Brookhaven Truck Accident Lawyers

Any accident can leave victims injured and broken. But in our experience, truck accidents are the most consequential ones that victims can survive, and many of our clients end up with permanent disabilities. They can’t work; they can’t pay their bills; and they need help.

Call Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys if you were injured in a collision with a large commercial truck, like a garbage truck or semi. We have managed countless truck accident cases, and we’ve developed techniques for maximizing the compensation our clients receive. Our consultations are free, so connect with a Brookhaven, GA truck accident lawyer.

Who’s at Fault for Your Truck Accident?

Motor vehicle wrecks are hard to analyze. No lawyer or insurance adjuster was at the scene, but we need to recreate the accident so we can assign blame. In Georgia, truck accidents are analyzed using fault principles. Once we identify who is at fault, we can submit a claim to them demanding compensation. If a person isn’t to blame, then there’s no legal obligation for them to pay.

Most accidents are the fault of one of the following parties:

• Trucking companies
• Truck drivers
• Mechanics
• Manufacturers
• Loading companies
• Other motorists on the road

When Trucker Distraction is to Blame

Hauling is a difficult job. Many truckers are on the road for weeks at a time and do not see their families. They can easily get distracted, usually because of:

• Cell phones
• Electronic data consoles
• GPS devices
• Passengers in the truck
• Maps
• Accidents on the side of the road
• Billboards and other environmental factors

Distracted truckers fail to see smaller vehicles in their way, and they can run right over them. These override accidents are horrifying, with many lifetime injuries and possibly even death. Federal regulations have tried to eliminate distractions, like smart phones, but too many truckers behind the wheel are not following the law. As a result, many innocent motorists are sent to the hospital with injuries.

Chemical Impairment & Your Accident

Another major cause of accidents is illegal substance use. Truckers can become intoxicated from:

• Alcohol
• Methamphetamines
• Marijuana
• Cocaine

Truckers often use drugs to help them stay awake. Hauling for 10 hours can become monotonous for anyone, and many truckers are fatigued. They might turn to methamphetamines for a jolt of energy. But all drugs have negative side effects, and some cause an energy “crash” after a temporary high. These drugs are illegal for a reason, but many truckers get their hands on them.

A trucking company should give random drug tests throughout, as well as after many accidents. We can request access to these test results to see if a trucker was intoxicated or high when you were hit.

Types of Trucks on The Road

Trucks are a common sight. We see many a day without even realizing it. Any one of these vehicles could smash into you while you are driving along the road or out walking in town.

We can help anyone injured in a crash with a:

• Tractor-trailer or semi-truck
• Fuel truck
• Box truck
• Fed Ex and UPS trucks
• Moving van
• Cement truck
• Dump truck
• Garbage truck

What Should You Do After a Brookhaven Truck Accident?

We stress to clients that they should take the following steps to protect their ability to bring a legal claim:

1.       Call the police out to the accident scene. You need to report motor vehicle accidents and shouldn’t count on the trucker calling. The officer can help gather useful information and should create a traffic accident report.

2.       Obtain personal and insurance information from the trucker, if you can. We realize you might be in agonizing pain and have no choice but to wait for emergency personnel to extricate you from your vehicle. That’s okay. Do as many of these steps as you can.

3.       Take photographs of the accident scene if you can move around. Talk to witnesses, also. Ask for some way to call them or email them later. We might even ask them to stop by our office for questioning.

4.       Get to the hospital to be diagnosed. You should begin your recovery as soon as possible, and you want professional treatment. If you don’t go, then the defendant might claim that you’re to blame for your injuries.

5.        Reach out to our law firm to discuss your accident. We can immediately begin protecting your interests. For example, we can handle all communication and paperwork between you and the defendant’s insurer.

If you follow these steps, we can’t guarantee compensation. But you will have set yourself up for the strongest case possible. Call us today, (404) 529-3476.

Trucking Companies Fight Off Claims Aggressively

Large transportation companies in the southeastern United States are some of the biggest in the nation. They have endless resources at their disposal to help them defeat your claim. It doesn’t matter if the truck driver was to blame. You need an attorney who can gather evidence and prove this fact. You can’t rely on trucking companies to simply cough up a large settlement offer out of the goodness of their hearts. These companies are so profitable because they are willing to fight.

Trucking companies:

• Hire the biggest and most zealous insurance companies to help defend them.
• Have large law firms on speed dial.
• Send private investigators to the accident scene to begin compiling evidence within hours of the wreck.
• Have private investigators follow you around or search your social media profiles for proof you aren’t really hurt.
• Offer extremely low settlements and claim they can’t pay a penny more.
• Force injured victims to file lawsuits because they won’t make a reasonable settlement offer.

We have seen these tactics with our own eyes. Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys can collect evidence for you and negotiate with the defense. We don’t let them drag their feet. Instead, we remind them of their duties under Georgia insurance law to treat all claimants with respect. They know our reputation—and they know we aren’t fooling around.

Is Your Settlement Offer Fair?

Accident victims need financial compensation. Their accidents are expensive, with car damage and medical bills requiring immediate attention. If you break a leg or have a concussion, you might have to miss work. Very few people have thousands of dollars sitting in their bank account. They need income to pay bills.

Helpfully, we can negotiate with the defendant for a settlement. We need to analyze your specific damages to arrive at a number that’s fair:

• Lost income or lost wages. If you can’t work for a stretch, we will request compensation for how much you lost.
• Medical bills. Hold on to all bills and insurance records. The defendant should pay for treatment for your injuries.
• Car repairs and other damaged property. A trucker or trucking company should pay to fix your car.

We also ensure your pain is respected. Truck accidents cause major disabilities and painful injuries, such as amputation, multiple fractures, concussions, and back injuries. Georgia lets accident victims seek financial compensation for this pain.

We can review any proposed settlement and decide if it is fair. If you can’t settle, then we have to take a risk of going to trial.

5 Mistakes to Avoid after a Truck Accident

Our lawyers believe in improving public safety and seeking justice for our clients. There are some mistakes people can make after a crash that end up costing them money. Please avoid these 5 mistakes:

• Mistake #1: You treat a truck accident like a car accident. They’re entirely different. Different evidence. More possible defendants. More regulations and laws. You need a lawyer who can sift through the facts to identify fault and use the law to your advantage.
• Mistake #2: You don’t go to the hospital immediately. Maybe you feel “okay” after a crash. However, your adrenaline might mask serious injuries. Delays in treatment are red flags, and a defendant might allege you are inventing injuries because it took you a week to go to the hospital.
• Mistake #3: You make a statement to the defendant. You should hold off on any type of statement. Typically, they are looking for ways to pin the accident on you. If successful, they can reduce the compensation and possibly leave you with $0.
• Mistake #4: You quickly agree to a settlement. Never agree to anything. Let your lawyer review a proposal. Even verbal agreements are binding. It’s best to call Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys right off for help.
• Mistake #5: You post about your accident on social media. The less you say, the better off you’ll be.

Deadlines for a Truck Accident

Georgia’s statute of limitations (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33) allows you two years to file a lawsuit. The law is meant to spur people to file a lawsuit without waiting around too long. If you do wait, then you can lose the ability to sue, and you’ll receive no compensation.

Call Our Brookhaven, GA Truck Accident Lawyers

We have assisted many clients with personal injury claims based on truck accidents. You can schedule a confidential meeting with a lawyer, for free, by calling (404) 529-3476.