Logging Truck Accident Attorney in Savannah

Logging trucks are large tractor-trailer commercial vehicles that transport logs from Georgia’s forests to sawmills where they are turned into lumber, paper products, and materials for commercial use. Logging is a large industry in Georgia. However, some truck drivers fail to use proper caution when hauling a trailer load of logs. That puts other motorists at risk.

A motor vehicle accident involving a logging truck can have catastrophic consequences for those involved, especially the occupants of smaller vehicles. Because of the size and weight of logging trucks, anyone involved in a logging truck collision may be severely injured or killed If a log falls off a trailer and onto another vehicle.

Contact the Spiva Law Group if you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a logging truck in the Savannah area. Our experienced Savannah logging truck accident lawyers have achieved significant settlements and court awards for accident victims. We are ready to help logging truck crash victims and their families pursue fair compensation for their medical bills and other losses. We’ll stand up for your rights if you have been harmed by a negligent logging truck driver. Contact our Savannah office today for a free consultation.

Causes of Logging Truck Accidents

Some of the most common causes of logging truck accidents include:

• Driver fatigue — Logging truck drivers often have strict delivery schedules. In many cases, drivers work long hours with little rest to deliver their cargo on time. Drivers who are fatigued may fall asleep at the wheel. A driver who is fighting to stay awake might drift across a centerline, or miss another driver in a blind spot because the truck driver is not alert.
• Distracted driving — Distracted driving has become a serious safety issue. Logging truck drivers who are talking on the phone, texting, looking at a navigation device, or daydreaming might overlook another driver a blind spot.
• Mechanical defects — Transporting logs and other heavy cargo puts a lot of wear and tear on large trucks. If proper maintenance isn’t done, crucial components of the truck might fail in an emergency situation. This could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
• Bad weather — Heavy trucks such as logging trucks require more distance to slow down and stop. Bad weather conditions can make it even harder for truck drivers to keep control of their big rigs and avoid rear-end collisions. If truck drivers aren’t especially careful, they could lose control and cause a crash.
• Aggressive or reckless driving — Time pressures sometimes lead logging truck drivers to engage in dangerous driving behaviors. These include:
  • Speeding
  • Driving too fast for road or weather conditions
  • Taking turns at unsafe speeds
  • Tailgating
  • Failing to reduce speed in construction zones
  • Failing to check blind spots
  • Aggressive lane changing
• Driver inexperience — Driving a logging truck requires attentiveness and practice. Large vehicles don’t handle like passenger vehicles. Inexperienced truck drivers may make mistakes that could cause serious accidents.
• Loose cargo — Logging truck drivers should make sure all logs being transported are secured. If the logs shift in transit, they could change the truck’s center of gravity and cause a rollover crash. Logs that are not properly secured can fall onto other vehicles or onto the road, creating a traffic safety hazard. These accidents frequently cause catastrophic injuries.
• Impaired driving — If a logging truck driver drinks alcohol or uses drugs (including prescription medications) before getting behind the wheel, the driver greatly increases the chances of causing an accident.

Contact a Savannah logging truck accident lawyer today.

Log Truck Driver Requirements

All logging truck drivers are required to carry a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). In Georgia, the requirements to obtain a CDL are:

• Commercial drivers must be at least 18 years old. Drivers aged 18-21 are restricted to travel within the state of Georgia.
• Commercial drivers must hold a valid standard driver’s license
• Commercial drivers must hold a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) for 14 days before they can apply for a full CDL
• Commercial drivers must complete a Commercial Application (CAP) at one of the Georgia Department of Driver Services customer service centers around the state
• A $35 application fee
• A written knowledge test
• A road skills test
• A medical exam
• A vision exam

Catastrophic Logging Truck Crashes

When logging trucks are transporting cut logs on Georgia county roads and highways, there is always the risk of a serious accident with other vehicles. Logging trucks have a high center of gravity when loaded and are among the most unstable vehicles on the road. The high center of gravity makes logging trucks more prone to overturning.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that, nationwide, logging trucks were involved in 1.5 percent of all fatal truck accidents and 1.3 percent of all accidents with injuries in 2019.

Logs can weigh hundreds or thousands of pounds each, and they can cause devastating injuries if they roll off a trailer in the event of a crash.

Some of the common injuries in catastrophic logging truck accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Head, neck, and facial injuries
• Back, spine, and spinal cord injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Broken or fractured bones
• Amputation
• Burn injuries
• Soft-tissue injuries

Who Is Liable for a Savannah Logging Truck Accident?

There are several parties who may potentially be responsible for a logging truck accident.

Parties who can be held liable for a logging truck accident:

• The truck driver — If the logging truck driver was impaired, distracted, or otherwise negligent, the driver may be held liable for a crash.
• The trucking company — If a trucking company knew a driver had an unsafe driving record, or if the company failed to screen a driver properly before hiring, a trucking company may be liable for a logging truck accident.
• The vehicle’s manufacturer — Manufacturing or design defects in logging trucks may contribute to a crash, especially if the defect affects a crucial safety system such as the truck’s brakes or suspension. The company that built or designed the component that failed may be held liable.
• Maintenance or cargo loaders — Cargo loaders play a crucial role in preventing logging truck accidents by ensuring the logs are properly secured. If the logs aren’t tied down according to industry regulations, there’s an increased risk of them coming loose during transit.

The experienced Savannah logging truck accident lawyers at Spiva Law Group can investigate a logging truck accident and determine how the accident occurred and who has financial liability. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible after a collision involving a logging truck, and then reach out to a skilled attorney to represent you.

Contact a Logging Truck Accident Lawyer in Savannah Today

The Savannah truck accident attorneys at the law firm of the Spiva Law Group are ready to help you understand your legal rights and seek justice if you’ve been hurt in a collision with a logging truck. Contact our office today to discuss your case with us during a free consultation.