to south central Georgia and other parts of the state is of course not a pleasant task. Vehicle crash data does comprise important subject matter, though; the personal injury toll from motor vehicle accidents is a sobering reality. Moreover, it is a constant reminder to all Georgia drivers to exercise utmost caution when behind the wheel.
Underscoring the magnitude of motor vehicle crashes in Georgia
Injury outcomes obviously link to far more than vehicle accidents alone. The personal injury universe is vast and varied, with core causes of accidents and adverse consequences for victims and their families being multi-sourced. People are seriously injured or killed from interactions with dangerous products. Premises liability injuries (e.g., slip/fall, drowning, burns and chemical exposure) commonly occur when landlords and property managers are negligent in their duties.
There is no question, though, that vehicle crashes play an outsized role in Georgia injury outcomes. The state’s Department of Public Health provides these telling statistics relevant to a recent year confirming that fact:
- Vehicle accidents the leading cause of injury fatalities
- 1,540 crash-tied deaths
- Traffic fatality rate far exceeding that in other states with comparable populations
Big trucks: notable outliers when it comes to crash outcomes
It’s hardly surprising that commercial trucks and assorted 18-wheel rigs yield special attention on state roadways, is it? One personal injury legal source duly notes the special challenges they routinely pose for drivers and occupants in smaller passenger vehicles. It stresses that, “Their size alone makes them more dangerous than other vehicles on the road.”
That sheer girth is problematic for many reasons. Tractor trailers and other large trucks are flatly cumbersome. They eat up considerable road space when slowing or seeking to stop. They sometimes roll over. Truck drivers often have problems seeing vehicles in near proximity.
And there are these additional crash catalysts as well:
- Driver fatigue owing to prolonged work hours and tight scheduling dictates
- Driver impairment caused by alcohol and/or drug use
- Faulty or overdue truck maintenance
- Improper cargo loading
- On-board distractions (e.g., cellphone use)
Acting with dispatch, purpose in the wake of truck-crash injuries
Injury victims in truck crashes or other motor vehicle accidents are far from powerless. A remedy pursued via the filing of a personal injury claim can often secure maximum compensation that can be applied toward medical costs, lost wages, future therapy, pain and suffering and more. A proven legal team can provide further information.