CHATHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA (January 23, 2024) – One person has tragically died in a Chatham County semi-truck accident between a pickup truck and a tractor-trailer along Ogeechee Road.

Chatham County officials are saying that the collision took place Thursday. A pickup truck was traveling north on GA 25 when it was hit by a tractor trailer that pulled out of a private driveway and proceeded to make a left turn.

Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims. A passenger in the pickup truck sadly died due to the severe nature of their injuries.

It remains unclear if the driver of the semi-truck will face any citations.

Liability For Chatham County Semi-Truck Accidents

Trucks can be particularly dangerous for those in passenger vehicles. According to the IIHS, “Most deaths in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants. The main problem is the vulnerability of people traveling in smaller vehicles. Trucks often weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars and are taller with greater ground clearance, which can result in smaller vehicles underriding trucks in crashes.” There are a number of measures that truck companies can take in order to reduce the occurrence of fatal collisions.

• Trucks can be equipped with certain safety features like forward collision avoidance systems.
• Truck drivers should have commercial GPS devices that steer them away from roads where commercial trucks are forbidden.
• Truck companies should heavily enforce safety regulations.
• Truck companies should ensure all of their drivers have a commercial license and are well trained.

Driving a commercial truck is substantially more difficult than driving a passenger vehicle. These trucks have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of smaller vehicles. Many collisions are due to truck drivers that make dangerous left turns. Pursuant to Georgia Vehicle Code § 40-6-71, the driver of a vehicle intending to make a left turn shall yield the right of way to traffic approaching from the opposite direction close enough so as to pose a hazard. If a driver makes an abrupt turn into the path of another vehicle, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Liability for a truck collision may extend beyond a negligent driver. If a truck driver was working at the time of a collision, their employer could be held at fault. In general, companies are liable for the tortious actions of the employees that they hire.

However, truck companies will often attempt to limit liability for collisions by hiring driver’s as independent contractors. There are many factors that may have contributed to any truck accident.

• Truck accidents are more likely to occur when truck drivers are fatigued.
• Truck accidents are more likely to occur at intersections.
• Truck accidents are more likely in the early morning and late evening hours when visibility is reduced.
• Truck accidents are more likely to occur during periods of inclement weather.

Factors that contribute to truck accidents may take place hours, days or even weeks prior to any collision. This is why it is so important that evidence is properly preserved. For example, a truck driver’s logbook may reveal that they were working more hours than they were legally allowed to. When a truck driver is negligent and causes a fatal collision, they can be held accountable. The family of the victim may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim.

Investigating Chatham County Semi-Truck Accidents

We at The Butler Kahn Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of the person killed in this collision. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened for the sake of the victim’s family. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place. Many questions about what happened remain unanswered.

Do you need more information about a Chatham County semi-truck accident? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to helping accident victims get the support and information that they are entitled to. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, confidential consultation about your particular situation we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 678-940-1444.