Fatal Logging Truck Crashes Highlight Common Causes of Accidents

Fatal Logging Truck Crashes Highlight Common Causes of Accidents

A 58-year-old Georgia man died recently after his vehicle collided with the back of a logging truck in Garden City, Georgia. The man was on his way to work when the crash occurred shortly after 6 a.m. on March 30, 2012. According to a report by WDEF News, the logging truck was stopped at a red light when it was struck from behind by the SUV traveling at full speed. Investigators believe fatigue or a medical condition may have been a factor in the crash, WDEF reports.

Across the country, a similar logging truck crash occurred in Washington State less than two weeks later when a 23-year-old man crashed his SUV into a disabled log truck while trying to bypass slow-moving traffic. Authorities believe that aggressive driving was at fault in the crash.

Driver Habits Can Raise Risk of Car Accidents

Car and truck accidents are the leading cause of death among people age 5-34 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2009, there were an estimated 10.8 million car accidents in the U.S., causing nearly 34,000 deaths and countless injuries. As illustrated by the recent logging truck accidents, many of these tragic accidents are the result of dangerous driving habits that could otherwise be avoided.

In addition to aggressive driving and fatigued driving, both of which create an unnecessary risk of accidents and injuries for both the driver and others on the road, distracted driving is another major cause of accidents.

Distracted driving involves any activity that takes a driver’s focus off the road, such as eating, changing the radio station or looking at a map while driving. In recent years, cellphones and text messaging have become a particularly dangerous and widespread source of driver distraction. Compared to other forms of distracted driving, texting or using a handheld cellphone is especially dangerous because it occupies a driver’s eyes, hands and concentration simultaneously.

Georgia Distracted Driving Law

In Georgia, text messaging is banned for all drivers and cellphone use of any kind is prohibited for drivers under the age of 18. A recent attempt to pass legislation that would have banned handheld cellphones for drivers of all ages was unsuccessful.

Distracted drivers in Georgia can be held liable when they cause accidents that kill or injure other people. To learn about the possibility of pursuing compensation for injuries sustained in a car or truck accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer.