Truck Accident Lawyer in Gwinnett County, GA

Injury Settlements in Gwinnett County Truck Accident Cases

Trucking companies are multi-million-dollar entities that carry very large insurance policies. However, it is important to understand that the trucking company’s insurer is not on your side in a truck accident case. The insurance company’s job is to pay out as little money as possible to you to satisfy your accident claim. Remember, trucking companies do not become rich by paying out claims for personal injuries.

Initial settlement offers in truck accident cases are usually very low. This is because the insurance company is trying to settle your case with as little time, money, and effort as possible. In some instances, victims need to file a lawsuit and need a skilled litigator on their side. However, this does not mean that your case will necessarily go to trial, as it can settle at any point along the way.

The knowledgeable Gwinnett County truck accident lawyers at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can help you decide on the best way to pursue monetary compensation for the injuries and damages you sustained in your accident.

Vehicles Involved in Semi-Truck Accidents

Semi-trucks and other large trucks weigh many tons and are able to travel at very fast speeds on Gwinnett County roadways. When these vehicles travel at highway speeds of 65 miles per hour or more, a smaller vehicle does not stand a chance in a collision, and the results can be devastating.

In order to help prevent serious semi-truck accidents, the federal government has put certain regulations in place. These regulations address truck weight limits, required truck safety features, and other rules. In addition to civil liability, failing to follow these regulations may also result in additional fines and penalties to offenders.

Reasons Why Truck Drivers Drive Negligently

When truck drivers deliver their cargo to its destination quickly, they often receive a hefty financial bonus or some other monetary incentive. The same is true for the trucking companies for which these drivers work. Therefore, truck drivers are more-or-less encouraged to drive fast and recklessly—oftentimes, while they are fatigued. Some truck drivers even resort to illegal drugs to keep themselves awake for long periods of time on the road.

Truck drivers owe all other drivers on the roadway a duty to drive reasonably and safely when operating their vehicles. When they fail to do so, they can be held responsible for the injuries and damages they cause to innocent accident victims. The trucking companies they work for may also share in some—of all—of the liability. A Gwinnett County truck accident lawyer can identify all potentially responsible parties in your case and file the necessary claims or lawsuits in a timely manner.

Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents in Gwinnett County, GA

One common cause of Gwinnett County, Georgia truck accidents is negligent driving. Negligent driving comes in various shapes and sizes, but it most commonly involves a truck or tractor-trailer operator not giving proper care and attention to the road.

Common examples of truck driver negligence include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving (for example, cell phone use, texting while driving)
• Impaired driving (including DUI)
• Disobeying traffic control devices (including running red lights, stop signs, or yield signs)
• Failing to yield the right-of-way to other vehicles
• Cutting curves
• Driving while fatigued
• Poor tractor or trailer maintenance
• Abrupt lane changes
• Driving too fast for weather or road conditions

In a nutshell, the injured accident victim must be able to show that the at-fault truck driver had a duty to drive in careful and prudent manner, and that by speeding, failing to yield the right-of-way, or otherwise driving in a careless manner, the accident occurred. The semi-truck accident victim must also be able to show that the accident directly resulted in all of the injuries and damages claimed.

Types of Truck Accidents in Gwinnett County, GA

Truck accidents can occur in a variety of ways and in different settings. While some accidents occur on busy freeways and highways, others occur on dual roadways, country roads, and one-way streets.

Some of the most common types of accidents in Gwinnett County that involve big rigs, tractor-trailers, and other large trucks include:

• Rear end accidents – Where the front of the truck collides with the rear of another vehicle, often causing the vehicle occupants’ bodies to violently move about inside the vehicle
• T-bone accidents – Where the front end of the truck collides with the side of another vehicle, potentially causing serious damage to the vehicle as well as to the vehicle’s occupants
• Jackknife accidents – Where the tractor and trailer lock in a way that resembles a jackknife, colliding with any other vehicle or vehicles in their path
• Rollover accidents – Where a tractor or trailer, which is usually moving at a high rate of speed, overturns in the middle of the roadway.
• Coupler device failures

Potential Trucking Company Liability in Gwinnett County Truck Accidents

In addition to the truck driver, trucking companies may also share in some (or all) of the responsibility for a truck accident. This is especially true if the truck driver is an employee of the trucking company (as opposed to an independent contractor) or if the truck driver has a known track record of driving infractions.

Truck drivers may work as independent contractors or employees of a trucking company. When truck drivers act as independent contractors, they may have the ability to set their own hours, and trucking companies have very little control over them.

However, when truck drivers work for a trucking company as an employee, there is a greater degree of control present. In that instance, the injured motor vehicle driver may also have a legal cause of action against the employee’s trucking company under an agency theory of recovery. If the truck driver was driving negligently—and while in the scope of his or her employment—then the trucking company could also be held accountable for all of the accident victim’s injuries and damages.

Truck drivers and trucking companies may also face liability for failing to abide by the provisions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations. These regulations establish trailer load limits on roadways, as well as requirements for securing cargo. They also mandate when, where, and how truckers must display warning devices, such as warning placards, signs, and lights, when operating the truck or trailer. This is especially true with trucks and tractor-trailers that carry oversized loads. When truck drivers and trucking companies fail to abide by state and federal motor carrier regulations and an accident occurs, they can face liability for the damages and injuries that result.

A trucking company may also be held liable for:

• Negligent entrustment (that is, negligently entrusting the truck driver to operate a motor vehicle while on the roadway)
• Negligent supervision (that is, for failing to properly supervise the truck driver and his or her activities)
• Negligent hiring (that is, for negligently hiring the truck driver when it was not proper to do so)

If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a truck accident, the skilled Gwinnett County truck accident attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can help you file your claim or lawsuit against the party (or parties) responsible for your injuries. We can then help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Severe and Catastrophic Injuries from Gwinnett County Truck Accidents

The severity of injuries sustained in a truck accident depends largely upon the size of the truck and trailer, how fast the truck or tractor-trailer is moving, and the size of the other involved vehicle or vehicles. Truck accidents that occur at high rates of speed on busy roadways and highways tend to result in the worst injuries.

Smaller-scale collisions may lead to relatively minor injuries, but semi-truck accidents can result in more severe, long-term, and life-threatening personal injuries, including:

If an accident victim can successfully prove that a truck driver and/or the trucking company were negligent, the accident victim may be able to recover monetary compensation for all of the injuries and damages sustained. Those damages may include monetary compensation for all medical and physical therapy bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, related mental health issues, loss of earning capacity, permanent impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life, among other damages. A Gwinnett County semi-truck accident lawyer can argue the strengths of your case and advocate for your right to recover monetary damages in your case.