Georgia Truck Accident Lawyer
The Law Offices of Andrew Goldner have handled a variety of personal injury and wrongful death claims serving Georgia related to the negligent or reckless driving of a tractor-trailer/commercial truck operator.
Truck accidents in Georgia leave victims with terrible injuries and emotional scars. Following a truck accident, our talented Georgia Truck Accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Andrew E. Goldner will review your case for free, and help you to build a strong claim to recover compensation for your losses. We understand what you’ve been through, and approach each case with compassion, care, and dedication.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Most truck accidents that occur on the roads of Georgia are completely preventable, and occur because of an error made on the part of a driver, a trucking company, or another party along the chain of cargo loading or manufacturing. Pinpointing the precise cause of your Georgia truck accident is important; you will need to prove negligence and causation in order to get the compensation that you deserve. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents are:
- Driver error. In studies assessing large truck crash causation, driver error is the primary cause time and time again. Even the smallest of driver errors can seem minor, but can have serious consequences. Common types of driver errors include driving while fatigued, driving while impaired, driving while distracted, taking a turn too quickly, failure to observe a situation and respond appropriately, following too quickly, overcompensating, and exercising poor directional control.
- Vehicle problems. While truck drivers are often to blame for truck crashes in Georgia, they are not always at fault; in some cases, the vehicle that they are operating may have a problem that causes an accident. Vehicle might range from faulty engines to defective brakes, tires with tread separation to defects with a trailer. When filing a lawsuit based on vehicle problems, the manufacturer of the vehicle or vehicle part may be held liable if they designed or produced a part with a defect, or the trucking company may be held liable if the defect/vehicle problem could have been prevented with routine maintenance and proper servicing.
- Cargo errors. When cargo is improperly loaded or secured, it can shift mid-trip, causing a trailer to swerve or even tip over. A cargo loader, shipper, or even cargo manufacturer could be held liable when a cargo problem causes a crash.
- Factors related to the environment. Sometimes, factors related to the surrounding environment cause or contribute to a truck accident. Examples of environmental factors that may lead to a crash include poor road surface conditions, animals in the road, lack of proper signage, rain, and wind. In some cases, no one may be to blame for these accident types; in other cases, an entity – usually a municipal government – responsible for road maintenance, debris removal, or signage maintenance may be at fault.
- Other drivers on the road. In many cases, other drivers on the road are responsible for truck accidents. Drivers often fail to exercise proper care when navigating around large trucks, speeding, tailgating, driving in trucks’ blind spots, or improperly passing trucks. All of these errors can be deadly.
Proving Liability and Recovering the Compensation You Deserve
If you have been involved in a truck accident, or if you have lost a loved one due to this accident type, our experienced Georgia truck accident attorneys want to help you recover the money that you deserve. In order to determine the cause of a truck accident, who might be liable, and prove liability, an investigation is necessary. Our team will handle all components of your truck accident investigation, including:
- Requesting electronic control module (ECM) or ‘black box’ data;
- Interviewing witnesses who saw the accident;
- Requesting copies of police reports;
- Requesting copies of a truck driver’s hours of service logs;
- Requesting trucking company’s maintenance reports;
- Hiring accident reconstruction experts;
- Organizing your medical bills and reports;
- Sending out spoliation of evidence letters;
- Requesting copies of any photographs or video footage of the accident recorded;
- Taking pictures of the accident scene; and
- Working with any other relevant experts or parties.
We know what it takes to prove the liability of the at fault party and build a strong case.
What Damages Are Recoverable?
You deserve compensation for all of your losses; your recoverable damages should not be limited. However, because Georgia follows a contributory negligence system, your compensation amount can be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault. This is one of the reasons that it is critical to both understand the exact value of your damages and be ready to negotiate for it, as well as defenses to claims of your own liability. Our Georgia truck accident attorneys will work hard to prove that your injuries would not have been incurred but for the actions of the defendant.
If your claim is successful and you can prove liability, you will be able to recover the following types of compensation (where applicable):
- Medical expenses and future medical expenses related to the injury;
- Loss wages and future loss of benefits and earning capacity;
- Damage to your vehicle and any property within it; and
- Physical pain, suffering, and loss of quality or enjoyment of life.
If you have lost a family member and are filing a suit on their behalf, the types of damages that you can recover are slightly different. While you can still recover compensation for your loved one’s lost wages and medical expenses, you can also seek damages for their funeral and burial expenses, and loss of companionship and guidance that you have suffered.
Contact a Knowledgeable Georgia Truck Accident Attorney Today
Being in a truck accident is a life changing, and often shocking, experience. When a truck accident leaves you or a loved one injured, you need to take action. At the Law Offices of Andrew E. Goldner, we understand that a lawsuit is the furthest thing from your mind. However, if you do not act quickly, you may forfeit your ability to recover compensation entirely.
When you call our law firm, we will immediately get to work building a claim that reflects the negligence of the at-fault party and seeks your full damages amount. We have the resources necessary to hire experts and commit to your claim. What’s more, a consultation with our law firm is completely free, and you have no obligation to work with us moving forward if you are not satisfied with the information we provide.
To schedule your free case consultation, contact us online or call us directly. We are ready to get to work for you!