The North American Cargo Securement Standard says that all cargo must be contained, immobilized, or secured so that it doesn’t leak, spill, blow off the truck, fall from or through the semi, otherwise become dislodged from the vehicle, or shift so that the big rig’s stability or maneuverability is adversely affected. Our knowledgeable Atlanta truck accident lawyer team has taken on trucking companies all over the country. Our experience puts us at the top of any list.
But recently there have been several cases of semis losing their cargo and creating accidents on Georgia roads:
Bud Lite on I-85
On April 12th, over in Troup County, the northbound lanes of I-85 were blocked for hours after a multi-vehicle crash dumped thousands of pounds of beer on the road. The Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) said that the crash happened at about 4:30 p.m. and involved two tractor-trailers, a pickup truck, and a passenger vehicle.
The accident caused one of the big rigs to overturn and dump 40,000 pounds of Bud Light across the northbound lanes. The road was blocked throughout the night while crews tried to clean up the suds.
Diesel Spilled on I-285
Also on the 12th in Dekalb County, a crash shut down multiple lanes on I-285. A semi driver was transported to a local hospital in critical condition after being involved in an accident that left 7,500 gallons of diesel spilled on the interstate. The spill occurred on the southbound lanes near the Ponce de Leon exit between Church Street and Memorial Drive just before noon.
The DeKalb Police Department said that a sign fell as a result of the wreck and caused major traffic delays. The police were trying to determine if the semi driver was injured in the wreck or by the downed traffic sign.
Logs Roll onto State Rte. 29
The driver of a semi lost his cargo of logs in a crash on the morning of April 9th on State Route 29 near the Baldwin-Wilkinson county line. Authorities reported that two motorists struck some of the logs in the roadway and were injured during the accident.
The Georgia State Police say that the driver of the semi was traveling south along Georgia Route 29 and was rounding a curve when he ran off the right side of the road, over-corrected, and then ran off the left side of the roadway. The 18-wheeler then overturned in the median.
The logs on the truck rolled into the northbound lanes of the road. The two motorists then struck the logs with the front-ends of their cars, according to the investigating trooper.
The semi driver claimed that he was cut off by an unknown vehicle, which caused him to lose control of the truck and its cargo.
Chickens Fly Off Truck
Finally, dozens of chickens flew off a poultry truck that overturned on a Georgia roadway early on February 25th, The Dawson County Fire Department reported that the accident happened just after 7 a.m. at a roundabout intersection on Highway 53 and Highway 183.
Several dozen live chickens were released onto the road, closing the area for an extended period of time, according to officials. The clean up took several hours, and crews were able to corral the birds after turning the truck upright.
Trucks Have to Comply with Cargo Securing Standards
As you can see, a variety of cargo can fall off of semis and create hazardous road accidents in Georgia.
The North American Cargo Securement Standard says that there are several conditions that must exist before a semi driver can operate a truck with a cargo load. The truck’s cargo must be properly distributed and adequately secured. That means the semi’s structure and equipment must be secured with cargo securing equipment, such as load bars, wedges, straps, braces, banding, void fillers, and pallet cleats.
The cargo or any other object must not:
- Obscure the semi driver’s view ahead or to the right or left sides;
- Interfere with the free movement of the driver’s arms or legs;
- Prevent the driver’s free and ready access to accessories required for emergencies; or
- Prevent the free and ready exit from the commercial motor vehicle’s cab or driver’s compartment.
Speak to an Experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Attorney
Beer, chickens, logs, or diesel… you never know what may fall off a truck into the roadway and cause a serious accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a semi in an auto accident, you should speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer who has successfully resolved similar types of cases. You should work with an experienced Atlanta truck accident attorney. Contact Tobin Injury Law, and we will work to get you the compensation you deserve. We know what to look for when suing a trucking company.
You can contact an experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 404-JUSTICE (404-587-8423) or using our online contact form. Tobin Injury Law offers free consultations and will be glad to answer your questions.