Duluth Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck accidents tend to be some of the most dramatic accidents on the road. Large commercial vehicles like tractor-trailers or moving vans weigh several tons, and they can smash and destroy smaller, lighter passenger sedans and SUVs. If you were hurt in an accident, you probably are grappling with pain and emotional distress. These are also expensive accidents. Many of our clients cannot afford medical care or other bills, especially if they must stop working until they recover.

At Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys, we have substantial experience in all phases of truck accident litigation. Our team has held truckers and trucking companies accountable for these accidents. Contact us today by calling (404) 529-3476. We can answer your questions in a free consultation.

Painful and Expensive Injuries

Large trucks will crush smaller vehicles, even at low speeds. We have helped clients injured by semi-trucks, fuel trucks, box trucks, U-hauls, and moving vans. Occupants of smaller vehicles are usually severely injured:

• Head injuries, including hemorrhage, concussion, traumatic brain injury, and permanent brain damage.
• Neck injuries, such as cervical fracture and whiplash.
• Back injuries, including herniated disc, spinal stenosis, fractures, and paralysis.
• Fractures of the arms, legs, ribs, and spine, including compound fractures.
• Amputation, crush injuries, and other catastrophic injuries.

Many victims are immediately transported to the hospital for surgery or admission to the ICU. Serious injuries often require long recovery times, and your doctor could recommend physical therapy and other rehabilitation. You should follow a doctor’s treatment plan as closely as possible.

Major Causes of Truck Accidents

Trucks are so large and heavy, they represent a real threat to everyone else on the road. What causes these major collisions? And is there anything you can do to reduce the risk of a wreck?

According to studies, most truck accidents are caused by:

• Fatigue. A tired trucker is more at risk of causing an accident because their reflexes are delayed and they are not thinking clearly. A fatigued trucker could easily nod off due to how monotonous the job has become.
• Speeding. Trucks take longer to come to a complete stop because of their weight. Unfortunately, speeding also reduces the amount of time a trucker has to avoid a collision. Many truckers are facing tight deadlines, and they drive over the speed limit to get there.
• Distraction. Truckers face ample distractions behind the wheel. Cell phones, electronic devices, and food are some of the most serious. When truckers are distracted, they might never notice traffic is stopped up ahead, or they don’t see the car which has scooted out in front of them.
• Chemical impairment/intoxication. Truckers use a variety of drugs to help them get through their shifts. Some include marijuana, cocaine, or methamphetamine. Some of these drugs impair a trucker’s performance, whereas others cause increased fatigue after an artificial high.
• Reckless driving. Some truckers take dangerous actions behind the wheel. They might tailgate, make illegal turns and lane changes, or pull into a crowd.

To protect yourself, remember to follow all traffic laws. You also need to know that semi-trucks have bigger blind spots on all four sides than smaller vehicles. Don’t “hang out” in a blind spot on the freeway. Instead, pass quickly and use your horn to alert a trucker to your position. It is always best to drive defensively around a big truck.

Analyzing Fault for a Truck Accident in Duluth, Georgia

Our clients often struggle with terrifying injuries after a crash. Their own cars could be totaled, and they might have back injuries, concussions, and crush injuries.

We need to identify fault for your accident to determine your legal rights. Georgia allows accident victims to seek compensation when someone else is to blame for their collision.

In our experience, we might hold the following accountable:

• Truckers: a negligent or reckless trucker could precipitate an accident.
• Trucking companies: a company could fail to keep their trucks maintained, or they might be automatically liable if their employee hurt you while working.
• Mechanics and body shops: A mechanic could perform careless repairs or overlook a problem on a truck. They are liable when their negligence leads to an accident.
• Freight companies: The company that loaded the freight could have done so in a hazardous manner. Unbalanced loads lead to rollovers and jackknifes.
• Truck manufacturers: A truck could have a defect as soon as it rolls off the lot. The manufacturer is liable if this defect contributes to a crash.

Georgia law recognizes contributory fault. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, you can seek compensation if you are less than 50% at fault. If you are more, then you can’t sue at all.

Compensation & Your Duluth, GA Truck Accident

We request various damages for our clients. These damages are a mix of specific, economic losses and more general, non-economic injuries. Our firm has deep experience in truck accidents, so we know how much similar victims have received from these trucking companies and their insurers.

For example, we can request financial compensation for:

• Your medical care, including any expected future care like future surgeries.
• Lost wages and income, including diminished future earnings due to disability.
• Pain and suffering, which includes bodily pain and discomfort.
• Mental anguish and/or emotional distress, such as depression or anxiety.
• Damage to your vehicle and other property.
• Injuries to your marital relationship, including loss of consortium.
• Wrongful death damages, if a loved one died in the crash.

How much can you receive? Probably much more than the defendant wants to pay. In fact, we have had success negotiating with defendants to increase the size of a proposed settlement. And we are never afraid to litigate all the way to trial, if necessary, to protect your legal rights.

We Stand Up to Trucking Companies

Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys is the right firm to call after a truck accident. Our legal team has taken on some of the most powerful trucking companies in Georgia and the southeastern United States. Our team is not afraid of these powerful companies, and we have honed techniques for negotiating with them.

The reality is trucking companies begin defending these cases immediately. As soon as you crash, they will have investigators rushing to the scene to begin gathering evidence. You might be waiting in agony for an ambulance while investigators are photographing the vehicles, talking to witnesses, and inspecting the truck.

You need a passionate advocate who is looking out for you. A Duluth, GA truck accident attorney at our firm can review any evidence found at the scene. We can also perform our own investigations. We might look for:

• Witnesses who observed the crash
• Any video from nearby businesses that captured the accident
• Evidence still at the accident scene which is useful
• Previous accidents involving the trucking company and/or trucker involved in your crash

We can also tell the trucking company to preserve and copy records for our inspection. For example, trucking companies are supposed to administer drug tests after many accidents, and we can ask to see the results. If the trucker was high or drunk, we can use that evidence in your case to prove liability and maybe punitive damages.

Why You Need a Duluth, Georgia Truck Accident Lawyer

Even if you’ve negotiated a car accident claim, you should hire one of our attorneys for your truck accident case. We can jump in and help with:

• Evidence collection
• Communication with insurance adjusters
• Analysis of the settlement value of your injuries
• Negotiation with defendants
• Litigation
• Compliance with deadlines and other obligations

Truck accident cases are vastly different from everyday motor vehicle wrecks. You are likely more injured, which means your claim is worth more. As a result, many defendants will vigorously defend themselves because they know more is at stake. They might also try to blame you for the crash.

Truck accident cases rely on evidence that’s harder to find than the usual car crash. The trucking company might have employee records, toxicology results, and other information at their office which could serve as the foundation of a legal claim. Our firm can request access to this information. We can also demand access to information downloaded to the truck’s “black box.”

Evidence has a way of disappearing. You should do everything possible to call a law firm as soon as you can. Our truck accident lawyers can talk about your case over the phone or meet at a convenient location.

Get the Help of a Duluth, GA Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Truck collisions are life changing events. Accident victims often suffer from long-lasting pain, inconvenience, and emotional distress. Add on top of that lost income and escalating medical bills. Many victims are struggling.

Contact Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys for help with your case. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to accident victims to review their memories of the collision. We’ll talk about your injuries and your prognosis. If you hire us, we can immediately work on your case to seek full compensation for bodily and psychological injuries. Call as soon as possible, (404) 529-3476, or submit your contact details online.