Each year, some of the worse road accidents in Smyrna involve semi-trucks and 18-wheelers. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles can leave victims of a truck accident with serious and life-threatening injuries that can last a lifetime—not to mention involving hefty medical bills. If you or someone you love was injured or killed in a truck accident, don’t go it alone. You need a trusted Smyrna semi-truck and 18-wheeler accident lawyer on your side.
For more than 20 years, our attorneys have been taking on these types of truck accident cases. We understand how serious and painful they can be, and we’re here to help the victims and their families pursue the financial recovery they deserve and need to move through the aftermath of a trucking accident. We’re happy to work with your risk-free—meaning you don’t pay a dime unless we get you money. And we’ll give you a FREE consultation to speak with one of lawyers right away. Call us today at 404-341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to grab you free consultation.
Who is liable in a truck accident in Smyrna?
Georgia is a fault state, which means the party found negligent in the accident is responsible for the injuries and damages of the victim(s). Negligence means the person was careless in some way and didn’t exercise proper care in the situation. In the case of a truck accident, this could be:
- Not paying attention while driving or doing something distracting while driving, such as texting
- Breaking a traffic law, such as running stop sign or red light, that led to the accident happening
- Making a bad decision on the road (in the case of semi trucks or 18-wheelers, this could be misjudging how much room they had before turning or not looking carefully for smaller vehicles)
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causing the accident
The at fault party could include the truck driver, the trucking company, the manufacturer of a truck part that was defective, or the maintenance company that works on the truck. Although the driver is not always the person at fault, it is very common for them to be suspected of negligence for several reasons:
- Truck drivers are often given long hours and intense deadlines on the job, leading many workers to not take proper breaks and drive while very tired or fatigued, which can lead to poor judgement on the road.
- Semi-trucks have huge blind spots that are supposed to be mindful about, but some drivers don’t check these blind spots often enough and may not see other vehicles.
- Some truck drivers will misrepresent their road hours and driver longer than they’re legally allowed in order to get deliveries done more quickly. This can lead to fatigue, carelessness, and aggressive driving while on the road with other motorists.
Compared to car accidents, the investigation process for truck accidents can be much more involved and detailed because of the possible parties involved. For example, sometimes a completely different party than a driver can be at fault for the truck accident—like the manufacturing company who provided the truck’s breaks or the maintenance person assigned to make sure the vehicle is safe to be on the road. For this reason, your truck accident lawyer will do a lot of additional investigation beyond the initial police report to determine who was at fault.
What should I do if I suspect the other driver was asleep, distracted, or fatigued?
If any of these factors are involved, the driver was being negligent in their role as a driver and is likely liable for the accident occurring. These are also very serious forms of carelessness that put other drivers—including you—at danger on the road.
If you suspect the truck driver was driving distracted or was asleep or fatigued when the accident occurs, you should call police right after the accident and tell them your suspicious. Also, document any interactions with the truck driver after the accident. If they’re acting odd, try to record video of their actions on your phone.
Also, tell your semi-truck and 18-wheeler accident lawyer about what you suspect. This will allow them to investigate the case for evidence of the driver showing this form of negligence. They can look for driving logs of the truck driver and contact the trucking company that employs them, for example. Any details you can provide police and your attorney about the other driver in the accident will help your case.
How can a truck accident lawyer help me?
If you were injured in an accident with a semi-truck or 18-wheeler, having a truck accident lawyer is crucial in a number of ways. For one, they will assist with the investigation process required to prove fault in the accident. This includes:
- Investigating the scene of the accident, looking at police reports, and analyzing any witness statements and pictures or videos taken at the scene
- Looking into the truck’s maintenance logs, their license and credentials, and seeing if the driver was following all traffic laws before the accident occurred
- Seeing if there were any defects in manufacturing of the truck that could have led to the accident
These are steps that most truck accident victims can do on their own, so having an experienced attorney on your side is vital. Plus, a truck accident lawyer will help you with the important step of filing a lawsuit for damages the at fault party caused you, helping you to get the financial recovery you deserve. And after your lawyer investigates the accident, they’ll help you process your claim and get ready for negotiation, which can go much more quickly and smoothy with the right person. If the driver or another party is found at fault for the accident, you’ll be glad you had a truck accident lawyer on your side.
Talk to a Smyrna Semi-Truck & 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer for Free
If you are dealing with injuries or other damage from a truck accident, having the law on your side can help you get what you deserve to recover properly. Our attorneys have 20+ years of experience working with victims of truck accidents, and we know how to work these types of cases. For a FREE consultation, give us a call at 404-341-6555 or fill out the form to the right today.
