Athens Truck Accident Lawyer

When a driver is involved in a truck accident, he or she can suffer severe injuries. In many cases, truck accidents are fatal for drivers of smaller vehicles and their passengers. A tractor trailer’s sheer weight and size give it a level of power that is exponentially greater than that of a passenger vehicle.

As a motorist, you can reduce your chance of being involved in a truck accident by staying alert at all times, obeying the speed limit and other posted traffic laws, and taking special care to give trucks the space they need to safely travel along the roadway. Tractor trailers require greater distance to come to a full stop than smaller vehicles need and have much larger blind spots.

Causes of Truck Accidents

There are many different issues that can cause a truck accident. When an accident occurs because of a truck driver’s negligence, any individuals injured may seek compensation from the truck driver’s insurance provider.

Examples of ways truck drivers can cause accidents through negligence include:

• Drunk driving;
• Drowsy driving;
• Losing control of their vehicles and subjecting other motorists to dangerous truck-specific accidents, like jackknifing;
• Speeding; and
• Distracted driving.

 

What to Do After a Truck Accident

If you or anybody else is in critical condition, call 911 to have emergency medical services dispatched to the scene. Then, call the local police to have an officer sent to record the data for an official police report. This report is an important piece of evidence to support your claim, so do not leave the scene of the accident without a copy.

Because you will need to file your claim with the negligent truck driver’s insurance provider, exchange insurance information with him or her.

Other pieces of evidence you may use to support your claim include photographs of the accident and testimonies from witnesses. Make sure you have these before you leave the scene.

 

Athens, GA Truck Accident Statistics

In 2018, there were 1,137 truck accidents in Georgia, resulting in 567 injuries and 29 fatalities. Of those accidents, 70 occurred in Athens-Clarke County. While this may seem like a small number, it represents a significant increase from previous years. In fact, the number of truck accidents in Athens has nearly doubled since 2014. This trend is cause for concern, as it suggests that the city is becoming increasingly dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians. Truck accidents can be particularly devastating due to the size and weight of the vehicles involved. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the complex legal process of filing your truck accident claim and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Understanding Liability In Georgia Commercial Truck Accident Cases

In Georgia, as in other states, trucking companies are responsible for the safety of their vehicles and drivers. If a trucking company fails to meet this responsibility and an accident occurs, it may be held liable for any resulting injuries or damage. The first step in determining liability is to identify the parties involved in the accident. This can be done by reviewing the police report and talking to witnesses. Once the parties have been identified, the next step is to gather evidence. This may include the truck’s black box data, inspection records, and driver logs. With this information, an experienced attorney can help you determine whether the trucking company was at fault for the accident and whether you have a valid truck accident claim against them.

We Handle All Types of Athens Truck Accident Cases

1. Rear-end collisions

Rear-end collisions are the most common type of truck accident, accounting for nearly 30% of all accidents. These accidents occur when a truck rear-ends another vehicle. Rear-end collisions can be caused by a variety of factors, including tailgating, distracted driving, and brake failure.

2. Head-on collisions

Head-on collisions are the second most common type of truck accident, accounting for about 20% of all accidents. These accidents occur when a truck collides with another vehicle head-on. Head-on collisions can be caused by a number of factors, including speeding, driver fatigue, and reckless driving.

3. Side-impact collisions

Side-impacts are the third most common type of truck collisions, accounting for about 15% of all accidents. These accidents occur when a truck collides with another vehicle from the side. Side-impact collisions can be caused by a number of factors, including unsafe lane changes, distracted driving, and driver fatigue.

4. Rollover accidents

Rollover accidents are the fourth most common type of truck accident, accounting for about 10% of all accidents. These accidents occur when a truck overturns onto its side or roof. Rollover accidents can be caused by a number of factors, including speeding, driver fatigue, and improper loading of the truck.

5. Jackknife accidents

Jackknife accidents are the fifth most common type of truck accident, accounting for about 5% of all accidents. These accidents occur when a tractor trailer’s trailer swings out from behind the cab and strikes another vehicle. Jackknife accidents can be caused by a number of factors, including braking too hard, driver fatigue, and improper loading of the truck.

6. Underride accidents

Underride accidents are the sixth most common type of accident involving trucks, accounting for about 3% of all accidents. These accidents occur when a smaller vehicle collides with the side or rear of a tractor trailer and becomes wedged underneath it. Underride accidents can be caused by a number of factors, including following too closely, distracted driving, and brake failure.

 

What Records Must A Semi Truck Driver Keep?

A Georgia semi truck driver must maintain records that document their daily driving activities. These records, known as logs, help to ensure that drivers are complying with hours-of-service regulations. Drivers must keep track of their total driving time, as well as their total on-duty time and off-duty time. They must also record any periods of rest or sleep. In addition, drivers must note any changes in their duty status, such as picking up a new load or dropping off a trailer. By maintaining accurate records, drivers can help to avoid fatigue and ensure that they are operating their vehicles safely. It is the responsibility of both the driver and the trucking company, to make sure these records are kept up to date and compliant with Georgia law.

Seeking Compensation for your Damages from a Truck Accident

Truck accident victims can seek compensation for your damages caused by a truck driver through a personal injury claim. These include your medical bills, your lost wages due to taking time off work to recover, and all other related expenses. Also, a large portion of Georgia personal injury claims falls into the category of “general damages.” General damages are things like past and future pain and suffering, loss of the opportunity to do things that make life valuable, like traveling, spending time with family, and enjoying recreational activities.

Questions To Ask Your Athens Truck Accident Lawyer

After a truck accident, you may be feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about what to do next. One of the most important decisions you will make is choosing the right truck accident lawyer to represent you. Here are four questions to ask when meeting with potential lawyers:

1. What is your experience with truck accident cases? You want to choose a lawyer who has specific experience handling truck accident cases, as they can be complex.
2. How many similar cases have you tried in court? If the lawyer you are considering has never taken a truck accident case to trial, they may not be prepared to fight for the compensation you deserve.

3. What is your strategy for my case? Ask each lawyer you meet with to explain their proposed strategy for your case. This will help you compare and contrast the different approaches and choose the one that feels right for you.
4. Who will be working on my case? In some law firms, junior associates do much of the work on cases while the more experienced attorneys take on a supervisory role. Make sure you are comfortable with the team that will be handling your case.

Asking these questions will help you narrow down your choices and find the right personal injury lawyer for your needs.

How Much Is My Truck Accident Injury Case Worth?

You may be wondering how much your case is worth. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. The value of your case will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your injuries, the amount of damages you have incurred, and the strength of the evidence against the truck driver or trucking company. Experienced truck accident lawyers will be able to review your case and give you a better idea of what it may be worth. In the meantime, here are a few things to keep in mind as you try to determine the value of your case. First, make sure to keep track of all the medical bills and other expenses you have incurred as a result of the accident. These costs can be used to calculate your economic damages. Second, keep track of any lost wages or income you have suffered as a result of your injuries. This can be used to calculate your noneconomic damages. Finally, make sure to document everything related to the accident, including police reports, medical records, and eyewitness statements. This evidence can be used to prove liability and help increase the value of your case. If you have been injured in a collision involving a truck, contact an experienced personal injury attorney today to learn more about your legal rights and options.

What Evidence Do I Need To Win My Truck Accident Case?

If you were hit by a truck, you want to know what kind of evidence you need to win your personal injury case. The first step is to contact a truck accident attorney who can help you gather the necessary evidence and deal with the trucking company’s insurance adjuster.

You will need to prove that the truck driver was at fault in order to win your case. To do this, you will need to show that the truck driver was negligent. Negligence is defined as a failure to use reasonable care, which means that the truck driver did not exercise the same level of care that a reasonably prudent person would have used under the same circumstances. There are four elements of negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages. You will need to prove all four elements in order to win your case.

The evidence that you will need to gather will depend on the circumstances of your particular case. However, there are some common types of evidence that are often used in truck accident cases. This evidence includes eyewitness testimony, photos or videos of the accident scene, police reports, medical records, and expert testimony. If you have any questions about what kind of evidence you need to win your case, the experienced truck accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Andrew E. Goldner, LLC can help.

Seeking Compensation for your Damages from a Truck Accident

You can seek compensation for your damages caused by a truck accident through a personal injury claim. These include your medical bills, your lost wages due to taking time off work to recover, and any miscellaneous expenses that fall into the category of “pain and suffering.”

In Georgia, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the accident. This means that you must be proactive and start working with a lawyer who can effectively utilize your evidence and negotiate an appropriate settlement amount for you as soon as you can after receiving medical care for your injury.

Work with an Experienced Athens Truck Accident Lawyer

After you are involved in a truck accident, it is important that you put your health and safety first by obtaining appropriate medical attention. Only after you have done this should you start working with an experienced truck accident lawyer to pursue a personal injury claim. Contact The Law Offices of Andrew E. Goldner, LLC to schedule your free case evaluation in one of our three Georgia offices.