A driver who had been involved in a crash on I-75 in Clayton County was killed early Monday morning after being struck by a tractor-trailer while outside of his vehicle. The incident occurred shortly after 1 AM on July 10, according to a report from Fox 5. It started when a driver lost control of their vehicle, which hit a wall before coming to rest on the roadway near the Mt. Zion Boulevard exit. A second vehicle crashed into the first, and a third vehicle struck debris in the road. The Clayton County Police Department shared that as the second driver was exiting their vehicle on the road after the accident, he was hit by a tractor-trailer.
According to insurer, Allstate, when involved in a car accident, one of the most important things to do — even before calling 911 — is to get yourself and your passengers to safety. If the vehicle is operable, move it to the side of the road. However, if the vehicle is disabled, leave it where it is and get yourself and your passengers off of the roadway.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, one of the many maneuverability issues related to the massive size of tractor-trailers is their braking capacity. A fully-loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which is 20-30 times more than many passenger cars. Because of this weight, tractor-trailers require up to 40 percent more distance to come to a complete stop after the driver has discovered a hazard in the roadway and has slammed on the brakes.
If you’ve been injured or have lost a loved one due to an accident on I-75, an experienced personal injury lawyer from Cambre & Associates can tell you about the claims process you can use to seek compensation for the costs and impacts of your loss. Contact us for a free case evaluation.