Unpredictable weather in Georgia can make road conditions hazardous, leading to a higher rate of accidents. Trucks’ massive size and weight make them especially dangerous when crashes involve passenger cars. Therefore, federal and state laws strictly mandate how truck drivers should proceed during bad weather.
Truckers who do not abide by these requirements can cause severe injuries to pedestrians and other motorists. In these cases, it could be possible to hold a negligent truck driver liable for compensation. If you have questions or need help with a case, schedule a free consultation with the skilled truck accident attorneys at Smith Hulsey Law. We can explain more about bad weather truck accidents in Gainesville.
Truck accidents in Gainesville can occur at any time, but bad weather creates hazards that make large vehicles even more difficult to control. For example, when the roads are slick from ice or rain, it may be difficult for truck drivers to bring their vehicles to a complete stop. A trucker may lose control and swerve their vehicle into oncoming traffic, resulting in a head-on collision. When a driver tries to take a turn or stop too quickly, the trailer may swing out and forward, leading to a jackknife accident.
Fog and mist can also limit a driver’s visibility, making it more difficult to notice and react to hazards and sudden events on the road. The enormous difference in the size of regular passenger car vehicles and trucks means any kind of accident could lead to severe property damage and catastrophic injuries.
Massive commercial trucks, such as 18-wheelers, are challenging to control even in good weather. Therefore, federal and state laws regulate how truckers proceed during poor weather conditions. According to the instruction provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation § 392.14, truck drivers must exercise extreme caution during snow, rain, fog, sleet, or mist.
Under this legislation, truck drivers should only travel in inclement weather to find a safe stopping location. Otherwise, they must stop the vehicle and wait for the weather to improve. Federal and state laws further also require the following actions in poor weather conditions:
Federal regulations require extreme caution from truck drivers with commercial driver’s licenses. Failure to take proper steps to ensure the safety of other vehicles and pedestrians during bad weather could lead to prosecution and the loss of CDL driving privileges. A lawyer knowledgeable about bad weather truck crashes in Gainesville could investigate an accident to determine whether a trucker was out of compliance during the incident.
Truck accidents are often traumatic experiences that can leave you with permanent injuries and serious losses. The challenges of controlling a large truck mean truckers must exercise extreme caution when driving during hazardous weather conditions.
When a trucker fails to follow this standard of care on the road, you could pursue legal action to hold them accountable. To get started on your case, call a lawyer with experience handling bad weather truck accidents in Gainesville.
Smith Hulsey Law
Tap Here For Free Case consult 