Dangerous Dump Trucks Cause Harm on Georgia Roadways
Have you ever been stuck behind a dump truck and felt a bit of anxiety? If so, there is good reason for your concern. The Georgia roadways are filled with dump trucks carrying dangerous cargo. These vehicles are staples of construction sites, and their large size is substantial enough to cause anyone a moment of concern when driving near them.
According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 800 construction workers were killed by dump trucks between 1992 and 2007. Of those fatalities, 336 were vehicle operators, and 215 of them resulted from street and highway accidents. More than 300 of these reported dump truck deaths involved pedestrian workers who were run over or caught between the dump truck frame and the truck bed. As shocking as these statistics may be, they do not begin to cover the number of innocent drivers and passengers who have been killed or severely injured in collisions with dump trucks on public highways and roads.
How dump trucks cause injuries
Several aspects about dump trucks and their operators make them more dangerous than the average vehicle traveling the roads, including:
- Their size. Dump trucks are tall and heavy, which is a perfect combination for rollovers. When uneven roads and slippery surfaces are added the equation, the risk of accident is even higher. When rollovers do occur, drivers are not only at risk from impact with the truck, but they are also in danger of colliding with the loads carried by these trucks.
- Their materials. Dump trucks often carry rocks, soil, and other loose materials. When packed into a truck, these loads can weigh tons. During a rollover, the load may spill out onto a vehicle, trapping the driver and passengers inside. Loose debris can also crack a or penetrate a driver’s windshield, or lead to a crash for an unsuspecting motorist.
- Time restrictions. Dump truck drivers are generally working in an employment capacity in which time is often an issue. Deadlines and restrictions may lead operators to drive at unreasonably high speeds or to ignore operating standards. This type of behavior can also lead to a rollover, making dump trucks even more dangerous for everyone traveling around them.
- Maintenance requirements. Dump truck owners are required to maintain these carriers in a reasonably safe manner that adheres to federal and state laws. The Motor Carrier Compliance Division of the Georgia Department of Public Safety maintains guidelines pertaining to dump truck owners and operators. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in substantial fines and the inability to continue operations involving the use of dump trucks. More importantly, ignoring these rules can lead to vehicle crashes, fatalities, and severe injuries.
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident involving a dump truck, contact a group of highly-skilled Georgia truck accident attorneys. At Harris Lowry Manton LLP, we hold dump truck operators and owners accountable for the injuries they cause. We can be reached through our contact form, or you can phone us at 404-961-7650 in our Atlanta office, or in Savannah at 912-651-9967.
Harris Lowry Manton LLP is a dedicated full-service trial law firm. Our Georgia personal injury lawyers fight for the injured throughout every step of the legal process. We explain how litigation works from the moment you come into one of our offices in Atlanta or Savannah until your case is solved. Our legal team has achieved remarkable success because we leave no stone unturned when investigating our client’ claims and what should have been done to prevent their injuries. We file claims against all responsible parties — not just the most obvious one.
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