A truck accident can change your life forever. If you suffered serious injuries in a crash with an 18-wheeler, tanker truck, semi-truck, or another commercial vehicle, you deserve accountability and compensation.
At The George McCranie Law Firm, we know that truck accidents require a different level of knowledge, sophistication, and attention to detail than your average car crash. Learn more about how a truck accident lawyer can help you maximize your chances of obtaining a fair settlement for your injuries.
Why Are Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
An 18-wheeler can weigh 30 times more than the average passenger vehicle. This means that even under the best of circumstances, a big rig needs much longer stopping distances and is less agile than your car or pickup. However, size is not the only factor that makes big trucks more dangerous.
Many trucking companies operate under narrow profit margins. To make money, some of them cut corners and ignore rules that aim to keep us safe. They may include ignoring maintenance issues, pushing drivers to drive longer than they should, and encouraging other reckless behaviors. When a truck’s brakes, tires, and other systems aren’t working properly, there’s an increased likelihood that it will crash.
Adding drowsy or distracted driving to the mix makes things even more dangerous. Fatigue is one of the biggest causes for truck accidents in Georgia. Because many truck drivers are paid by the mile, there is an incentive to drive as many miles as possible — even when the driver is exhausted, ill, or otherwise unfit to operate a vehicle. Unfortunately, studies suggest that drowsy driving can lead to the same kinds of accidents as drunk driving, exponentially increasing the likelihood of a crash.
Finally, many of the trucks passing through Georgia are carrying hazardous materials, such as chemicals, natural gas, and oil. When one of these trucks collides with another vehicle, caustic and combustive chemicals may be released, leading to catastrophic injuries.
Federal Laws Regulate Trucking Companies and Drivers
In addition to Georgia’s motor vehicle laws, most commercial trucks must also comply with an array of federal safety regulations. These include:
- Limiting the number of hours a truck driver can work, sometimes called the “hours of service” rules
- Logging each driver’s hours on the road and a truck’s maintenance and inspection schedule
- Weight limits that limit how much cargo a truck can carry
- Passing Department of Transportation medical exams and drug tests
- Carrying significantly more liability insurance than the average motor vehicle
These rules, and many more, aim to keep everyone safe on the road. When truck drivers and trucking companies ignore or circumvent these rules, an experienced truck accident lawyer will use their violations against them. However, you need to act quickly if you want to identify and document a regulatory violation — companies do not have to keep their logbooks and other records forever. If your truck accident lawyer does not preserve these documents early on, they may be lost forever. At The George McCranie Law Firm we know to act quickly to preserve these records.
Who Is Financially Responsible for a Truck Accident?
Every truck accident is unique, and your case deserves a personalized analysis from an experienced truck accident lawyer. Several parties may be financially liable for your injuries after a wreck:
- Truck drivers
- Trucking companies
- Companies that load or pack cargo
- Manufacturers that make and distribute defective trucks and truck parts
- Mechanics that improperly maintain big rigs and other commercial vehicles
- Bars and restaurants that knowingly over serve alcohol to truck drivers
When you work with The George McCranie Law Firm, we will do our best to carefully investigate your claim and identify exactly who was at fault for your injuries.
We take a sophisticated approach to truck wreck litigation — interviewing witnesses, studying crash reports, and analyzing the complex systems that track a modern 18-wheeler’s speed, location, and other factors. This attention to detail can make a world of difference in a truck injury claim, and we believe that everyone who contributed to your injuries must be held accountable.
What Is My Truck Accident Claim Worth?
You should never rely on a website to get an accurate estimate of your injury claim’s value. When we evaluate a claim at The George McCranie Law Firm we consider a multitude of factors:
- Circumstances surrounding your crash
- Severity of your injuries
- Your ability to return to work
- How much treatment you will require over your lifetime
- Extent of your pain and suffering
- How many parties contributed to the accident
- At-fault parties’ insurance policy limits
That’s why we believe that truck accident victims deserve a personalized analysis of their claims. At The George McCranie Law Firm we will be more than happy to meet with you, listen to your story, and help you understand the strength and value of your case.
Depending on the nature of your case, you may be eligible for economic damages, such as the coverage of your medical bills and lost income, pain and suffering, and even punitive damages. However, you must act quickly to protect your claim. Trucking companies aggressively defend themselves, and delays can result in lost evidence and missed filing deadlines.
Schedule a Consultation With The George McCranie Law Firm Today
We know how stressful it can be to seek fair compensation for your damages while you are still recovering from your injuries. At The George McCranie Law Firm, our personal injury team has built a reputation for aggressive legal tactics and dedication to our clients. If you would like a free, no-risk consultation, contact our office today!
