High winds, blowing snow, white-outs, and icy conditions can make roads incredibly treacherous and dangerous. These conditions combined can make the road slick and difficult to maneuver.
In fact, weather is one of the main causes of tractor trailer accidents. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), one in every four crashes is at least in part due to weather-related circumstances. Most of these conditions involved snow, ice and other harsh winter weather.
When a truck accident occurs from weather related circumstances, these cases can be complex. It takes an experienced attorney, to investigate these complexities. At Moraitakis & Kushel, LLP, our attorneys litigate trucking cases in Georgia and nationwide, working diligently to get you the compensation you deserve.
Common Winter Truck Accidents
Slippery road conditions can make maneuvering a large vehicle, like a tractor trailer, extremely difficult. Some common types of truck accidents that occur in winter weather conditions include:
- Jackknifing: A jackknife accident occurs when the trailer starts moving at a faster speed than the tractor.
- Head on collisions: Icy conditions may cause tractor trailers to come into oncoming traffic, resulting in a head-on collision.
- Rear-end collisions: A tractor trailer may not anticipate icy conditions, which can contribute to a rear-end collision.
- Underride accidents: These accidents can occur when a passenger vehicle crashes into and beneath the rear side of a large tractor trailer.
- Rollover accidents: Icy conditions can cause a tractor trailer to rollover when making a turn.
Although some accidents occur because of winter weather conditions, poor weather conditions are no excuse for truck driver negligence. Additionally, there are federal regulations put into place that require truck drivers to use extreme caution and even stop driving if conditions become severe. The conduct of truckers may make accidents more likely. For example, a trucker could be responsible for an accident that occurs in the ice or snow if a trucker is:
- Distracted: Texting, talking, or just not paying attention during harsh winter weather conditions can make accidents more likely.
- Unwilling to stop: Truckers should stop driving if conditions become severe. Sometimes due to tight deadlines, a truck driver may opt to not stop, even in white-out conditions.
- Improperly loading cargo: A poorly balanced load can make a truck unstable. Instability can cause a fishtail accident or roll over.
Contact a Truck Accident Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia
Determining whether or not a truck accident was caused by driver negligence or unavoidable weather conditions requires significant legal expertise. At Moraitakis & Kushel, LLP, we have over 70 years of combined legal experience to help walk you through your case.
If your or a family member have been involved in a tractor trailer accident, you may be entitled to compensation for damages such as property damage, medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. We’ve helped individuals across the country get the compensation they deserve.
Contact us at (800) 688-2357 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.
