Box Truck Driver Injured by Flying Plank through Windshield on I-20 in DeKalb County, GA
DeKalb County, GA — June 22, 2022, a box truck driver narrowly avoided serious injured after a chunk of wood smashed through his windshield in DeKalb County.
According to reports the incident happened Wednesday along Interstate 20. The box truck was headed down the roadway when a large plant worked loose out of the cargo on a semi-trailer ahead and flew through the box truck's windshield.
The plank narrowly missed the truck's driver, who reportedly received only minor injuries.
The investigation continues. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Loose Cargo Accident on I-20 in DeKalb County
An incident like this can be more complex than people realize. That may not track at first: Police said the crash happened because cargo fell off of a trailer, which most would interpret as the semi-truck driver's fault for failing to secure it. If fault seems clear, how can it get complicated?
For one, the driver's employer can still deny responsibility. They can claim that they properly secured the cargo but something beyond their control caused it to come loose. Alternatively, they could say their driver wasn't responsible for loading the cargo, just driving it--implying the company that loaded up the freight didn't do it right and is actually to blame. They could even try to blame the victim for "faulty evasive maneuvers" if they felt punchy enough.
That's why it's important after crashes like this to have extensive proof of what really happened and who's responsible. Many people who felt things were self-explanatory have been rudely surprised when the parties they thought were obviously responsible convinced a jury that someone or something else was the culprit.
Similarly, even people who escape these incidents with supposed "minor" injuries sometimes find out later things were much worse than they were first thought to be. If they wait too long to search for the evidence they need to get help, that may leave them with few options for recovery.
To make sure everyone's story is the same and the right parties are held responsible, it's best to investigate any crash carefully and thoroughly. Will that be done in DeKalb County?
