A trucking company answers to federal rules most drivers have never heard of. We know exactly which ones they broke.
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Truck Accident Overview
The Federal Rules That Govern Every Commercial Truck on I-285
Commercial truck drivers don't just answer to Georgia traffic law; they operate under a detailed federal framework enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Under FMCSA's Hours of Service rules, most drivers can drive a maximum of 11 hours within a 14-hour window after 10 consecutive hours off duty, must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving, and are capped at 60 hours over 7 days or 70 hours over 8 days.
Electronic logging devices track this automatically, which means the data usually exists somewhere, even when a driver's own account of the day doesn't add up. A violation of these rules doesn't just mean a fine for the driver. It can serve as powerful evidence of negligence in a civil case, especially when fatigue played any role in the crash. If you or someone you love was hurt in a truck accident, the truck accident attorneys in Atlanta at Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass know exactly which records to request to find out whether those federal rules were followed.
Why Choose Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass
Truck accident cases involve a level of regulatory complexity that an ordinary car accident claim simply doesn't have.
We Move Fast to Preserve Evidence That Disappears
Our truck accident lawyers in Atlanta send preservation demands for black box and ELD data, dash cam footage, and driver logs as early as possible, since trucking companies aren't required to hold onto this information indefinitely.
We Prepare Every Case as Though It's Going to Trial
Trucking companies and their insurers negotiate very differently once they understand a firm is genuinely prepared to take a case in front of a jury.
The People Who Actually Pay the Price in These Crashes
Truck accidents don't put the truck's occupants at the greatest risk; they put everyone else on the road at risk. According to NHTSA, 5,340 people died in crashes involving large trucks nationwide in 2024, and 62 percent of them were occupants of passenger vehicles, compared to just 17 percent who were occupants of the truck itself.
That imbalance reflects simple physics. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, dozens of times more than the average car, and the disparity in that collision is rarely close to even.
Our Roster of Attorneys The Trial Team Insurance Companies Don’t Want on Your Case
Common Types of Truck Accidents
- Jackknife accidents, where the trailer swings out from the cab
- Underride accidents, where a smaller vehicle slides beneath the truck's trailer
- Rollover accidents, often tied to speed or improper loading
- Wide-turn accidents involving a truck's larger turning radius
- Rear-end collisions caused by a truck's longer stopping distance
Frequently Asked Questions Truck Accident Attorneys in Atlanta
How do you actually prove the driver violated Hours of Service rules?
Through electronic logging device data, which most commercial trucks are required to maintain, along with dispatch records, fuel receipts, and toll records that can corroborate or contradict a driver's logged hours.
Can I sue the trucking company, or just the driver?
Often both. Trucking companies can be liable for an employee driver's negligence and for their own failures in hiring, training, or maintaining the vehicle.
What if evidence like black box data gets deleted before I contact a lawyer?
That's exactly why speed matters. An attorney can send a legal preservation demand quickly, but once that data is gone, it's often gone for good.
Do I have to pay anything up front?
No. Truck accident cases at Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass are handled on a contingency fee basis, so there's no cost to begin, and we only get paid from a successful recovery.
