A woman died recently on I-75 after a metal pole went through the windshield of the vehicle she was riding in about 90 miles north of Atlanta in Dalton. According to a report from Newsweek, the woman was a front-seat passenger in a Toyota Highlander when a metal pole crashed through the windshield, striking her in the neck and impaling her. In spite of the efforts of emergency responders, including a Life Force helicopter, the woman died on the scene as a result of her injuries. Police were still investigating the accident at the time of the report in order to determine how the metal pole ended up on the highway.
A previous study conducted by AAA found that more than 200,000 crashes involving roadway debris occurred in a four-year period in the U.S., resulting in around 39,000 injuries and more than 500 deaths. While many of these accidents were the result of a driver swerving to avoid an object in the roadway, a number of them were the result of an object flying off of or out of a vehicle and striking another car. AAA’s study also revealed that interstate highways are the most common location for this to occur, as higher speeds increase the risk of vehicle parts becoming detached or improperly secured cargo to fly onto the roadway or into traffic.
According to a survey conducted by the Georgia Department of Transportation, 77 percent of the state’s drivers have witnessed something blowing out or falling out of a vehicle onto the road. Georgia law 40-6-258 prohibits the operation of a vehicle carrying a load unless it is properly secured, and GDOT reports that roadway debris contributes to traffic fatalities in the state each year.
If you’ve been injured or have lost a loved one as a result of an accident in the Atlanta area that was caused by a driver failing to secure the load they’re hauling. An experienced car accident lawyer from Cambre & Associates can evaluate your case for free and tell you about the personal injury claims process that can be used to seek compensation for the expenses and impacts of your injury or loss. Contact us online for more information.