Commercial Vehicle Accident Involving Multiple Vehicles Leaves One Dead & 17 Injured
On Saturday afternoon July 17, 2021, around 2 pm, a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) traveling north collided with a Volkswagen Tiguan, pushing it into traffic, through the guardrail and onto the southbound lane of I-95, according to a statement from the Georgia State Patrol (GPS).
Initially, witnesses say the tractor-trailer heading north in the right lane of I-95 in Camden County, GA, lost control and plowed across two lanes to collide with the Volkswagen (VW). Once in the southbound lane, the truck and trailer hit a Ford F-150 and a VW Passat.
Although authorities are unsure how two other vehicles, a Dodge Dakota and a Chevrolet Tahoe, a 5-Door SUV, were involved in the accident, it is assumed they were traveling south on I-95. Either vehicle could have hit the truck, or the semi hit them.
Authorities say the deadly accident occurred at I-95, mile marker 22, and all three lanes of I-95 southbound were shut down for nearly six hours while the wreckage and vehicles were cleared up.
The VW Passat driver, a 67-year-old female, sustained fatal injuries. The office of Dwayne L. Brown sends its thoughts, prayers and sincere condolences to her family and get-well wishes to those injured.
All Those Involved Are Invited to Contact Our Office for Assistance
Fatalities and traumatic injuries are usually inevitable when smaller passenger vehicles collide with an 18-wheel CMV. Those injured will need assistance with possible claims for medical expenses, wage replacement plus pain and suffering. Typically, those injured in big rig accidents suffer more severe injuries, spend longer time in the hospital and longer time in recovery, making it that much longer before they can return to work.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), paralysis, lacerations, broken bones and other injuries could keep the injured victims from returning to work or performing any level of activity. It would be best if you had the assistance of an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorney.
Moreover, when that CMV belongs to a large fleet, they will usually send an entire team of experts in an attempt to minimize how accident investigators view the accident. They’ll want to review the data on the electronic logging device (ELD) before police and investigators get a look at it to ensure the driver was operating legally.
Who Could Be Held Responsible?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, CMV operators can only drive for 14 hours after ten consecutive hours off-duty. However, the FMCSA recently changed the regulation to allow a two-hour exception for adverse weather.
The family could bring claims of wrongful death if it is found that the trucker was operating beyond the hours-of-service (HOS) established by the DOT FMCSA. CMV drivers are required to take a mandatory 30-minute break after eight hours of coming on duty.
Many entities beyond the truck driver have a stake in the accident’s responsibility. The truck’s owner, or leaser, the trailer owner or leaser, the shipping company and possibly the truck and trailer manufacturer could also bear the fault. The responsible parties could include the shipper of the cargo if it was hazardous material and wasn’t packed properly. Therefore, all these entities will send lawyers and investigators to keep the blame from landing on their company.
The truck might not have been packed correctly, putting too much weight on one tire or set of axles. Too much weight could cause a tire to blow, and the driver might lose control. Every state has truck weight limits and tire and axle limits, though shippers, independent operators and fleets can often buy permits that allow overweight trucks on our nation’s highways.
Call Dwayne L Brown for assistance with injury and death claims due to a collision with a commercial vehicle. Our team is prepared to provide a free and comprehensive consultation regardless of who is ultimately responsible. Call Atlanta (404) 738-6000, or Montgomery (334) 277-3757 to set up a free, no-obligation consultation.
Disclaimer: Our staff at the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown have worked hard to become valued members of the Georgia business community. We write accident news stories with the intent and purpose of bringing awareness to the dangers of driving in our community with hopes that our fellow community members will use added precautions when operating a motor vehicle and avoid being seriously injured in an Alabama accident. This post is not intended to be a solicitation for business. The information provided in this post is not meant to be legal advice or medical advice. The picture used in this post is not representative of the accident described in this post.
