Most Atlanta drivers are used to sharing the roads with huge commercial trucks, especially on interstates and highways. Besides their enormous size and slower rates of acceleration, the trucks seem just like any other vehicle on the road.
However, the truth is that trucks are not just like other vehicles. They need to be operated in a different way which requires truck drivers to be trained, certified and in compliance with a number of different truck-specific regulations whenever they are behind the wheel. Should they fail in any of these capacities the risk of a catastrophic accident can be all too real.
For example, did you know that state laws prohibit trucks from traveling on certain roads and even certain lanes in and around Atlanta?
Let’s consider a highway with two or three lanes all traveling the same direction. On these roads, it is unlawful for a truck to be in the left lane unless it is making a turn. On a road with four or more lanes, trucks must stay in the two right lanes.
Further, trucks are prohibited from traveling through Atlanta unless they are stopping at a carrier or repair facility, shipper or driver’s residence in the city. Otherwise, they must use they must stay on the interstates to go around Atlanta.
There are also routes all across the state where truck traffic is restricted. In many cases, this is because the roads too narrow or cannot bear the weight of an 80,000-pound vehicle. There are also cases of trucks being too tall to travel on a certain route, which is why truckers must stay on an approved route.
When trucks are traveling in places they shouldn’t be, they can make the roads unsafe for other motorists. They may get stuck or create a visibility hazard; they can cause serious congestion or obstacles that other drivers are not able to avoid.
These are the very situations that can lead to a devastating accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident that may have been caused by a trucker who was not in compliance with state traffic laws, you should remember that you have the right to take legal action against the appropriate party and seek damages.