Atlanta Semi Truck Accident Lawyer

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Atlanta is one of the biggest major freight trucking hubs around the globe. 85% of the world’s leading third party logistics companies operate in Georgia.

This statistic isn’t just a coincidence, either. 80% of the U.S. market is within a two-hour flight or two day truck drive from Atlanta. All that said, you’re very likely to encounter semi trucks on the road if you plan on driving through the city any time soon.

This increase in traffic does have its downsides, though, like an increase in trucking accidents. If you experience a crash that leads to injuries, then the laws in Georgia can help you get the financial compensation you need to cover your losses. A semi truck accident lawyer can help you leverage these laws to your advantage. Learn everything you need to know to file a successful claim below.

What to Know About Semi Trucks in Atlanta

Were you just involved in a semi truck accident in Georgia today? If so, then it’s important to take a few specific steps to protect your rights. Your best option is to involve the police if property was damaged or someone got injured. Then, be sure to seek out medical care as soon as possible. By taking these steps, you’ll protect your rights in the event you decide to seek out a claim for compensation later.

Before you determine if you can seek out compensation, you’ll need to figure out what caused your trucking accident. Then, you’ll need to determine the extent of your losses. These two factors will help you determine if filing a claim is in your best interests.

Semi Truck Accident Damages

Semi truck accidents usually lead to substantial losses like property damage to your vehicle, medical bills, lost wages, future medical costs, emotional distress, and more. If you experience these types of losses and someone else caused the crash, then you can seek out compensation for those types of economic and non-economic damages through a personal injury claim.

To be eligible for these damages, you’ll need to show that someone else’s negligence caused your accident.

Why Do Atlanta Semi Truck Accidents Happen?

Almost all semi truck accidents are the result of human error. From driver error to failing to perform necessary maintenance on a truck, these seemingly minor errors can lead to a massive collision with substantial losses. Determining what caused your crash is paramount to your claim. In Georgia, courtrooms operate on an at-fault basis, which means the party that caused the crash will also be determined financially liable for the losses that happen as a result of the crash.

Below, we’ll go over a few common causes of semi truck accidents in Atlanta.

Truck Driver Fatigue

Truck drivers are essential to our nation’s economy, but they’re often put under a lot of pressure to make speedy deliveries. Trucking rules and regulations exist to help prevent truckers from overworking themselves, but even with these standards in place, trucks are still often subject to driver fatigue and drowsy driving.

Being a little tired behind the wheel is a lot more serious than you might think. Drowsiness and fatigue cloud our judgment, impair reaction speeds, and make us more vulnerable to getting distracted while driving.

Truck driver fatigue can be difficult to prove, though, so be sure to contact a lawyer if you think drowsiness may have played a role in your recent crash.

Speeding Accidents

Truck drivers might also feel pressured to break traffic laws and speed to improve delivery times. Speeding accidents can lead to more substantial losses depending on how fast the trucker is going at the time of the collision. Since speeding is considered a traffic violation, the driver who was speeding will likely be considered at fault for the accident.

No-Zone Accidents

Semi trucks, delivery cars, garbage trucks, and other bigger vehicles have significant blind spots called “no-zones”. When drivers coast in these blind areas, truckers might forget they are there and be unable to see them. If the trucker signals their intent to move lanes and the driver doesn’t emerge from a blind spot, an accident can happen.

If you get involved in a crash with a commercial car, like a garbage truck, that might have been the result of a no-zone area, then get in touch with a garbage truck accident lawyer for help.

Improper Loading Crashes

Improper loading can lead to an accident when a truck becomes unbalanced during a turn or while driving down the road. These types of tip-over crashes are not only difficult to prove but also difficult to litigate. Ultimately, truck drivers are responsible for securing their loads, but loading companies might also share some fault if they were the ones who improperly secured the cargo. Get in touch with experienced semi truck lawyers if you believe improperly loaded cargo contributed to your crash.

Maintenance-Related Accidents

Accidents can also occur as a result of a failure to properly maintain a vehicle or from a poor maintenance job. When routine maintenance isn’t conducted or when a maintenance job isn’t performed as it should be, crucial components on a truck can fail. As you can imagine, when a tire blows or wires go haywire mid-journey, a truck driver can lose control and wind up in an accident.

If poor maintenance was a factor in your crash, get in touch with semi truck lawyers who can help you prove your claims.

Semi Truck Accident Case Process in Atlanta

Are you currently Googling phrases like, “I was in a semi truck accident in Georgia yesterday. What do I do next?” If so, then look no further. It’s always best to consult one-on-one with a semi truck accident lawyer about what happened to help you determine your next moves, but below, we’ll give you a broad overview of the steps you should take after an accident to initiate a successful claim.

Accident Investigation

First, an investigation into what caused the accident will take place. This investigation will begin immediately once police arrive at the scene of the crash. They’ll note any initial conclusions they draw as well as any evidence they find to support their conclusions in their initial report. A more in-depth investigation may occur at a later stage if different parties want to look deeper into what happened.

Building a Personal Injury Claim

Next, you’ll want to start building up your claim. This will involve documenting all your losses and finding evidence to support your claims. You’ll want to ensure that you include all your losses during this stage of your claim, so if you need help valuing your losses, consider getting in touch with an Atlanta trucking accident lawyer.

Negotiating a Fair Settlement

Once you know how much you’ve lost, you can start to negotiate with the responsible party. This negotiation process could be quick and easy or long and drawn out depending on how solid your case is and whether the other party wants to fight your claims. In most cases, having a DHL truck accident lawyer or another type of specialized attorney by your side can help you finalize your case during this negotiation stage.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

If the other party won’t settle, then you may have to take your case to the next level and officially file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. If you get to this stage of the process and you haven’t hired semi truck lawyers to help yet, then it’s time to get some representation before your day in court.

Talk to an Atlanta Semi Truck Accident Lawyer for Free Today

The process of filing a claim can seem complicated, but the ordeal will be streamlined when you hire the right semi truck accident lawyer. The right local lawyer will have the qualifications, skill, experience, and expertise to ensure that you are fairly and rightfully compensated for your losses.

Here at Singleton Law Firm, we’re prepared to help you identify what caused your crash, value the extent of your losses, collect the evidence and documentation you need to build a strong case, and negotiate with the responsible party. To get started on your claim, schedule a meeting with us today.