Fuel trucks are highly visible in Atlanta. These vehicles have long, cylinder-shaped tanks which are designed to carry fuel. Also called “tanker trucks,” these vehicles pull up to gas stations, businesses, and even homes to deliver various fuels, including gasoline and propane.
Like other vehicles, fuel trucks can get into collisions on the road. Motorists or even pedestrians can be badly hurt when they collide with a heavy fuel truck. They can end up in the hospital with life-threatening injuries, not to mention intense pain. Contact Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Lawyers if you have any questions about what steps to take after an accident with a fuel truck. Our Atlanta truck accident lawyers can meet at a convenient time and place to discuss whether you can file an injury claim.
Fuel Truck Collision Injuries
Because of their size, fuel trucks can seriously damage smaller vehicles and cause painful bodily injuries:
- Fractures
- Concussions
- Crush injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal column damage
If the tanker is full, then the tank could be punctured and spill fuel all over the road. When ignited, fuel can lead to:
- Second- and third-degree burns
- Smoke inhalation
- Amputations
- Death
Contact our truck accident attorneys if you were hurt or if you lost a loved one in any type of accident with a tanker truck. We will need to gather evidence to use in a personal injury claim.
Who is to Blame for Your Accident?
Under Georgia law, an accident victim can seek financial compensation if they can show someone is at fault for the accident. Georgia follows a modified comparative fault rule, and you can’t receive compensation if you are at least 50% to blame for the accident.
We can bring a negligence claim against the trucker if we can show their carelessness led to the wreck:
- Failing to check a blind spot
- Driving too fast
- Tailgating
- Refusing to yield
- Changing lanes illegally
- Texting and driving
- Driving while distracted
- Drowsy driving
- Intoxication or chemical impairment
In most cases, the trucker’s employer will also be legally liable for any accident their employee causes. That helps us, because employers have deeper pockets to pay a settlement.
The trucker isn’t always to blame. A defect could render the vehicle unmanageable. For example, the brakes could fail and there is nothing a trucker can do. In that situation, the trucking company alone might have fault or blame could lie with a mechanic or the truck manufacturer.
Let us investigate. We carefully work through all pieces of evidence to understand how the accident unfolded. We can speak to witnesses as well as listen to what you remember. We might also go to inspect the truck involved or even look for surveillance video that recorded the incident. Trucks often contain data, which we can request.
Damages for an Accident with a Tanker Truck
These collisions are dramatic, with the weight of the truck completely destroying a smaller vehicle. An override might permanently damage the frame, so you can’t salvage it.
Car repairs are only some of the damages our clients suffer. You will also likely need expensive medical care for serious injuries, which might leave you sidelined for months. Serious burns often require multiple surgeries to loosen skin contractures. Victims might also need a wheelchair, as well as modifications to their home, like the installation of a ramp.
We seek financial compensation for:
- Bodily pain and limitations
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Property damage, including car damage
- Medical bills related to your injuries
- Rehabilitation or future medical care, including future surgeries
- Lost income when you can’t work
Our goal is to obtain a fair settlement after a wreck. Fuel companies should have liability coverage, and we can submit an injury claim on the policy. Call our firm today so we can begin preparations for negotiations.
How a Lawyer Will Bolster Your Case
You might think it’s easy to obtain compensation in a personal injury claim. In our experience, however, fuel companies defend themselves aggressively. We have found that most victims, struggling with pain, cannot do all the work necessary to bring a winning case. You’ll benefit from our help.
At Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys, we can:
- Fully document your injuries. You need to prove how much you have lost in the accident. We will help you document bodily pain and emotional distress.
- Coordinate with insurance companies and fuel companies. They will request information and paperwork before we can get down to negotiating. You should not be bothered with finding information—let us handle it.
- Negotiate with the fuel company (or other defendants). Ideally, each side will reach an agreement with minimal conflict. We have negotiated thousands of personal injury settlements and know that each case follows its own path. The biggest advantage to hiring a lawyer is that we can help you avoid settling for too little. We know how much your injuries are worth, and we hold the other side accountable
- Minimize your share of fault. You will not be successful unless your share of liability is less than 50%. We analyze a case from top to bottom so we can confidently downplay any negligence on your part. For example, you might have been texting at the moment of the collision, which we can minimize.
An Affordable Law Firm
Fuel truck collisions are among the most expensive accidents. Your car damage alone could total more than $30,000. Many injured victims are afraid they can’t afford a lawyer because of the cost.
Reach out today. Our firm will represent you on a contingency fee agreement. You won’t need to pay legal fees unless we win your personal injury case. These agreements remove the risk from you, the client, and put it on our shoulders.
Call to Speak with a Truck Accident Lawyer
Accidents upend lives. Take control by speaking to an experienced personal injury attorney at Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Lawyers. Our firm has the experience Georgia residents need following a serious fuel truck accident. You can reach our firm by calling or submitting information online.