Georgia Truck Accident Attorney

Truck Accidents Can Cause Catastrophic and Sometimes Deadly Injuries

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), more than 400,000 crashes involving large trucks occur yearly. Of those, approximately 1% are fatal. Georgia is one of the top states for large truck accident fatalities, with approximately 175 fatalities each year, on average. 

Numerous factors contribute to truck accident severity. Truck size, weight, and speed are significant considerations. The average passenger vehicle is around 4,000 pounds, while a tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Tractor trailers are also long and unwieldy, making them difficult to maneuver. 

Truck operators driving at high speeds or in heavy traffic may not have time to brake, turn, or swerve to avoid an accident. Poor loading practices, inattentive driving, or tight schedules can exacerbate the issue. 

While many conditions can lead to accidents, almost all truck crashes can be prevented with adequate training, vehicle maintenance, and safe driving practices. Accident victims should not have to pay for an accident that could have been prevented. The Goldwater Law Firm’s dedicated truck accident law firm partners can guide you through the legal process and recover compensation for your losses.

What Can I Recover in a Georgia Truck Accident Claim?

A truck accident insurance claim or lawsuit can help you recover medical bills, lost income, and other damages for an accident that was not your fault. The Goldwater Law Firm has been helping the injured for over 20 years. We understand that you are facing unprecedented challenges, and we want to help you however we can during this difficult time. 

Our law firm partners throughout Georgia can file claims and negotiate with insurers and opposing counsel to recover the compensation you need. Damages you could pursue through an insurance claim or lawsuit include:

Lost Income Due to Injury Treatment and Disability

Injuries from a truck crash can be debilitating and life-altering. You could miss work or lose income due to time in the hospital, medical procedures, rehabilitative therapy, and follow-up appointments. You have a right to recover these losses.

In addition, your truck accident injuries may keep you from returning to your previous position. You can include lost future income or diminished income potential in your claim. The Goldwater Law Firm maintains relationships with experts and specialists across the US, including economic experts who can help support your current and future income loss claim.

Medical Bills and Expenses Related to Your Truck Accident

Serious injuries from a truck accident can lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars for emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgical intervention, and more. More severe injuries typically mean higher medical expenses, including:

• Physical therapy 
• Medical devices
• Assistive equipment
• Long-term or in-home nursing care
• Prescription medication

Everyone’s injuries are unique, so your medical expenses and other losses will vary depending on your accident details. A Georgia truck accident attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation and evidence to substantiate your claim for current and future medical expenses. 

Repair and Replacement of Property Damaged in the Truck Crash

Smaller vehicles are easily totaled in a collision with a tractor-trailer. Whether your car was totaled or sustained only cosmetic damage, you can claim the cost of repairs or replacement. Our law firm partners in Georgia can help you seek estimates and fair compensation for your damaged vehicle and other personal property losses.

Diminished Quality of Life and Loss of Consortium

In addition to the direct financial losses you suffer after a truck crash, you may experience a range of physical, emotional, and mental effects. These consequences, called non-economic damages, can have a very real impact on your quality of life. Such damages are difficult to quantify, but you still deserve to be compensated for them. A truck accident attorney in Georgia will have experience proving the extent of non-economic damages, including physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment, loss of consortium, and more. 

The Goldwater Law Firm and our co-counsels will not sit back while the trucking company and insurance carriers get away without consequences. You have a legal right to fight for fair compensation for all your losses, and our dedicated co-counsel is here to help you get it. 

What Causes Truck Accidents in Georgia?

Commercial trucks are heavy and difficult to maneuver at the best of times. The results can be disastrous when a truck operator is inexperienced, inattentive, or otherwise compromised. Depending on the cause of the motor vehicle accident, you could sue the truck driver, their employer, or even the truck manufacturer. Some of the most common causes of semi-truck accidents include: 

Aggressive Driving and Speeding

Aggressive truck drivers are a danger to anyone on the road. A truck operator that fails to yield, tailgates, passes illegally, or speeds may have trouble stopping or changing direction in shifting traffic. Similarly, a trucker driving over the speed limit or too fast for weather conditions may be unable to control the vehicle, leading to dangerous high-speed collisions. 

While the truck operator may be at fault for driving aggressively, other parties can share liability. For instance, trucking companies are typically liable for their employees’ actions while on the clock. This means that any negligent actions by the driver would make the trucking company vicariously liable. 

The trucking company can also be directly liable if: 

• The driver was on an unreasonably tight delivery schedule, forcing them to speed to meet deadlines. 
• The company hired a driver with a known history of dangerous or aggressive behavior. 

Driving While Intoxicated

Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol suffer from reduced response time and compromised judgment. This can lead to serious and deadly accidents. When a truck driver is intoxicated, the weight and size of their vehicle make such accidents especially dangerous. 

If you were in an accident with an intoxicated truck driver, you could file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the truck driver and their employer for damages. Our compassionate co-counsel can help guide you through the process.

Driving While Fatigued

Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as driving drunk. In fact, a 2020 study published in BMC Public Health indicates that reaction times can be worse for drowsy drivers than alcohol-impaired drivers. Not only do sleep-deprived people have slower reaction times, but they are also more likely to weave out of their lane than well-rested people. 

Fatigued driving is a concern for commercial truck drivers, who are often expected to carry loads over long distances for days. Although the FMCSA has established hours of service regulations to prevent fatigued driving, some drivers and trucking companies still violate these regulations and drive longer than allowed. 

A driver who drives while fatigued can be liable for any accidents they cause. Their employer can also be responsible. 

Distracted Driving 

Distracted driving is one of the top reasons for car accidents across the US. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 3,000 people pass away each year due to distracted driving. 

Truck drivers may become distracted by anything inside or outside the cab. Texting, talking on the phone, and using navigation controls are common distractions that can lead to truck accidents in Georgia. While many distracted driving claims focus on the driver, other factors can affect liability. For example, if the driver was distracted by debris in the road, the party responsible for the road obstruction could be partially liable. 

Who Is Responsible for a Truck Accident in Georgia?

Truck crashes often involve multiple at-fault parties, making it difficult to discover all responsible parties. Our co-counsel conducts a thorough investigation into every case. They will pull all available evidence to determine how the accident occurred and who is responsible, so you have the best chance of recovering fair compensation. 

Parties that could be responsible for a commercial truck accident include the: 

• Truck driver 
• Third-party driver
• Trucking or shipping company
• Truck manufacturer, if defective parts caused the accident
• Truck repair or maintenance company
• Company or municipality responsible for maintaining road conditions

The Goldwater Law Firm is one of the most widely recognized law firms in the United States. Our reputation allows us to maintain strategic partnerships with some of the nation’s most successful and respected law firms. We can connect you with a truck accident lawyer in Georgia who will help you discover who is responsible and hold them accountable for your injuries.