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Trusted, Experienced Representation That Truck Accident Victims Can Rely On

Truck accidents are different. Semi trucks traveling between Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina on I-85 or through Atlanta on I-75 or I-20 are essential for moving the goods we all need. But their size and weight, along with the demands of 24-hour-a-day commerce, mean truck drivers are always under pressure to deliver.

Too often, this means that they drive too fast or on too little sleep. With an 80,000-pound truck moving at 65 miles per hour, it doesn’t take much for a driver to lose control. For any motorists in the vicinity, that can mean catastrophic injuries or death. At Glenda Mitchell Law Firm, we help families throughout the Cartersville, Atlanta metro and Greenville areas with their motor vehicle accident claims. We understand how disorienting dealing with lawyers and insurance companies can be, and we can help.

You Need An Attorney On Your Side

Another element of truck accidents that is different is the defense. Many truck companies have dedicated teams of insurance investigators and lawyers who respond quickly after a crash.

When a truck is involved in a crash, the driver may call from the accident scene or the truck driver may have real-time communications with the truck’s headquarters, which can immediately dispatch a team to the accident scene. Their job is to minimize the cost of the accident to the company.

Because of this and the complexity of a truck accident, you want your own attorney who can protect your rights for compensation and help you navigate the convoluted legal world of large trucking companies, their insurance companies and multiple other entities.

We strive to answer all your questions with personalized representation. During your free consultation, we can address your concerns and answer any questions you may have, such as these common ones, below.

What are the most common reasons for truck driver negligence?

Truck drivers usually go through extensive training. Since they operate some of the largest vehicles on the road, they seem to have a greater responsibility to drive safely. However, truck drivers can be negligent as well. Some of the common causes of trucking accidents caused by truck drivers include:

  • Fatigued driving from lack of sleep and long hours
  • Unreasonable schedules and delivery times that rush drivers
  • Improper driver training or disregard of regulations
  • Defective manufacturing or truck maintenance

What if you are partly at fault for the accident? Can you still recover compensation?

It is possible that a negligent truck driver could be entirely responsible for the serious accident that resulted in life-changing injuries. However, other motorists in smaller vehicles are often partly at fault as well. They might:

  • Pass or merge around a truck unsafely
  • Drive in a blind spot or “No-Zone”
  • Not drive defensively

If you were partly at fault for a truck accident, there is a chance you can still recover compensation. Georgia personal injury law uses a modified comparative negligence standard. This means that courts calculate each party’s responsibility for the accident. Your negligence might limit your compensation, but you generally can still obtain the support you need to recover from your injuries.

How are truck accidents different from other traffic accidents?

Trucking accidents are different from most other motor vehicle accidents because of the number of parties involved, including:

  • The truck driver
  • The owner of the trailer or truck
  • The shipping company employing the driver
  • The insurance companies of these parties
  • Each party’s lawyers

On top of that, many of these parties often show up at the scene of the accident. Insurance adjusters or company attorneys will try to avoid paying a large settlement for your injuries so they will try to negotiate with you right after the accident. It is essential to contact an experienced personal injury attorney who knows how to deal with trucking accidents and can protect your rights.

What if the truck’s cargo caused the accident? Can you still hold the driver responsible?

A semi truck’s cargo can also be a serious risk in trucking accidents. These trucks carry anything from gasoline to timber or industrial equipment. If cargo is overloaded or improperly secured on the trailer, the cargo could either be the cause of the accident or make the accident even worse.

There is no question that you still have a right to recover compensation after an accident caused by a truck’s cargo. However, the driver may not necessarily be the one responsible for your injuries. The shipping company or owner of the trailer could be responsible for overpacking. With so many details involved in trucking accidents, it is important to have a knowledgeable and aggressive attorney on your side.

The Black Box In Truck Accidents

Truck accident lawsuits are aggressively defended by trucking companies and commercial insurers. Because of this, it is especially important for us to present compelling evidence that the truck driver or trucking company was negligent. Much of that evidence can come from one source: the “black box.” Commercial trucks (and many personal-use vehicles) contain what are known as event data recorders. They keep a record of how the vehicle was performing in the moments leading up to the crash. The data could include the truck’s speed and acceleration, whether the driver tried to brake, the engine performance, the tire pressure, the GPS location and more.

This data often provides the information necessary to reconstruct a crash and determine its cause. Too often, defendants try to keep this black box evidence away from plaintiffs or claim that it was lost. When you hire our firm, we work quickly to secure the black box data and all other available evidence helpful to your case.

Get The Representation You Need

Time is of the essence after a truck crash or any collision involving a commercial vehicle, so call us as soon as you are able to. In Georgia, call our Cartersville office at 678-721-0417. In Alabama, call our Auburn office at 334-604-7927. In South Carolina, call our Greenville office at 864-326-3073 or use our convenient form to set up a free initial consultation.