Fulton Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck accidents are unlike other collisions on the road. Immediately after a crash, the trucking company sends out investigators to begin gathering evidence to use in their defense. While injured victims are loaded into an ambulance, the trucking company is already building a case against you. They also hire some of the biggest law firms in the southeastern United States to defend them.

Accident victims face many challenges on the road to recovery. You need a seasoned, committed lawyer on your team who knows how to negotiate a favorable settlement. These accidents change lives. In addition to pain and possible disability, many victims are suffocating from medical bills. But you can immediately improve your chances of receiving a settlement by calling Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys today. A Fulton, GA truck accident lawyer with our firm can meet with you for a case evaluation at no cost. Call (404) 529-3476.

Truck Accident Medical Expenses

Large truck can badly injure any passenger in a vehicle which gets in its way. Many of our clients end up with serious injuries with long-lasting impacts. Some medical expenses include:

• Diagnostic tests and doctor’s visits
• Surgery
• Post-surgery care, including nights in the hospital
• Emergency room care
• Prescription medication
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy

One question victims ask is how they are supposed to pay for these expenses. Initially, you will probably use your health insurance, but we can seek financial compensation in a personal injury claim. Call to speak with a Fulton, GA truck accident attorney today.

Income Loss & Other Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Truck accident injuries are so serious many people must miss work. The pain makes it hard for people to sit up or stand for any length of time. So many of our clients are struggling with traumatic brain injuries, neck pain, and back injuries. They have no choice but to stay at home and rest up before returning to work. Unfortunately, they lose out on months of income.

We can request compensation for your lost income and other expenses, like car repairs. Reach out to an attorney for help documenting these expenses.

The good news is that even self-employed and gig workers can request lost wages or income. We can review your bank statements and other evidence to establish how much you would have earned.

Why Do Truck Accidents Happen?

Large trucks are essential to the Georgia economy. Tractor-trailers haul goods, and dump trucks carry material to and from construction sites. Other large trucks transport fuel, cement, furniture, and other consumer goods.

These vehicles collide for many reasons:

• Trucker error. The person behind the wheel could be exhausted and make a lapse in judgment. Speeding, unsafe lane changes, and tailgating are common reasons for accidents. Truckers can also make mistakes because they are intoxicated or distracted by electronic devices.
• Truck defect. When a critical part malfunctions, an accident is unavoidable. Brake failure is a leading cause of truck accidents.
• Cargo shifts. The cargo in the back might move out of balance, causing the vehicle’s center of gravity to shift. A rollover can result.
• Overweight trucks. The law limits the amount of cargo a truck can transport. Heavier trucks require more distance and time to stop, but some companies overload their vehicles to save money.
• Poor weather. Snow and ice reduce traction and can send vehicles off the road or into oncoming traffic.

Each accident is unique. A lawyer at our firm can delve into the facts of your case to identify the real cause of a crash.

The Trucking Company’s Role in a Case

We don’t always sue a trucking company, but the odds are high they’ll be one of the defendants. They can have liability because they did not keep their trucks in good working condition or because they failed to properly supervise or hire a trucker.

A trucking company is also liable for most employee accidents. That’s an automatic rule in Georgia, called “vicarious Liability.”

For example, a careless trucker might have crashed into you because they were texting and driving (which is illegal). Because the trucker was negligent, their boss will need to pay compensation to any victims.

Trucking companies are aggressive when defending themselves. They hire the biggest law firms to defend them and have powerful insurance companies in their corner. They know most victims need financial compensation to cover their bills, but they are willing to play hardball. You absolutely should never try to negotiate a settlement on your own. Call Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys for a free consultation.

How to Identify Responsibility for Your Truck Accident

Truck accidents happen in the blink of an eye. When the dust settles, people are in so much pain they can’t think straight, and most aren’t sure why the accident happened.

Our legal team can swing into action to begin compiling evidence about the accident:

• Photographs of the accident scene
• Witness testimony about what they saw
• Electronic data from the trucks’ black box
• Statements made by the trucker about what happened in the build up to the accident
• Chemical test results if the trucker was suspected of intoxication
• Cell phone records

We can review all this evidence to reach a conclusion about fault. Ideally, truckers would just confess when they were speeding or illegally using a cell phone while driving. Unfortunately, they rarely admit fault, so it’s up to your legal team to compile evidence to recreate the accident.

Compensation for a Truck Accident in Fulton, GA

We receive many questions at our firm, but the most common involve compensation. “How much money can I receive after a truck accident?” The answer is complicated.

First, we’ll add up your specific damages for things like:

• The cost of your medical treatment;
• The amount of income or wages you lost because you couldn’t work;
• Damage to your vehicle and other property;
• Any other direct financial loss tied to the accident.

If you suffered permanent disabilities, we’ll also need to estimate the cost of future medical treatment, like ongoing help at home, as well as loss of earning capacity. You might need to reduce your hours to part-time due to lingering disabilities, or you might be forced into a lower-paying job.

Next, we estimate what is a fair amount of money for general damages to cover pain, depression, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, and bodily suffering. This isn’t a science, but we rely on our experience negotiating truck accident settlements to settle on a fair number.

Should You Call Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys?

Yes! We have the resources to handle even complex truck accident cases and negotiate on your behalf. Other firms handle maybe one truck accident case every 5 years. We’ve negotiated with many of the largest truck companies in the area.

Our Fulton, GA truck accident attorneys bring the following skills to every case to:

• Sharp legal analysis and creative problem solving. We don’t hang back and wait for the defense to make a fair settlement offer. Instead, we begin strategizing for how to obtain the fullest compensation available in Georgia.
• Tireless investigations. We aren’t afraid to go the extra mile to find useful evidence—talk to yet another witness, visit the accident scene a second time, and so on.
• Passionate advocacy. We believe in fighting hard for our clients, whether in negotiations or as part of litigation in a courtroom. This advocacy has helped us secure more than $1 billion for injured clients over the years.  

Mistakes to Avoid after a Truck Accident

Please remember the following to improve your chances of a settlement:

1.       Do not admit fault to anyone. You shouldn’t say anything that sounds like an admission you caused the accident. That will only reduce the compensation you receive or defeat your case altogether.

2.       Never accept a settlement without hiring an attorney. The first settlement offer is usually low. We can strategize for how to increase the amount offered.

3.       Refuse to give a recorded statement. Insurance adjusters are usually fishing for any admission you aren’t seriously hurt or that you are partially at fault for your wreck. They will use these statements against you, so refuse any offer to give a statement.

4.       Never self-diagnose your injuries. Go to the hospital instead. Even if you feel “okay” after a wreck, you could be injured. Adrenaline often masks pain.

5.       Don’t stop receiving medical treatment until you are healed. Attend rehab and other therapy so you make maximum improvement.

These are our most important tips. By following them, you set yourself up for success in the personal injury process.

Schedule Your Consultation By Phone or Email

Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys asks anyone hurt in a truck accident to pick up the phone and call (404) 529-3476. You can schedule a free consultation with our firm to discuss your accident and ask any questions. We are dedicated to ensuring our clients are treated fairly and with respect throughout the entire process. We have decades of combined experience which we put to work for every case we accept.