Macon Personal Injury Blog

Are fatigued truckers complying with regulations?

On behalf of McArthur Law Firm on Thursday, July 25, 2019.

Truckers need to be able to make split-second decisions as they are driving. Many factors can impact their ability to do this. Fatigue is one factor, and it is fully preventable. One issue that some truckers face is that the trucking company they work for has such tight deadlines that they don't feel able to stop and rest when they need to. This can lead to them turning to other methods to try to stay awake.

There aren't any ways to battle fatigue in the long term except getting sleep. Things like drinking coffee or rolling the windows down might work temporarily, but this will be short lived. In order to help combat the issue of drowsy trucking, the federal government has instituted the Hours of Service regulations, which force truckers to stop driving after a predetermined period. It also sets minimum 10-hour off-duty requirements to ensure that they are getting the opportunity to sleep.

Remember these tips when sharing the road with a semitruck

On behalf of McArthur Law Firm on Friday, July 5, 2019.

If you are like most drivers in Macon, you have probably found yourself sharing the road with a semitruck. And, like those other drivers, you more than likely feel at least a little nervous when in such close proximity to one of those large trucks. This feeling is not unusual and occurs for good cause: An accident with a semi can have catastrophic results.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to reduce your stress when driving near semis and the chance of an accident. Here are a few things you should know when sharing the road with a semitruck.

What are truck underride guards, and why are they important?

On behalf of McArthur Law Firm on Thursday, June 27, 2019.

Have you ever driven behind a commercial truck and noticed the boxy, u-shaped piece of metal hanging down from the back of the trailer? You may have thought that the bar looked dangerous and like something you wouldn't want to run into in the case of an accident. Believe it or not, that bar is actually there to prevent the worst kind of semitruck accidents.

Underride collisions involve a smaller passenger vehicle slipping under a larger commercial vehicle. They are almost always fatal because of the catastrophic damage that the smaller vehicle suffers. The metal dangling from the back of a semitrailer is an underride guard intended to keep vehicles from getting crushed underneath the rear wheels.

When trucks topple over

On behalf of McArthur Law Firm on Monday, June 3, 2019.

There are many types of semitruck accidents, but other than fatal crashes, perhaps none that can shut down an interstate or highway longer than those involving trucks that lose their cargo.

In recent months, there has been an uptick of incidents involving trucks losing their loads after tipping over onto the highway. Let's look at a few recent trucking mishaps that made the news.

Don’t drive in semis' ‘no zones’

On behalf of McArthur Law Firm on Tuesday, May 14, 2019.

Semitrucks -- also known as 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers and big rigs – are a frequent sight on America’s highways. These behemoths, weighing as much as 80,000 pounds, are essential to our economy. Semitrucks deliver roughly 68 percent of all U.S. goods.

Even though these trucks are so vital, they do pose a safety risk on the roadways. More than 4,300 people were killed 450,000 in crashes with large trucks in 2016. Outdated equipment and overworked trucker drivers contributed to some of these accidents, but so, too, did drivers of passenger vehicles how did not know how to interact with semis on the road.

As more pedestrians are hurt, Georgians ask why

On behalf of McArthur Law Firm on Thursday, May 9, 2019.

Georgians are rightly proud of our beautiful state so it’s no surprise when the international press finds new reasons to think about us.

Readers of the UK’s Daily Mail did in March, but the newsworthy trend was that Georgia’s becoming a more dangerous place to take a walk. The Daily Mail and National Public Radio both announced that Georgia was one of the five states accounting for nearly 50% of U.S. pedestrian deaths last year.

Slip-and-fall injuries in Georgia: What to know

On behalf of McArthur Law Firm on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.

Here’s the scene: You’re in a store shopping. You’re walking down an aisle and trip over torn carpet. You lose your footing and you fall, breaking your ankle. It could happen to anyone. Accidents happen every day.

But a serious injury often comes with devastating consequences: hefty medical bills, a loss of income, the inability to care for yourself, and great pain. When something like this happens, who is at fault? What are your rights? Who is going to look out for you? How long do you have to before you must act?

Drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalk

On behalf of McArthur Law Firm on Tuesday, April 16, 2019.

You have probably been looking both ways before crossing the street since you could walk. Most motor vehicle drivers know to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks but not everyone does it. Similarly, pedestrians often assume that vehicles must yield to them in every instance. This is also false and most drivers will yield for no other reason than not wanting to hit a pedestrian.

It seems that many pedestrians and drivers alike could use a refresher course on Georgia's right of way laws.

Student’s death brings Uber safety to the fore

On behalf of McArthur Law Firm on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

After a college student recently entered a car she believed to be her Uber ride and was later found dead, experts urge riders to review ride-sharing safety tips.

Samantha Josephson, 21, a student at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, became separated from her friends after a night out and called for an Uber ride at 2 a.m. March 29. She entered a black Chevrolet Impala thinking it was her ride. Her body was found about 14 hours later in a field 90 miles away. A man has been arrested and charged with murder and kidnapping.

Why spring is a great season to train teen drivers

On behalf of McArthur Law Firm on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.

The dark nights and cold temperatures can make winter feel longer than it should, but it will be over before you know it. It won’t be long before we have more warm days than cool ones, more sunlight than night skies and more rain instead of snow. One of the most difficult seasons of the year is almost over, spring is almost here.

If you have a teen preparing for their license or permit, you may find it hard to find the right time for them to get some experience in before applying for the test or taking the car on a daily basis. Spring may be one of the best times of the year for you to help them get as much hours as they can on Georgia’s roads. This season provides more comfortable and accessible settings that make the transition for them safer and easier.