Holding Big Rig Drivers Responsible for Crashes in Georgia
Commercial trucks cover significant distances and require regular safety checks. The federal government actively regulates the trucking industry to enhance safety and prevent accidents, emphasizing the importance of adherence to guidelines.
Drivers, often working long hours, may experience fatigue, leading to accidents. Factors such as overloading, drug use, alcohol abuse, distraction, and pressure to meet schedules contribute to truck accidents. Unfortunately, these incidents have resulted in numerous fatalities.
Van Sant Law has been serving Georgia as a personal injury law firm since 2003. If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, contact us immediately. Truck crashes can be more severe than car wrecks due to the size and weight of the vehicles.
Why Truck Accident Claims Are More Complex
Truck accident cases differ significantly from standard car accident claims. These cases often involve:
- Multiple Liable Parties: The driver, trucking company, cargo loader, parts manufacturer, or maintenance provider may all share fault.
- Federal Regulations: The trucking industry is governed by rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which affect liability and compliance.
- Corporate Insurance Policies: Trucking companies carry large commercial insurance policies, and their insurers are often aggressive in disputing claims.
- Extensive Evidence: “Black box” data, maintenance records, and driver logs can be critical in proving negligence.
Victims of truck crashes in Atlanta may be entitled to significant compensation. At Van Sant Law, we will pursue every avenue of recovery to secure damages such as:
- Medical Expenses: Hospitalization, surgery, medication, and future treatment costs.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for time missed from work and loss of future earning potential.
- Pain and Suffering: Physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident.
- Property Damage: Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other damaged property.
- Loss of Consortium: Compensation for the impact on your family relationships.
- Punitive Damages: In cases of gross negligence, such as drunk or reckless driving, additional damages may be awarded to punish the wrongdoer.
Our Atlanta truck accident attorneys handle all negotiations with insurance companies and corporate defense teams. We’re not afraid to take your case to court if they refuse to offer a fair settlement.
Federal Trucking Regulations
More than a decade ago, regulations about the number of hours that truck drivers can work were updated. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) made these changes to reduce driver fatigue and prevent accidents.
The schedule requires truck drivers to take a 30-minute break within the first eight hours of driving. On top of the added breaks, a driver’s maximum hours per week was cut down from 82 to 70 hours.
The DOT also added a requirement that when drivers restart their week, meaning move into the next 70-hour period of work, they have to take a 34-hour break once during the week. This regulation is an effort to ensure that they receive a full day and night off and a full night of sleep. The dangers of truck crashes continually lead to changes by the government to help avoid accidents.
David Van Sant, an Atlanta truck accident lawyer from our firm, worked for years defending tractor-trailer companies and motor carriers involved in accidents. Now, we leverage this insight for our clients.
When you retain one of our commercial trucking attorneys, you can be confident you have a strong advocate. We seek just compensation in your case to help you regain your life and property as much as possible.
Gathering Evidence for Your Truck Accident Case
Injuries such as broken bones, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other catastrophic injuries can all result from a violent collision. You may have medical bills, legal battles, an inability to earn wages, and emotional turmoil.
Unfortunately, insurance companies are frequently unwilling to pay proper compensation for injuries and employ various tactics to delay or drastically reduce payments. Insurance and trucking companies will not give you a friendly hand regarding damages due to negligence.
The outcome of a truck accident claim relies heavily on the strength of the evidence presented. Clear, convincing evidence helps prove who was at fault. It enables you to pursue fair compensation for your injuries, property damage, and other losses.
Without sufficient evidence, insurance companies may dispute your claim, reduce your settlement offer, or deny compensation altogether. Thus, gathering as much relevant information as possible to support your claim is critical.
Several types of evidence are necessary to document a truck accident case. Each piece of information plays a role in demonstrating fault and calculating the appropriate compensation for your injuries and damages.
Evidence can include the following:
- Police reports
- Eyewitness statements
- Photos and videos of the accident scene
- Truck driver’s logs and maintenance records
- Data from the truck’s black box or electronic logging device
- Medical records documenting injuries
Gathering the proper evidence in a truck accident case requires a comprehensive approach and attention to detail. Thus, hiring a knowledgeable lawyer to fight on your side is essential.
The Long-Term Impact of Truck Accidents
The injuries resulting from a truck accident can have a profound impact on a victim’s life, often requiring ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes. Many victims face extended recovery periods, with some experiencing permanent disabilities or chronic pain.
The financial burden of medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term care can be overwhelming, making it essential to seek compensation to cover these damages.
What Our Clients Say
Our clients’ feedback is a testament to the level of support and advocacy we strive to provide in each case. At Van Sant Law, we value our clients’ voices and take pride in the positive outcomes we have achieved together.
We consistently receive high ratings for our dedication to client success and meticulous attention to detail. Our founding attorney, David M. Van Sant, is recognized among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Georgia, reflecting the trust our clients place in us. Our team is committed to offering excellent service and ensuring each client’s story is heard and accounted for in our legal pursuits.
We invite you to contact us and experience the support that has made us a respected part of the Atlanta legal community. Whether dealing with truck accidents or other injury claims, we stand ready to assist you.
Contact Our Atlanta Truck Accident Attorneys Today
We use witness statements, driver logs, skid marks, truckload data, and other on-site information to develop an accurate picture of the cause of the collision and responsibility. Mechanical failure can sometimes be traced to the vehicle manufacturer, and the manufacturer could be held accountable.
Whoever is at fault, your truck crash lawyer can fight hard to seek just compensation for the consequences of your accident.
At Van Sant Law, we leave no stone unturned, acknowledging that accountability is crucial in accidents involving diverse types of vehicles, such as box trucks, construction vehicles, delivery trucks, dump trucks, garbage trucks, logging trucks, and tow trucks. We represent injured truck accident victims in your area and throughout the state of Georgia with offices in Atlanta, Alpharetta, Athens, Cumming, Duluth, Lawrenceville, Sandy Springs, and Gainesville.
