How Does the Size and Weight of a Truck Affect Liability in an Accident in Georgia?
Federal law allows a commercial truck to be 13 feet 6 inches tall and 8 feet 6 inches wide. Fully loaded, a “big rig” can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Understandably, there are inherent risks when traveling beside a vehicle of this size and weight. Even if a truck driver takes all necessary measures to drive safely, a momentary lapse in judgment can have devastating consequences.
Serving the community for over 30 years, Banks, Stubbs, & McFarland has seen the destruction incurred in 18-wheeler collisions. If you have been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, our truck accident attorneys in Georgia are eager to pursue the compensation you are entitled to.
Greater Risk of Rollovers
The taller a vehicle, the higher the center of gravity. This is accompanied by a greater risk of rollovers when navigating curves, tight turns, and highway ramps. Given the higher likelihood of rollovers, a trucker should travel slowly around curves and bends. However, if cargo is improperly loaded or there are poor road conditions, the risk of a rollover increases significantly.
Longer Stopping Distances
A laden (fully loaded) truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, making it difficult to accelerate up steep hills and even more challenging to control its speed downhill. It is estimated that a laden truck traveling at normal highway speeds may take up to 525 feet to reach a complete stop. This is equivalent to nearly two football fields. In contrast, the average passenger vehicle, which weighs 3,500 to 4,200 pounds, traveling at normal highway speeds, can come to a complete stop in 316 feet.
Larger Vehicles Generate Wind Gusts
Have you ever traveled beside a tractor-trailer and felt like you were being pushed into another lane? If so, that was not your imagination. Due to a large truck’s high ground clearance, they have been shown to generate wind gusts that push smaller vehicles into other lanes. This is a real cause for concern. Do your best to avoid or quickly get around the 18-wheeler and always give a commercial truck room on the road.
Increased Risk of Severe Injuries
A collision between a passenger vehicle and a commercial truck is bound to be disastrous. Common injuries sustained by passenger vehicle drivers often include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, rib fractures, pelvic fractures, and traumatic amputations (loss of a body part or limb in a crash). The greater the severity, the higher the treatment costs. Calculating and organizing these costs can be time-consuming, and the assistance of a reputable personal injury attorney cannot be undervalued.
Increased Risk of Having Your Vehicle Totaled
Given the size and weight differences previously discussed, a passenger car will likely have repair costs exceeding its market value, resulting in a total vehicle loss. If the insurance company determines that your vehicle is indeed “totaled,” the insurer must pay you your car's actual cash value (ACV).
There is some subjectivity involved in determining a car’s cash value. If you believe the insurance company has undervalued your car, a Georgia personal injury attorney can guide you.
Speak with Our Personal Injury Attorneys in Georgia Today
If a tractor-trailer driver has hit you, the Banks, Stubbs, & McFarland professionals would like to speak with you. Our Georgia personal injury attorneys are not intimidated by insurance companies. We have helped thousands of car crash victims obtain maximum compensation and are ready to get to work for you. To learn more or schedule your initial consultation, contact us online or by phone at (770) 887-1209.