Feeling overwhelmed by medical bills, insurance calls, and unanswered questions? You’re not alone. Accidents involving commercial trucks can turn your life upside down. These crashes often lead to serious injuries, expensive medical care, and a battle against powerful trucking companies and their insurers.
At Shane Smith Law, our Atlanta truck accident lawyers are here to guide you. With over 100 years of combined experience and more than $100 million recovered for our clients, our Atlanta personal injury lawyers know how to fight for your much-deserved compensation.
From preserving evidence to building a strong case, we’re here to protect your rights every step of the way. Let our team review your case, free of charge, and explain your legal options.
Don’t Battle the Trucking Companies and Insurers On Your Own
Trucking companies and their insurers are well-prepared to minimize payouts. They have teams of lawyers, adjusters, and experts working to protect their interests. Unfortunately, this makes it difficult for accident victims to secure the compensation they need without legal representation. Here are some challenges you may face:
- Pressure to accept a quick settlement: Insurers often provide lowball offers to settle quickly, hoping you’ll accept before understanding the full extent of your injuries.
- Recorded statements: Adjusters may ask you to provide a recorded statement, which can later be twisted to minimize your claim.
- Delays and denials: Insurance companies may stall the claims process or deny valid claims outright, hoping you’ll give up.
Our Atlanta truck accident attorneys can help. We understand how overwhelming it can be to deal with insurance companies and trucking corporations after an accident. These entities often use aggressive tactics to minimize payouts, such as delaying claims, pressuring you to settle quickly, or twisting your words in recorded statements.
That’s where we step in. Our attorneys are experienced negotiators who know the strategies insurers use and how to counter them effectively. We take over all communication, ensuring you never have to face their pressure alone.
Our goal is simple: to secure maximum compensation so you can focus on healing.
For a free legal consultation with a truck accident lawyer serving Atlanta, call (980) 246-2656
Protecting Your Rights After the Crash
After you’ve left the scene of a truck accident, protecting your rights becomes a top priority. The actions you take in the days and weeks following the crash can have a significant impact on your ability to recover compensation.
Here’s what you can do to strengthen your case and safeguard your future:
1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Even if you don’t feel injured, it’s essential to see a doctor as soon as possible. Serious injuries like internal bleeding or traumatic brain injuries may not show symptoms right away, but they can worsen over time.
A thorough medical evaluation not only protects your health but also provides critical documentation linking your injuries to the accident. Be sure to follow your doctor’s treatment plan and keep all medical records, prescriptions, and bills to support your claim.
2. Gather and Organize Documentation
While you may have already left the scene, there’s still time to document key details, such as:
- Photographs: If you didn’t take photos at the scene, capture images of your injuries, vehicle damage, and any medical equipment or braces you’re using.
- Accident Details: Write down everything you remember about the crash, including time, location, weather conditions, and the behavior of the truck driver.
- Police Report: Obtain a copy of the police report as soon as it’s available. Review it for accuracy and provide corrections if necessary.
- Witness Information: If you have contact details for witnesses, reach out to confirm their willingness to provide statements.
3. Avoid Social Media
It’s tempting to update friends and family about your recovery, but posting about the accident or your injuries online can harm your case. Insurance companies and opposing lawyers often monitor social media for evidence to downplay or dispute your personal injury claim.
Even an innocent post, like a photo or a check-in at a social event, can be misinterpreted to suggest you’re not as injured as you claim. Stay offline, and if you must communicate about the accident, do so privately.
4. Contact an Attorney Without Delay
The sooner you consult an experienced truck accident attorney, the better your chances of securing a favorable outcome. Trucking companies often have teams working immediately after a crash to protect their interests.
Critical evidence, such as black box data, driver logs, and maintenance records, may be destroyed or lost if not preserved promptly. An attorney can:
- Secure evidence: Request and preserve time-sensitive records, such as surveillance footage and trucking company documents.
- Investigate thoroughly: Work with experts to reconstruct the accident and identify all liable parties.
- Handle insurance companies: Take over all communication to protect you from pressure tactics and lowball offers.
By acting quickly, you’ll give your legal team the time and resources they need to build a strong case. Our commercial truck accident lawyers in Atlanta are here to guide you through every step of the legal process, ensuring your rights are protected and your recovery is prioritized.
Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (980) 246-2656
How Is a Semi-Truck Accident Different From Other Auto Accidents?
Semi-truck accidents are far more complicated and dangerous than standard car accidents, often resulting in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. Because of the potential for devastating consequences, both federal and state laws impose strict regulations on commercial truck drivers.
If you’re injured in a crash involving a semi-truck, it’s essential to work with an attorney who understands trucking laws and has experience handling severe injury cases. Here’s how truck accidents differ from passenger car accidents:
Truck Drivers Are Held to Different Standards
Commercial truck drivers are subject to stringent federal and state regulations that are designed to ensure safety on the road. These rules, enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), are specifically tailored to address the unique risks posed by large commercial vehicles.
These requirements include:
- Rest requirements: Drivers must take mandated breaks and adhere to federally mandated hours of service regulations. These rest periods are designed to prevent driver fatigue, which can lead to accidents.
- Drug and alcohol rules: They must avoid substances, including medications, that impair driving ability.
- Vehicle and load safety: Drivers are responsible for ensuring their trucks are safe to operate and that cargo is secured correctly.
Despite these regulations, trucking companies often pressure drivers to meet tight deadlines, which may lead to violations such as driving beyond allowable hours or skipping safety checks. When such violations occur, they not only breach industry rules but also put countless lives at risk.
Victims Often Suffer Catastrophic Injuries
Smaller vehicles are no match for the size and weight of a semi-truck. As a result, occupants of passenger cars involved in truck accidents are more likely to suffer life-altering injuries, including:
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Amputations
- Severe fractures
These injuries often require lifelong medical treatment, rehabilitation, and support, which can be financially and emotionally overwhelming. An experienced truck accident attorney in Atlanta will fight to ensure you receive the full compensation needed to cover these costs and secure your future.
Multiple Parties May Be Liable
Unlike standard car accidents, where liability usually rests with one driver, truck accidents often involve multiple responsible parties, such as:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The owner of the truck or trailer
- Maintenance providers
- Cargo loaders or shippers
Each party plays a role in ensuring the safety of the truck, and any negligence on their part can contribute to a crash. Identifying all liable parties is critical to maximizing your compensation. Our attorneys have the experience and resources to investigate thoroughly and hold everyone accountable.
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Types of Trucking Accidents
Truck accidents occur in many forms, each presenting unique challenges. Understanding the type of crash is critical to determining liability and building a strong case for compensation. Here are some common types of tractor-trailer accidents:
- Jackknife accidents: These occur when a truck’s trailer swings out of control, forming a sharp angle with the cab and potentially causing multi-vehicle collisions.
- Underride collisions: In these crashes, smaller vehicles slide beneath a truck’s trailer, often leading to life-threatening or fatal injuries for the vehicle occupants.
- Cargo spills: Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can fall onto the road, creating dangerous obstacles or triggering chain-reaction accidents.
- Rear–end collisions: Due to the significant weight of trucks, they require more time and distance to stop. Rear-end collisions are often severe and can result in devastating injuries for occupants of smaller vehicles.
- Rollover accidents: Trucks can roll over if the driver takes a turn too quickly, speeds, or if the cargo is improperly balanced or secured.
Why Investigation Matters
Each type of truck accident requires a detailed and thorough investigation to determine the root cause and identify all liable parties. This is where experienced law firms prove invaluable.
We investigate your case by:
- Working with accident reconstruction specialists
- Reviewing Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations
- Analyzing black box data
- Examining driver logs, maintenance records, and cargo loading procedures
By uncovering the full picture, we can determine whether the crash was caused by driver negligence, improper maintenance, defective equipment, or unsafe practices by the trucking company. This ensures that every responsible party is held accountable, strengthening your case and maximizing your compensation.
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Common Causes of Trucking Accidents
The following are some of the most common categories of truck accident causes:
- Driver error: This category of causes can include driving under the influence, distracted driving, violation of traffic laws, fatigued driving, and other ways of mishandling the truck.
- Negligent hiring: This cause occurs when a company negligently hires a driver who is actually not qualified to drive commercial vehicles. Companies have a duty to thoroughly check out their drivers and may be held liable if they hire unqualified or dangerous truck drivers.
- Truck malfunctions: Trucks have countless parts and pieces of equipment that allow them to haul heavy loads properly and safely. If equipment is defective in either design or assembly, the manufacturing company may be held responsible.
- Maintenance errors: If equipment malfunctions because it has not been properly inspected or maintained, the trucking or maintenance company may be liable.
- Improper cargo loading: Cargo must be loaded and secured in a specific manner to be safe. If cargo is off balance or comes unsecured, it can cause the trailer to sway, veer into other lanes, tip over, or even jackknife, all of which may cause serious accidents.
Evidence in a Commercial Truck Accident Case
Some of the types of evidence that may be helpful in establishing liability include the following:
- Paper or electronic logbook
- Driver’s cell phone records
- Eyewitness statements
- Accident report
- Driving history
- Truck inspection reports
- Testimony from an accident reconstruction expert
- Records of truck repairs
- Photographs of the accident scene
Recovering Compensation After a Trucking Accident
You may be able to receive damages for your medical expenses and lost wages. And if you are facing future medical treatment, those costs and any additional time off from work may also be covered.
However, you may have the right to other types of damages that address the psychological aspect of your injuries. These could include:
- Medical expenses: Covers emergency care, surgeries, physical therapy, and future medical needs
- Lost wages: Compensation for missed work and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering: For physical pain, emotional anguish, and reduced quality of life
- Property damage: Repairs or replacement costs for your vehicle and personal belongings
- Punitive damages: In cases involving gross negligence, such as drunk driving or reckless behavior
Contact an Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Truck accidents can leave you feeling overwhelmed, injured, and unsure of what to do next. Between mounting medical bills, uncooperative insurance companies, and the challenges of recovering physically and emotionally, it’s easy to feel like the odds are stacked against you. But you don’t have to face this alone.
At Shane Smith Law, we have the experience, resources, and dedication needed to take on powerful trucking companies and their insurers. Our team will fight tirelessly to hold every responsible party accountable and secure the compensation you need to rebuild your life.
Whether it’s preserving critical evidence, negotiating with insurers, or connecting you with trusted medical providers, we’ll be by your side every step of the way. Don’t wait—contact us today for a free consultation and let us help you take the first step toward justice. In Pain? Call Shane!
Call or text (980) 246-2656 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
