If you got into a truck accident here in Dunwoody, then you might be tempted to represent yourself throughout your legal claim. It is possible to seek out a personal injury claim against the truck driver, trucking company, loading company, trucking manufacturer, or a number of other parties without the help of a Dunwoody truck accident law firm, but doing so will leave you at a huge legal disadvantage. Here are just a few ways that explain why hiring a lawyer is preferable:

• A lawyer will inform you regarding your legal options and determine whether you have a basis to seek a claim based on an initial consultation
• An attorney will save you time
• You’ll maximize your settlement amount
• You can lean on the attorney’s knowledge regarding the law
• You’ll avoid common accident claim mistakes based on your attorney’s advice
• You can strengthen your claim before you present it
• Access to expert witnesses, unique evidence collection techniques, and more

A truck accident in Dunwoody can leave you spinning—our Dunwoody truck accident lawyer steps in to sort out the mess. We’ll figure out if it was a jackknife or some rear-end chaos, then track down who’s to blame, whether it’s the driver or the trucking outfit. Our truck accident attorney Dunwoody, digs into your losses—think medical bills or a wrecked ride—to point you in the right direction. If it’s just a scratch and insurance has you covered, we’ll say skip the hassle. But if someone screwed up, we’re ready to battle for your payout. Hit up our commercial truck lawyer in Dunwoody today for a free chat to get the full picture.

Types of Truck Accidents

There are many different types of trucking accidents that can best be classified based on what caused the crash or the way the accident occurred. Here is a broad overview of some of the most common types of trucking accidents:

• Distracted driving accidents
• Fatigued driving crashes
• Multi-vehicle accidents
• Improperly loaded cargo and rollover accidents
• Speeding crashes
• Tire blowouts
• Rear-end collisions
• Sideswipe accidents
• Head-on accidents
• Fatal crashes

In general, if you experience any one of these types of truck accidents in Georgia, then you’ll want to speak with a truck accident lawyer in Dunwoody. Almost every truck crash causes significant losses. The sooner you start to work with a lawyer, the more solid your claim will be in the long run.

Identifying the type of trucking accident you experienced is important because it will also help to determine who was at fault. Identifying who was at fault is paramount to your claim because the person or party who is mostly at fault will be considered legally liable for the accident.

You might think that assigning fault and liability would be pretty straightforward, but that’s rarely the case. Every single party involved has an incentive to blame someone else. Both your insurance provider and the other party will want to minimize fault on their part and instead attempt to assign at least some blame to you.

For these reasons, it makes the most sense to talk about your truck crash with a truck accident lawyer in Dunwoody. We will be able to help you establish fault by collecting the right evidence to prove your claims while also denying any liability on your part.

Truck accidents happen for many reasons, but all of them are preventable. The negligence of one party almost always is responsible for an accident. In trucking crashes, there are several parties who could potentially be negligent along the way, which later causes or contributes to your accident. Learn more about the most common causes of these types of collisions below.

Driver Negligence

The number one cause of truck accidents is human error. When a driver takes their eyes off the road, even for a few seconds, they can easily cause a crash. Driver negligence comes in many forms, though, and it can be either intentional or unintentional. Here are a few examples of what would be considered driver negligence:

• Distracted driving
• Fatigued driving
• Driving in a way that breaks federal trucking regulations
• Speeding
• Reckless maneuvers
• Tailgating
• Driving in a trucker’s blind spot
• Impaired or intoxicated driving

All of these behaviors might be considered negligence under Georgia law. Negligence is defined as a breach in the legal duty to provide for other motorist’s care. Every driver automatically assumes a legal duty to provide for the care and safety of other motorists when they get behind the wheel.

It’s important to keep in mind that more than one party can be considered negligent after a crash, especially when the trucker was on duty. There also might be more than one cause of the crash. For instance, a driver could have been both distracted and carrying an improperly loaded cargo haul.

Mechanical Malfunction or Defects

While we’d all like to believe that every vehicle is constructed with the utmost care, negligence can occur during the manufacturing process or the maintenance process. Unfortunately, negligence during the construction process can later lead to a mechanical defect that causes a very serious trucking accident. Similarly, bad maintenance or negligent maintenance can also lead to mechanical malfunction or failure at the worst times.

In these situations, it might be possible to seek out compensation from the truck manufacturer or the trucker’s maintenance company.

Poor Road Conditions

One very serious issue that can lead to devastating accidents is poor road conditions. Anyone who has traversed through America’s roadways long enough has encountered bad road conditions. Here are some of the worst ones to encounter:

• Serious potholes
• Missing guardrails
• Cracked pavement
• Collapsing shoulder areas
• Root intrusion
• Loose junk and debris on the road
• Insufficient lighting
• Poor signage
• A lack of road warnings for serious hazards

Depending on where your crash occurred, the roadway may be being maintained by the city, county, or state. The responsibility for roadway maintenance might also be spread out between multiple agencies. If you discover that one of these governmental agencies was responsible for maintaining the road way and poor road conditions caused your crash, then you might be able to seek out some compensation from the city, state, or county. Discuss these types of accidents with a lawyer to learn more about your options.

Weather Conditions

Another common cause of trucking accidents is adverse weather conditions. There are several ways that poor weather can contribute to accidents. Rain, for instance, can make the road slippery and impact a truck’s traction. Black ice can lead to serious slipping and even rollovers. Fog and dark roads can reduce visibility for all drivers.

When poor weather contributes to an accident, it might be harder to get compensation for the crash, since each driver may be considered equally at fault.

Overloaded or Unsecured Cargo

One common reason for trucking accidents is when loading companies are negligent when putting cargo on the trucks. Loading companies need to follow a very specific process when loading trucks. When cargo is misplaced or stacked poorly, a truck can easily tip over when attempting a sharp turn or going through a curve.

A competent truck accident lawyer would help you learn more about your options for financial recovery after your crash. Georgia is an at-fault state when it comes to truck accidents, which means the at-fault party will be held legally and financially liable after a crash.

Services Provided by Our Sandy Springs Truck Accident Attorney

When you initially consult with our attorneys, they’ll want to know more about the truck accident, your losses, and what happened after your crash. Using this key information, they’ll make an initial assessment about whether you have the basis to seek out an insurance claim or a legal claim. You can then use that information to make an informed decision on how to move forward after the accident. Here are a few other things we can do for you:

• Helping you identify your losses
• Valuing your claim
• Documenting your losses
• Finding evidence that proves fault
• Filing the legal paperwork necessary to file a claim
• Negotiating with the other party, insurance companies, or insurance adjusters on your behalf
• Representing your claim in court
• Strengthening your case with experts and witnesses

When you’re facing the aftermath of a truck accident, choosing the right legal representation is crucial. Singleton Law Firm, LLC stands out in Sandy Springs for its dedicated focus on personal injury cases, particularly those involving truck accidents. With over 30 years of experience, our firm has a proven track record of securing substantial settlements and verdicts for our clients.

Attorney Don Singleton brings a personalized approach to each case, ensuring that clients receive the attention and expertise they deserve. Our firm’s commitment to justice is reflected in our meticulous handling of each case, from thorough investigations to aggressive negotiations with insurance companies. We understand the complexities of truck accident claims and are equipped to navigate the legal challenges to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients.

Our local presence in Sandy Springs ensures familiarity with the local courts and legal processes, providing an advantage in your case. Let us help you hold negligent trucking companies accountable and secure the compensation you need to move forward.

Before you even consider hiring a lawyer, your first thought is probably to contact your car insurance company about the accident. After all, the sole purpose of paying into your car insurance policy each month is to be able to rely on them to compensate you when an accident actually happens.

It’s true that your insurance policy could come into play after your accident, but things will likely get complicated fast.

One of the main reasons that your claim will be complex is because your insurance provider might not want to pay out your claim. For one, a trucking accident claim is usually very expensive because your losses are substantial. For another, the trucker or someone else might be at-fault for the crash. In these cases, your insurance company can deny liability and instead ask you to seek out a claim from a different insurance provider.

Types of Insurance Policies Involved in a Truck Accident Claim

Are you wondering what other type of insurance provider could potentially cover your claim? If so, then you’re in good company. Most people only consider their own car insurance policies after an accident and fail to realize that the trucker, the trucking company, and others also have their own insurance policies, too.

For that reason, it’s paramount to identify who was at-fault for the crash. Depending on the situation, the following types of insurance policies could potentially come into play:

• Your own no-fault car insurance policy
• The truck driver’s insurance policy
• A third party and at-fault driver’s insurance policy
• The truck driver’s company’s policy
• The truck manufacturer’s insurance
• The trucker’s loading company’s insurance
• A city or state government’s insurance policy

When you figure out which policy should carry liability in your situation, you’ll want to file a claim with them. It is possible to seek out compensation from multiple insurance policies, but you won’t be able to collect compensation that exceeds what you actually lost.

How to File an Injury Claim with an Insurance Company

So, how do you file an injury claim with an insurance company? Your first step is identifying which insurance policies you’ll be filing claims with. From there, you’ll want to collect all the documentation that proves the extent of your injuries and the medical care you’ve received so far. If you are likely to receive more medical care in the future, then be sure to provide documentation describing the severity of the injury and potential future healthcare costs.

Next, you’ll want to establish negligence by proving that the insured entity was responsible for your tucking accident. Whether that party is the truck driver, the trucking company, or someone else, you need to show that they failed to uphold their duty to provide for your care.

After you’ve compiled your case, you’ll file the official paperwork and serve a notice of the claim to the insurance provider. You’ll hear back from the insurer who will then begin to discuss your case with you.

Tips for Negotiating an Accident Settlement with an Insurance Company

At this point, you’ll be expected to be able to negotiate a good settlement with the insurance company. For this reason, it’s crucial that you compiled a strong case that outlines your losses already. If you didn’t, then the other party will have the upper hand. If you do have a strong case that documents your losses, then you’ll be in a better position to ask for more.

Negotiating with the insurance provider will be no easy task. If your trucking accident happened here in Sandy Springs or a surrounding city, then we recommend hiring a local truck accident attorney who can help field the negotiations for you. Otherwise, it will be up to you to push against the insurance adjuster’s claims. If you are not able to push the insurance company to pay you what you deserve, then you can’t be afraid to take legal action and file a lawsuit instead.

What to Do When Your Losses Exceed Your Policy Limits

Sometimes, negotiations won’t fall through, but you still won’t be able to negotiate a settlement amount that matches your losses. This can happen due to the insured’s policy limits or for other reasons. When that’s the case, it becomes even more crucial to talk to a Sandy Springs truck accident lawyer about your situation. An attorney can help you determine whether a lawsuit is appropriate.

Both DHL and other truck accidents usually result in serious injuries, and unfortunately, that’s not the end of an injured person’s losses. More often, the injured person experiences a whole host of losses. By filing a claim, you should be able to recover damages in the form of:

• Medical costs (current and future)
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Lost career opportunities
• Pain and suffering

You’ll have to prove and document each loss that you want to seek recovery for, though. If you need more help determining how to prove your losses, then your best bet is to consult with a Sandy Springs truck accident attorney. While a lawyer can give you a clearer view of what documentation to collect, we’ll go over a brief overview of the types of evidence you’ll want to collect below.

Gathering Evidence for a DHL Truck Accident Claim

While you may know how much you’ve lost after your truck accident, you’ll have to prove and document each loss in order to receive compensation for it. Unfortunately, this is a lot easier said than done, especially when it comes to non-economic damages like pain and suffering. The best way to determine how to value and prove each claim is to speak with a Sandy Springs truck accident lawyer. In general, though, you’ll want to collect evidence like medical bills, any medical diagnosis papers, a letter from your employer regarding how much work you’ve lost, and pay stubs that prove your average wages prior to the accident.

If you’ve ever paid attention, then you’ve likely noticed DHL trucks operating on the roadways before. DHL is a global logistics company that specializes in international shipping, transportation, and courier services. Since they often transport cargo in trucks, trucking accidents sometimes involves dealing with DHL’s legal team.

Since DHL is such a large company, their lawyers and insurance adjusters know how to minimize injury claims. If you experienced your accident in Georgia, then it makes the most sense to hire a Sandy Springs truck accident lawyer to help level the playing field.

Common Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents

Trucking accidents happen for many reasons, and it’s absolutely necessary that you identify what caused your crash. This factor will determine your legal options for recovery. If you have questions about how to determine what caused your accident or you want to dispute the official police report’s designation of fault, then your best option is to speak with a truck accident lawyer in Sandy Springs.

Driver Negligence

The number one cause of trucking accidents is driver negligence. Under the law, negligence is defined as a breach of one’s legal duty to provide for the care of someone else. In Sandy Springs, everyone who gets behind the wheel automatically assumes a legal duty to provide for the care of other motorists and pedestrians. Here are a few examples of driver negligence:

• Distracted driving
• Texting while driving
• Fatigued driving
• Eating, drinking, smoking, or listening to music while driving
• Intoxication
• Reckless driving
• Speeding

When a truck driver’s negligence caused an accident, liability may fall directly on their shoulders, their insurance provider’s policy, or on the company who hired the truck driver.

Adverse Weather

Another common cause of trucking accidents is adverse weather. Since truckers are expected to still transport cargo despite the weather, it’s inevitable that they will go through rain, snow, ice, lightning, and even worse storms over the years. Adverse weather can impact every driver’s ability to see, their traction on the road, and more.

Mechanical Failure

Trucks can also experience accidents when they have mechanical failure while on the road. If a defective part caused the crash, then it might be possible to seek out a claim against the truck part’s manufacturer.

Poor Maintenance or Maintenance Failure

Truckers should regularly maintain their vehicles to ensure they are safe. If a trucker has been negligent in keeping up with the truck, then that can lead to tire blowouts, multi-vehicle collisions, and more. Similarly, if the maintenance company performed poor or faulty procedures that cause an accident, then they might also share liability for the losses.

Poorly Maintained Roads

Some truck accidents are the direct result of poorly maintained roads. When a state or city owned road has serious potholes, cracks, or other dangerous hazards, you might be able to seek out a claim against the governmental agency.

If you plan on seeking out this type of claim in our state, then you should speak with a truck accident attorney in Sandy Springs, GA. The government will do their best to avoid accountability and financial liability.

Improperly Loaded Cargo

Truckers are often carrying very heavy loads. This cargo is often loaded by a third party, and it’s important that specific protocols are followed. An unbalanced load can cause a truck to tip over when they go around a curve or turn.