Cement Truck May Have Experienced Brake Failure Prior to Albany Collision
ALBANY, GEORGIA (April 27, 2025) – Two people were injured in an Albany Cement truck accident near the intersection of East Oglethorpe Boulevard and South Broadway Street.
Albany Police Department officials are saying that the accident took place on Tuesday morning. A cement truck driver may have lost control of his vehicle before he collided with a car and flipped over in the middle of the intersection.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victims. The driver of the cement truck and the driver of a passenger vehicle were both injured in the collision.
According to the Albany Police Department, the driver of the cement truck informed them that his brakes may have gone out prior to the collision.
A full investigation into the accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Dougherty County Cement Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks are involved in many serious accidents each year. According to the National Safety Council, “The number of injuries in large-truck crashes increased 3.9% in 2022, to 161,000. As with deaths in large-truck crashes, most of the injuries occurred to occupants of other vehicles (73%), followed by truck occupants (26%) and non-occupants (1%).” Concrete trucks can be particularly dangerous for many reasons.
- Areas of Use: Unlike semi-trucks that routinely use interstate highways to transport goods, concrete trucks are typically utilized in dense urban areas with heavy traffic.
- Weight: A fully loaded concrete truck can weigh anywhere from 66,000 pounds to 74,000 pounds. This makes them incredibly difficult to stop in many different situations.
- Blind Spots: Concrete trucks have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of smaller vehicles.
Truck drivers have a legal obligation to exercise a great deal of care in order to avoid causing accidents. They must maintain their vehicle at a safe speed at all times. Pursuant to Georgia Vehicle Code § 40-6-180, no person shall operate a motor vehicle at a speed greater than would be reasonable and prudent given the prevailing conditions and hazards of the roadway. If a truck driver fails to slow down in time to avoid a collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. The company that employed a truck driver could also be held at fault. As a general principle, companies are vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their employees–insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties.
It is also possible that liability for a collision could extend beyond the driver of a commercial truck. The company responsible for maintaining a truck could also be held at fault. Commercial trucks have a high utilization rate and need to be routinely maintained in order to function properly. When a truck is not adequately maintained, this could lead to catastrophic failures of key components such as the brakes. It is also possible that the manufacturer of a commercial truck could be held liable for a collision. This may be the case if a latent defect with a truck or its component parts contributed to a crash.
Many lawsuits have been filed on behalf of people injured by trucks that experience brake failures. Consider, for example, Orange Crush Bottling Co v. Smith, (No. 16591.) A Georgia Court of Appeals held that operating a truck on public streets that is not equipped with serviceable brakes may constitute negligence per se. In tort cases, negligence per se relates to a defendant who violates a statute or regulation without excuse. It is implied that they have breached their duty of care and are therefore automatically negligent. Certain steps should be taken after any Georgia truck accident.
- Medical Evaluation: Accident victims should seek a thorough medical evaluation in order to determine the full extent of their injuries.
- Investigation: There needs to be a full investigation into the circumstances leading up to any collision. This will include examining the maintenance history of any truck that experienced brake failure.
- Legal Counsel: Accident victims should seek the guidance of an experienced truck accident attorney in Atlanta.
Many of the injuries associated with a truck accident may not be immediately obvious. Accident victims will almost always have a sharp spike of adrenaline that can easily mask the full nature of their injuries. In many cases, injuries can become substantially worse over time if they’re not treated properly early on. It is important that accident victims understand that they do have legal options if they are injured in a truck accident. They are able to seek some measure of accountability through a bodily injury claim.
Investigating Albany Cement Truck Accidents
We at Butler Kahn extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Albany cement truck accident. It is our hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the Albany Police Department. There are many questions about this accident that remain unanswered. When was the last time this truck was properly serviced? Has this particular truck experienced brake issues in the past?
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an Albany cement truck accident? Our team of truck accident attorneys in Atlanta is here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to helping accident victims get the medical and financial support that they are entitled to under the law. There is no case too large or too complex for us to handle. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney, feel free to reach out to us. You can contact us anytime for a risk-free consultation at 678-940-1444.
