The Georgia Department of Transportation maintains more than 125,000 miles of road. That’s among the highest in the country. But such an extraordinary number of road miles increases the risk of traffic accidents and truck accidents – particularly in North Georgia and approaching Tennessee.
Furthermore, the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has reported that large trucks are consistently involved in at least two dozen fatal crashes per year. We need to be safer.
Ahead of National Traffic Awareness Month in August, let’s review some high-risk situations and busy roads near the North Georgia-Tennessee border to be aware of and offer some safety tips.
Recent Catastrophic Truck Accidents in North Georgia
Large trucks can weigh up to 20 times as much as larger cars, which is one of many reasons smaller vehicles and their passengers do not fare well in trucking collisions.
That was the case recently in Cobb County. On June 10, 2023, a Freightliner in combination with a 53-foot utility trailer operated was stopped on the eastern shoulder of I-75 near Chastain Road. A Jeep Grand Cherokee, carrying two adults, was traveling northbound when it crossed the travel lanes for unknown reasons and collided with the rear of the stationary tractor-trailer. The Freightliner operator was uninjured, but the driver of the Jeep (a Cartersville resident) was pronounced dead at the scene and the second occupant succumbed to her injuries two days later.
But truck drivers are also susceptible to catastrophic injury, as we saw last year in Cherokee County. Near Pritchard Injury Firm’s Woodstock office, the city of Kennesaw was the site of a fatal crash in May 2022, when a truck driver crossed the travel lanes and proceeded the wrong way on Wade Green Road from I-75 and hit a passenger car head-on, killing both drivers. The truck flipped several times and caught fire, causing major road hazards for other cars during the early morning incident.
Truck Accident Causes Major Delays Near Chattanooga
Trucking accidents can also cause extremely time-consuming and potentially dangerous burdens on local communities – something Pritchard Injury Firm experienced this first-hand. In July 2023, a garbage truck struck two poles at the intersections of Watkins Street and Frayser Boulevard in Frayser, Tennessee, also knocking out a traffic light.
This afternoon accident caused a traffic backup for hours on 75 Southbound. Many members of the Pritchard Injury Firm staff based in our new Chattanooga office were stuck, and the delays brought all traffic to a stop. Drivers even parked their cars to play pickleball on the shoulder – which is certainly not safe conduct.
Risky Roadways North Georgia and Tennessee
As one of the leading North Georgia trucking accident law firms, Pritchard Injury Firm has litigated several trucking and motor vehicle claims stemming from accidents in the following areas:
- Woodstock GA-92 | Lovejoy Lane to Cherokee Parkway
- Woodstock I-575 | Exit 19-21
- Cherokee Parkway
- Woodstock | Main Street and Arnold Mill Road
- Woodstock | Towne Lake Parkway and Big Canoe Road
- Canton | Highway 20 (Knox Bridge Highway)
Chattanooga, Tennessee has its share of risky roadways as well. The list below provides key spots near the south border needing heightened alertness:
- The Highway 153 off-ramp, northbound to Hixon Pike
- I-24 at Germantown Road and South Terrace
- Intersection of 4th Ave and 23rd Street (Parallel to I-24)
- Downtown - Market Street at 3rd and 4th Street
- Shallowford Road
North Georgia Truck Accident Causes and Awareness Tips
Many fatal crashes, including both mentioned above, happened within hours of midnight when drivers are not statistically as alert as they are during the daytime. Common causes for motor vehicle accidents in the early A.M. hours include:
- Fatigue
- Distraction
- Low visibility
While the onus is on truck drivers and their employers to obey Georgia’s traffic safety laws, all drivers should be mentally and physically prepared to get behind the wheel.
Driving in shifts is a fine way to decrease the burden of late-night or early-morning driving.
If driving alone, you need to be extra aware. The simple act of purchasing an extra coffee or caffeinated beverage, or pulling over into a designated area to sleep will help you regain your energy. With all your senses functioning properly, you can avoid an accident and a subsequent lawsuit.
As previously discussed, the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) provides members with turnkey tools and programs to advance any organization’s road safety initiatives.
Your GA/TN Trucking Accident Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident due to the negligence of another, our attorneys are here to help. The mission of Pritchard Injury Firm is to provide you and your family with the highest quality of legal help available and a professional, stress-free experience. Contact us today.
