One person was killed, and seven others were injured in an accident involving a tractor-trailer on I-85 in Fairburn. According to police, the accident occurred on Thursday afternoon, as the tractor-trailer was heading south just north of Georgia Highway 74. Traffic ahead of the tractor-trailer slowed, and the truck driver — who was allegedly following too closely behind the traffic was unable to stop before colliding with several vehicles.
A 66-year-old occupant of one of the vehicles was flown to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Seven others were injured and transported to the hospital by ambulance. The investigation into the accident is ongoing, with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team, and charges are pending.
As noted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), tractor-trailers weigh up to 30 times as much as the average passenger car. Because of this weight, they require up to 40 percent more distance for the vehicle’s brakes to pull its weight to a safe stop. This discrepancy in distance is even greater if the vehicle was traveling at a higher rate of speed, or the brakes are poorly maintained. More than 4,000 people are killed each year and many thousands more suffer catastrophic injuries as a result of accidents involving tractor-trailers. The most common people to be seriously injured or killed in these types of accidents are the occupants of other vehicles.
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one due to an accident involving a tractor-trailer, the experienced Atlanta truck accident attorneys at Cambre & Associates LLC can help you understand the process of seeking compensation for your injuries. For your free case evaluation, contact us online or by calling 770-502-6116.
