The size and weight of large semi-trailer trucks make them dangerous at best — and fatal at worst. Truck accident victims are often left with life-changing injuries. This is on top of the growing medical bills, missed time at work, and severe pain. If you were injured by a negligent truck driver, you don’t deserve to go through this alone.
The legal team at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC has the resources and experience to guide you through every step of the semi-truck accident claim process. Contact us today to talk to one of our Georgia truck accident attorneys about how we can help you.
Most Common Truck Accident Injuries
Even a minor truck accident can cause fatal injuries. Our personal injury law firm has experience helping semi-truck accident victims seek compensation for minor to severe injuries. No injury is too minor. If you suffered injuries in a Georgia commercial truck accident, you shouldn’t have to handle this process alone. Call the best truck accident lawyers in Georgia today at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC to see how we can help.
Some of the most common truck accident injuries we see include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Strains, sprains, and ligament tears
- Wrongful death
- Whiplash
- Broken and fractured bones
- Burns
- and other catastrophic injuries
Who’s Liable for My Truck Accident Injuries?
There are many causes of accidents and many people that could have contributed. If you can prove their responsibility, the following parties could be held accountable for your semi-truck accident injuries:
- The tractor-trailer (semi-truck) driver — If the truck driver’s negligence caused the accident, they can be held responsible for your injuries. You may be able to prove that they were speeding, texting, or driving longer than allowed.
- The trucking company — The trucking company is also responsible for hiring safe and qualified drivers who follow the law. If they encourage their truckers to drive longer than allowed or don’t run background checks, they can be liable for the accident the driver causes.
- Maintenance companies — While the truck driver and trucking company are responsible for keeping up maintenance on the truck, the maintenance company can be at-fault in some cases. You would have to show that they didn’t perform maintenance or inspect the truck properly, causing the wreck.
- Cargo loaders — Cargo loaders must load the truck carefully and secure all cargo. If they fail to do this and it causes the accident, they may be responsible.
- Parts manufacturers — It’s possible a defective part in the truck led to the accident. If you can prove it, the part manufacturer could be held liable for your injuries.
After determining who is responsible for your injuries, you and your truck accident lawyer may be able to seek compensation from them in a semi-truck:
- All medical expenses
- Lost income from work you missed due to your injuries
- Loss of future income if you can’t perform your previous job
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
If you have questions about who is liable for your injuries from a truck accident or what compensation you’re entitled to, a knowledgeable personal injury attorney should review your case. We can help you determine who is at fault and prepare a truck accident claim to prove it. A semi-truck accident lawyer can also establish your losses and then pursue financial recovery for you.
Common Types of Truck Accidents in Georgia
Negligence is the cause of truck accidents, no matter the type. But the type of truck accident can affect the severity of the injuries.
Some common types of large truck accidents in Georgia include the following:
- Rollover accidents — If the truck’s balance is off, it can roll over easily in an accident. The impact of a large truck hitting a smaller vehicle can also cause the vehicle to roll.
- Head-on collisions — A large truck driving straight into another vehicle going the opposite direction can also be fatal.
- Rear-end accidents — When a truck doesn’t come to a stop quickly enough, it can rear-end the car in front of it.
- Underride accidents — A smaller car may end up sliding under the truck in the most deadly wrecks.
- Side impact crashes — If a commercial truck doesn’t check its blind spot before switching lanes, it can collide with the side of another vehicle. A t-bone accident could also occur when turning left if another driver runs a red light or stop sign.
- Jackknife accidents — A jackknife situation is when a semi-truck stops and the trailer swings out at a 90-degree angle with the cab.
Georgia Truck Accident Statistics
The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s truck accident statistics report 195 large trucks were involved in Georgia fatal crashes in one recent year. This is nearly nine percent of the over 2,000 total vehicles in fatal crashes across the state. It’s also almost four percent of the 5,000 large trucks involved in fatal accidents across the country the same year.
However, the deaths in fatal truck accidents aren’t usually the truck drivers. There were 204 deaths in fatal large truck accidents that year in Georgia. The truck occupants were 31 of these fatalities. That makes truck drivers around 15 percent of the fatalities in accidents involving large trucks in Georgia.
Statute of Limitations for Georgia Truck Accident Claims
Georgia’s statute of limitations allows two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in most cases, including semi-truck accident claims. This time usually begins on the date of the truck accident. But it’s important to act fast to preserve evidence and improve your chances of recovering damages.
Trucking companies must keep drivers’ logs documenting how long the driver was on the road. It’s also important to have the truck looked at before it’s driven again to find any evidence. However, the trucking company may try to get rid of the evidence before it can be investigated. The sooner you contact a Georgia truck accident attorney at our law firm, the sooner we can start investigating, gathering evidence, and preparing your case.
Causes of Truck Accidents in Georgia
It takes skill, training, and attention to drive a large truck. Small mistakes can be disastrous. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include the following:
- Distracted driving — Driving any vehicle requires all of your attention. However, this is especially true for truck drivers. Texting, talking on the phone, eating, drinking, grooming, and adjusting the music can all distract a truck driver long enough to cause an accident.
- Drunk driving — Truck drivers have a legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit of 0.04 percent. Driving a large truck with a higher BAC can be challenging. Drunk drivers have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and difficulty concentrating.
- Fatigued driving — Driving tired can be just as dangerous as driving drunk. Truck drivers have strict regulations for how long they can be on the road. If a truck driver doesn’t follow the required hours of service, they can become fatigued and cause accidents.
- Reckless driving — It’s dangerous for trucks to reach high speeds, take turns too quickly, or pull out in front of other cars. Other reckless behaviors include unsafe lane changes, not following traffic signals or signs, and weaving through traffic.
- Bad weather conditions — Visibility is important when driving a truck. Bad weather can make it much more difficult to see other cars or the lines on the roads. Ice and rain can also cause slippery roads, making it easy for speeding trucks to hydroplane.
- Mechanical failure — Poor truck maintenance can cause accidents. A part could also fail because of poor manufacturing.
- Improper cargo loading — Semi-trucks can easily get off-balance. Cargo must be loaded correctly to make steering easier and avoid tipping. Loose cargo can fly into the road and cause accidents.
What matters most is it wasn’t your fault. You deserve compensation if you were injured in a truck accident because of someone’s negligent actions. Our Georgia truck accident attorney can help you determine if you can file a truck accident claim and seek financial recovery for your losses.
Talk to Our Experienced Georgia Truck Accident Lawyers Today
If you were injured in a Georgia truck accident, the personal injury law firm, Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC is here to help. We can provide the resources and honest guidance you need to feel in control of your truck accident case. We’ll work to investigate the accident, gather evidence, document your losses, and demand compensation from the at-fault parties.
Call or contact us online today to talk to one of our compassionate Georgia semi-truck accident lawyers.
