Truck Accident Attorney in Stone Mountain

A semitruck is about 15 times the size of a regular passenger car, and if you drive on Georgia’s highways, you know that the state has no shortage of them. It doesn’t take much knowledge of physics to know that if a larger vehicle hits you, you and your car will bear the brunt of the damage.

Truck accidents can result in devastating injuries and even death. When you’re injured in an accident with a truck, you may have to endure multiple doctor’s appointments and painful physical therapy. You might also have to take medications that are addictive, damaging to the liver, or both. A collision with a truck can also leave you permanently disabled. If you lose a loved one in such an accident, you may be emotionally devastated and in a state of financial distress. A truck accident attorney in Stone Mountain, GA, at our law firm will work diligently to make sure you get the money you need to pay your bills and move forward with your life.

Insurance in Georgia

There are two primary types of insurance laws in the United States: at-fault and no-fault. In an at-fault state, the person responsible for the accident is also responsible for its associated bills. In a no-fault state, a driver’s own insurance company will pay their bills no matter who’s at fault. Georgia is an at-fault state. If the driver who hit you is more than 50% responsible for an accident, they’ll be responsible for paying the bills associated with the crash. If you’re hit by a truck and the truck driver was at fault, their insurance company should pay your bills. If your bills exceed the amount for which you’re covered, you should be able to sue the trucker or the company they work for. If you’ve been permanently disabled or disfigured, you can sue for pain and suffering. Some of the damages you may be eligible to pursue include:

Loss of current and future income
Loss of quality of life
Loss of consortium
Disruption of daily activities
Pain and suffering

A qualified truck accident lawyer in Stone Mountain can help you build your case and improve your chances of being awarded the compensation you deserve.

Can I sue a trucking company?

Trucking accidents are a bit different than accidents with non-commercial vehicles, as truckers may be held to a higher standard, and the company they work for is often considered to be responsible for their actions. Suing the trucking company can be worthwhile if you can prove that it was negligent in its practices. There are a few reasons these companies may be considered negligent.

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They didn’t ensure that the employee was qualified

Georgia, like all other states, has certain criteria for qualifying as a professional truck driver. There are also certain interstate laws that truck drivers must follow. According to these laws, trucking companies are obligated to hire qualified drivers. To do this, they must have a means of checking a driver’s background, training, and licensing. A commercial driver in Georgia must have a commercial driver's license and pass an annual physical exam. They aren’t allowed to use radar detectors and must have regular drug tests.

They didn’t provide training

Although a trucker may have a commercial driver's license and pass all the necessary background checks, they still need to receive specialized training from their company. Different types of hauls require different safety measures. Trucking companies must ensure that their drivers are trained in all the specific details of their vehicles and the safest way to load their cargo. If a company fails to train a driver properly and that driver causes an accident, the company may be held responsible.

They overworked the driver

Federal law limits the number of hours a commercial driver can be on the road. Long-haul drivers in the Peach State cannot work more than 60–70 hours a week, while short-haul drivers can drive no more than 11 hours a day. Fatigue causes many accidents. If a trucking company overworks a driver and that driver hurts you, a truck accident attorney in Stone Mountain can help you file a lawsuit against them.

Poor maintenance practices

Commercial vehicles include buses, trucks, and anything that’s used to transport hazardous materials. Any company that operates these vehicles must make sure they’re in good working order. They must inspect the components of their vehicles daily and get an annual certification.

Common types of truck accidents

A truck can get into many of the same accidents a car can. However, they’re more vulnerable to rollover accidents, which can damage multiple cars at once and cause a chain of collisions on the highway. Trucks can also have underride accidents, which occur when a small vehicle rear-ends a truck and ends up underneath it.

Why you should hire us

Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass has a team of trained personal injury professionals who are well-versed in trucking and insurance laws. We can negotiate with the insurance companies for you and represent you in court if it becomes necessary. Give us a call today to arrange a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer in Stone Mountain, GA.