How is a truck accident different from a car accident?
Due to the size and weight of semi trucks, truck accidents are much different than car accidents. First and foremost, truck accidents usually cause much more serious injuries. They are also more likely to result in death. The severity of these accidents is often because semi trucks have large blind spots and have trouble braking quickly.
Severe injuries mean expensive medical bills. If you were injured in an Atlanta truck accident, you shouldn’t have to worry about paying bills, lost wages, and other expenses resulting from a crash that wasn’t your fault. At the Law Offices of Andrew Goldner, you don’t pay until we win your case and get you the money you deserve.
To learn more and to schedule your free consultation, call (404) 869-1580 today.
Liability in Truck Accidents vs. Car Accidents
In car accidents, the negligent driver will almost always be held liable. However, liability in a truck accident can be much more complex – fault could fall on the driver, their employer, or the truck manufacturer.
In order to obtain fair and equitable compensation, your Atlanta truck accident lawyer will need to identify all possible liable parties, as more than one person may be responsible. The trucker’s employer could be liable for several reasons, including:
- Failure to carry out routine inspections or perform needed maintenance
- Negligent hiring or training practices
- Expecting drivers to meet deadlines through any means possible, such as pressuring them to speed or to ignore required breaks
The truck manufacturer could also be held responsible for damages if a defective part caused the accident. Common malfunctions include:
- Defective steering systems
- Faulty brakes or brake failure
- Tire blowouts
Evidence in Truck Accidents
Without evidence, it’s unlikely anything will come of your and your attorney’s efforts to recover compensation for your injuries. Your Atlanta truck accident attorney must work quickly to obtain evidence from the truck’s “black box,” or electronic control module (ECM). These devices record and store data about the truck in the event of a crash or near-crash.
The information found in black boxes can include:
- The truck’s speed immediately before the crash
- When and if the driver applied the brakes
- If the truck driver was using cruise control
- Tire pressure
- Communication between the trucker and their employer or company
- Satellite location information
A truck’s black box can provide a plethora of useful information, but there are many other types of evidence that you and your attorney can uncover to help with your case. Some of these are:
- Cell phone records
- Inspection reports
- Trucker’s qualifications and driving record
- Their medical history
- Wreckage from the crash
Types and Severity of Injuries
Truck accidents generally result in more severe injuries than those involving one or more passenger vehicles. This is mostly due to the enormous size of tractor-trailers.
Because large trucks have a much greater mass than cars, they take far longer to stop, often resulting in rear-end collisions. Passengers in the car can experience a range of injuries, including concussion, traumatic brain injury, and whiplash. Factor in the weight of a big rig, and it’s clear to see how devastating injuries can be in a rollover or jackknife accident. If a tractor-trailer rolls over or jackknifes, the car behind or adjacent to them can be crushed, severely injuring or killing the people inside.
Car-truck fatalities are a widespread issue. In 2018, 67% of people killed in car-truck crashes were those in the passenger vehicle. Some of these accidents are unavoidable, but many could have been prevented. Given the discrepancy in the size and weight of trucks and passenger vehicles, negligent truck drivers need to be held accountable to prevent future accidents.
If you or a family member were injured in a car accident, let Atlanta truck accident attorney Andrew Goldner help you obtain the compensation you need. Call (404) 869-1580 for more information.
Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer
If you’ve ever been in any type of auto accident you already know how terrifying the experience can be. Imagine being hit by a vehicle 20 times bigger than yours that weighs 40 tons and is 70 to 80 feet long. The enormous force generated in these accidents is enough to fatally injure passengers in a small car.
If you or a family member were hit and injured by a tractor-trailer, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, thousands of families are affected by big rig crashes every year. The best way to protect your legal rights and obtain the money you need to pay for medical bills, lost wages, vehicle repairs, and more is by hiring an experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Andrew Goldner.
Mr. Goldner has represented victims of truck accidents for more than 18 years; he knows what evidence to collect and how to protect clients from predatory insurance or trucking companies. To learn more about Mr. Goldner’s experience and to schedule a free consultation, call (404) 869-1580.