Helping Atlanta Truck Accident Victims Obtain Compensation for their Injuries
Truck accidents can lead to very serious injuries and damages for their victims. This is especially true in cases where a large big rig or tractor-trailer collides with much lighter and much smaller vehicle. Truck accidents sometimes occur when a truck driver is not giving proper care and attention to the road. In other cases, the accident occurs because the trucking company is not diligent when it comes to hiring experienced and capable truck drivers to operate their 18-wheeler tractor-trailers. In other cases, these accidents can happen because the parts on a truck are defective.
If you have suffered injuries in an Atlanta truck accident that you did not cause, Georgia law may entitle you to legal compensation. The skilled Atlanta truck accident lawyers at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can review what occurred in your accident and pursue monetary recovery on your behalf. We’re available 24/7 for a free case evaluation.
Types of Injuries in Sustained in Atlanta Truck Accidents
Serious truck accidents can lead to a myriad of injuries and damages for which trucking companies and their drivers are potentially responsible. Truck accidents often occur with such force that they cause drivers to strike their heads, arms, or knees on something in the vehicle. This, in turn, can result in serious injuries and damages that may include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Death
If the accident victim dies because of injuries sustained in the truck accident, the accident victim’s surviving family members may open an estate. The estate could then file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the decedent and collect lost wages (i.e., up until the time of the decedent’s death), loss of future support from the decedent, and pain and suffering compensation (i.e., for pain and suffering experienced by the decedent up until the time of death).
The skilled Atlanta personal injury attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
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Suing a Driver and a Trucking Company
In an Atlanta truck accident case, the first step in the litigation process is to file a claim against the truck driver and/or the trucking company that was responsible for the accident. In some instances, these cases reach a settlement pre-suit. However, in the majority of cases, trucking companies and their insurers prefer to litigate these cases.
The litigation process begins by filing a lawsuit in the court system. The injured semi-truck accident victim typically files the lawsuit against both the truck driver and the employer trucking company. Truck driver negligence that leads to an accident may include distracted driving, violating traffic rules, speeding, and/or failing to follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations.
In Atlanta truck accident cases, in addition to suing the driver, the accident victim may be able to file a lawsuit against the truck driver’s employer, the trucking company. The accident victim could allege, for example, that the trucking company failed to properly monitor the truck driver’s activities or failed to terminate the truck driver (such as in cases where the truck driver has a long history of driving infractions).
Suing a Parts Manufacturer or Truck Repair Facility
In some instances, truck accidents occur on Atlanta roadways because the parts used to manufacture or repair trucks and trailers are defective. When a parts defect causes an Atlanta truck accident, the manufacturer and/or the parts distributor could also face legal liability.
Defective truck parts come in all variations. Some common truck parts that later turn out to be defective include steering mechanisms, braking systems, brake shoes, and tires. When a defective truck or trailer part is defective and enters the stream of commerce, an injured truck accident victim may be able to file a claim or lawsuit directly against the parts manufacturer or parts distributor for monetary damages.
At Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, our experienced legal team can ensure that you sue the right parties for you to get the maximum compensation you deserve.
Proving Negligence in Atlanta Truck Accident Cases
For the accident victim to recover money damages in an Atlanta truck accident case, the accident victim must show that the defendant committed an act of negligence. In the case of a truck driver, this means showing that the driver violated some rule of the road or other traffic law and that this action or inaction brought about the injuries and damages complained of. In the case of trucking companies and other defendants, negligence requires a showing that the defendant failed to act in a reasonable, prudent, and careful manner, considering all of the circumstances.
Proving negligence in an Atlanta truck accident case can be difficult. When it comes to proving negligence, expert testimony often becomes essential. An expert witness is an individual who has some specialized skill, knowledge, or expertise.
Helpful expert witnesses in truck accident cases include:
- Accident reconstructionists – Who can recreate a specific set of circumstances in an attempt to figure out who or what caused the truck accident
- Other truck drivers – Who can review all of the facts and circumstances at issue and determine whether the defendant truck driver violated the standard of reasonable care
- Medical doctors – Who can causally relate a person’s injuries and damages to a particular accident or set of circumstances and describe what level of permanency, if any, the accident victim sustained
The experienced legal team at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC works with various experts who can help prove the damages our clients need to recover.
