Trucking Accidents and Injuries
Although it may seem like there’s not a lot of difference between car accidents and truck accidents, there are actually a number of factors that separate the two. For example, determining who is at fault after a truck wreck can be tricky, as the driver of the truck, the owner of the truck, and the company that leased the truck for the delivery may all share some blame.
Understanding the different roles individuals play and their relationship with one another is of the utmost importance when trying to distinguish who is liable. The truck, the trailer and the load are all important factors in a truck accident, and the fact that all these entities may be owned by different parties further complicates matters.
Typical Truck Accidents Our Law Firm Represents
- Trucker reckless driving
- Trucker distracted driving
- Truck underride accidents
- Truck rear-end and side collisions
- Head-on collision with a truck
- Truck rollovers
- Jackknifing tractor trailer
If you are a victim of any of these trucking accidents, or any other type of truck injury, please contact the experienced lawyers at our Atlanta truck accident law firm today.
Causes of Trucking Accidents
Severe injuries can occur from accidents involving a tractor-trailer. Many of these are caused by:
- Truck driver fatigue
- Overloaded trucks
- Failure to maintain a commercial vehicle
- Intoxication
- Truck employer negligence
- Tire blow outs
- Lack of reflectors
- Aggressive driving
The proper investigation of truck accidents can determine whether the driver or trucking company contributed to the crash.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer, contact our Atlanta truck wreck law firm today to discuss your options for receiving the compensation you deserve after a trucking accident.
Liability in a Trucking Accident
After a truck wreck, liability can be difficult to prove, as each entity usually goes out of their way to distance themselves from the accident, claiming that the blame really lies with someone else. The driver of the truck will be quick to point to the owner of the truck or the owner of the trailer, and they in turn will try and focus the blame on the corporation that leased the load. In the case of a faulty part, the company that manufactured the vehicle can be held culpable. If a truck accident was caused by an improper load, then the shipper or loader may be at fault. Each of these parties will go out of their way to deny involvement with the truck accident, which can complicate a personal injury claim.
Although accidents involving large trucks only make up a small percentage of overall motor vehicle accidents, the sheer size of a truck means the amount of damage is significant. Truck accidents are also more complicated because when a large truck crashes the fallout normally involves several other vehicles, not just two vehicles as in a typical car accident. A multiple car pileup resulting from a truck wreck can make it extremely difficult to determine who is liable for the damage.
Large trucks need additional space to turn and merge – and their blind spots are much larger than a smaller vehicle’s. The sheer size and weight of the trucks combined with the skill required to drive them add to the risk on the road, with a very high potential for damage. There are usually two reasons for accidents caused by large trucks: an error on the part of the driver or a faulty piece of equipment like brakes or tires. As opposed to accidents involving smaller vehicles, the insurance companies will usually launch a full investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently conducted a study looking into the reasons for accidents involving big trucks and their findings were interesting. The study found that, out of all the accidents that were a result of driver error, 44 percent were caused by a driver who was taking some form of prescription or over-the-counter drug. A full 23 percent of truckers were travelling at a speed that was not appropriate for the road or weather conditions. And 18 percent of trucking accidents were caused by a driver who was too tired to be on the road. Unfortunately for the victims of trucking injuries, it is difficult to prove that a truck driver caused an accident for any of these reasons. But a qualified personal injury lawyer has the expertise to prove the cause of a trucking accident. An attorney knows to check driver logs to make sure there was not an ‘hours of service’ violation and to scan electronic event data recorders to see if the truck itself was a danger to other motorists.
Truck Accidents and Defective Equipment
Almost 30 percent of all trucking accidents are caused by defective brakes or other brake-related issues. Again, it can be difficult to determine if faulty brakes were a factor in a truck accident and difficult to prove who should be held responsible. There is the same web of parties that requires an attorney’s expertise to prove liability. The manufacturer of the defective brakes will argue that the leasing company did not provide proper maintenance on the parts and that all responsibility lies with them. They may then turn around and blame the company that loaded the truck, claiming that the load size was improper for the brakes in the first place. Without a personal injury lawyer it can be impossible to decipher who is really to blame and is responsible for damages.
If you have been involved in an accident involving a truck on a Georgia road or highway, contact Lloyd today. He can help determine liability and get you any compensation you may be entitled to receive after a trucking accident.
Our firm does not charge any up-front fees to represent you in your case. The attorneys at our firm represent each client on a contingency fee basis. This means that our fee is paid based on a percentage of the money we recover for you. Our consultations are free and we are proud to offer the option to bring our personal legal service to you. We use personal delivery services to get legal documents right to you no matter where you are.
If we do not receive an offer or a verdict on your case or recover any money for you, you will not be charged for any of the attorney’s time spent on your case.
In addition, the statute of limitations is defined as the time period in which a lawsuit must be filed and they typically differ by type of civil claim. In the state of Georgia, there is a two-year limit from the date of the incident for personal injury, fraud and medical malpractice claims. Other claims, such as personal property, trespassing and debt collection have a four-year limit.
If you do not file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations has expired the case will be dismissed and forever barred from being re-filed.
