Atlanta is the 38th most populous city in the United States and the eighth in the South. Big cities often face a large influx of traffic. When it comes to trucks, thousands traverse Atlanta daily.
With such massive traffic of big and heavy vehicles going in and out of Atlanta every day, traffic congestion is bound to occur — and so are accidents.
Many attorneys for truck accidents have stated that the most common reasons behind truck accidents are driver fatigue and speeding. Still, several other factors contribute to accidents. Here is what you should know about the thousands of trucks that drive through Atlanta each day, what to do in case of accidents, and how a truck accident attorney can help you.
Atlanta Truck Traffic Statistics
In the entirety of the U.S., about 13 million commercial trucks use the highways and interstate roads daily. When it comes to big cities such as Atlanta, the numbers are also high.
This is because Atlanta is a major transportation hub. As a major city, several interstate highways act as important trucking routes. This includes roads such as I-75, I-85, and I-285, among others.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, about 8,500 trucks traverse I-75 each day alone. When other interstate highways are integrated into this, you can easily see over ten thousand trucks passing through Atlanta daily.
Although the number of trucks transporting goods and other commodities isn’t always exact, certain factors also influence it, such as the current economic activity, the time of year, and the specific routes being used.
Trucks in Atlanta serve as an additional factor in traffic congestion, as the city experiences heavy traffic during peak hours. In 2018, the American Transportation Research Institute identified the portion where I-285 and I-85 North intersect as the most congested freight bottleneck in the states.
To mitigate such issues, the Georgia Department of Transportation has proposed and implemented truck-only lanes dedicated solely to commercial motor vehicles on certain roadways in Atlanta, such as on I-75.
A Solution for the Future of the Trucking Congestion Issue
Although trucking congestion isn’t something new in Atlanta, its growing population isn’t the only thing that contributes to its heavy truck traffic problems. As more and more trucks traverse the city, it has become evident that large vehicles and regular cars sharing the same lane lead to an increased risk of accidents.
To mitigate these issues, the truck-only lanes won’t just help with traffic congestion but actively reduce car and truck accidents. The construction process is expected to begin in early 2025 if there aren’t delays.
If the truck-only lanes prove successful in preventing truck and car accidents and reducing traffic congestion in Atlanta, such exclusive lanes might be implemented on other interstate highways as well.
Dealing With a Truck Accident
Truck and car accidents are traumatic experiences for everyone involved, regardless of the severity of the event. Truck-only lanes may indeed prove useful in the future for decreasing accident rates, but until this and other changes are made, all drivers must continue to be vigilant on the roads to ensure their safety. If you have been involved in a truck accident in Atlanta, here is what you should do:
- Ensure your safety and that of others by relocating to a safe position. Get out of harm’s way and seek medical treatment regardless of how you feel. A medical evaluation will reveal all injuries. As you have them addressed, you will also gain valuable medical reports that you can later use in a personal injury claim.
- Contact authorities and report the accident so that an official police report will be issued for insurance purposes.
- If you can, document the accident scene by taking photos of your injuries, damages to all vehicles, and road conditions. Ask witnesses for their contact information and that of the other driver/s involved in the accident.
- Report the accident with your insurance company detailing the event.
- Consult with an attorney who can guide you through the claims process to see if you have solid grounds for taking legal action. A car accident lawyer can help you gather evidence, prove liability, protect your rights, help with negotiations, and represent your interests while pursuing compensation for your injuries and other damages.
A car accident attorney will know what damages you can recover and can guide you throughout the legal process. Working with an attorney doesn’t mean you’ll definitely receive compensation, but they can take a lot of the burden off your shoulders while you recover.
