A young girl was killed today just outside of downtown Atlanta, GA when heavy truck parts flew off of an oncoming 18-wheeler and crashed through the windshield of an SUV driven by her mother. The 8-year-old girl was in the back seat and her mother was behind the wheel when parts of the truck’s transmission flew through the SUV’s windshield.
The truck debris injured the mother’s arm, but she was able to bring her SUV to a stop near the median wall of the highway. The mother, 29, received transport to the hospital where her arm had to be amputated below the elbow. Our Pearland truck accident attorneys were saddened to hear of the loss of this little girl’s life and of her mother’s grievous injury in the bizarre accident.
Our Pearland truck accident attorneys emphasize that innocent victims receive catastrophic injuries more often than you might realize because of debris flying from poorly maintained equipment. In many cases, it’s flying steel and rubber from a ruptured truck tire. In other cases, it’s spilled cargo from a poor loading job or old cargo fasteners that have given way. And in some cases, like this one, large metal parts from an engine or transmission might fly off into other vehicles.
Trucks are massive and complex machines with thousands of parts. These parts must be well maintained for the truck to function safely. But the pressures of competition and the need to make the most deliveries in the least time possible means that sometimes routine or necessary truck maintenance gets overlooked. Once parts from a poorly maintained machine give way and cause a wreck, you’re left with costly and unanticipated injuries and losses.
Feel free to contact us for help when you’re faced with such a difficult situation. We’ve been helping innocent victims of truck-related injuries to obtain just compensation for their losses for more than 14 years. Our Pearland truck accident attorneys know the evidence you need to prove your claim and where to find it. We could help you identify all of the parties potentially liable for your accident costs and hold them financially accountable for their negligence. Let us help you help your family after a tragic truck-related accident. Contact us today for your free initial legal consultation.