“Big Rigs” or 18-wheeler semi-trucks carry cargo into, out of, and through Chamblee, Georgia. They transport anything from produce to electronics to heavy equipment to petroleum and other hazardous materials. The 18-wheeler’s size, weight, and cargo are all factors that make them especially dangerous when involved in motor vehicle accidents.
Following an accident with an 18-wheeler, you will need a significant financial settlement to recoup your losses and re-establish a secure financial future. A Chamblee 18-wheeler accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates will support you throughout your case and work to get the highest settlement possible.
Contact our Chamblee truck accident lawyer today to discuss the details of your case.
Reasons for Semi-Truck Crashes
Determining the cause of your accident is essential for identifying the negligent party and holding that party accountable. Your lawyer will review the accident circumstances thoroughly and consult with relevant experts and even accident reconstructionists to pinpoint the failures that caused your accident. There are many possible reasons for accidents, but some causes are more common than others.
Driver Fatigue
Semi-truck operators travel hundreds and even thousands of miles, driving for long hours over many days. It is not surprising that fatigue sets in. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) equates driving while fatigued with driving under the influence as the condition slows reaction times, causes “micro-sleeps,” affects vision, and leads to poor decision-making, among other effects.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has taken measures to counteract driver fatigue by establishing limits for the consecutive hours and consecutive days drivers can operate their vehicles and requiring minimum rest periods. Drivers must log their hours of operation and rest on an electronic logging device (ELD).
If the operator of the 18-wheeler failed to comply with these regulations, or if the company employing the driver failed to review these logs or even encouraged drivers to stay on the roads longer than the allowable times, your 18-wheeler accident lawyer in Chamblee, GA will expose this negligence and hold them accountable.
Driver Error
Any driver error is dangerous, but when committed by semi-truck drivers, these errors almost always lead to catastrophic outcomes. Making an unsafe lane change, missing or ignoring a traffic signal, or mishandling the truck’s complex gear system can lead to devastating crashes.
It is important to note that commercial drivers are held to a stricter standard regarding driving under the influence. The legal blood alcohol concentration for adults in most states is .08%. For truck drivers, that limit is .04%
Unbalanced or Too-Heavy Cargo
The FMCSA also has strict regulations governing weight limits and procedures for loading and securing cargo. If loads are not properly secured, they can shift during transport. This shift leads to imbalance, making the truck more difficult to control.
Unbalanced loads are a common cause of truck rollovers or jack-knifing. Too-heavy loads make it even more difficult to bring the truck to a stop.
Speed
Truck operators are legally required to maintain safe speed limits. However, when under pressure to get products delivered quickly, they often push that limit. Trucks moving at high rates of speed need more time to come to a safe stop and are more difficult to control.
Vehicle or Part Malfunction
18-wheelers are massive but intricate. For the vehicle to travel safely, its many moving parts and system must be in top working order. Part malfunctions, improper installations, or cursory inspections that miss these defects can cause accidents and may point to negligence on the part of manufacturers or inspectors, or companies who did not properly maintain their vehicles.
An 18-wheeler accident attorney in Chamblee, GA will compile evidence to prove your case.
Once your 18-wheeler accident attorney in Chamblee has determined the cause of your accident, the case-building process begins. You cannot collect a settlement unless you prove the at-fault party’s negligence caused the accident which led to your injuries and losses.
A skilled attorney knows what evidence to gather and how to access it. Among other information, evidence may include:
- The truck driver’s history. If companies did not properly vet or train the driver, or if the driver has prior infractions but was still allowed to stay on the road, your attorney will expose this negligence.
- The vehicle’s inspection records. The FMCSA requires truck drivers to conduct daily inspections of their trucks and requires those in charge of the vehicles to have them regularly inspected according to specific standards. These records, or their absence, can help prove negligence.
- Camera footage. If traffic or surveillance cameras have footage of the accident, your attorney will acquire it.
- Witness testimonies. Your attorney will contact accident witnesses, documenting their statements and collecting any photos or videos they have of the accident scene.
Pursuing Recovery
Traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, nerve damages, broken bones, amputations, and burns are just some of the severe and even catastrophic injuries you can sustain in an 18-wheeler accident. These injuries will leave you sidelined from your job and earning income, from caring for your needs independently, from engaging in activities you enjoy or interacting with friends and family, and from moving through life as you could before the accident.
Your 18-wheeler accident lawyer in Chamblee will consider every detail of your situation, account for all of your losses, and make an appropriate settlement demand. To secure your financial stability, you can expect your attorney to seek damages to recover:
- All accident-related medical expenses. By consulting with medical experts, your Chamblee 18-wheeler accident attorney will seek finances to cover your future treatments and care
- All lost income. This includes wages lost to missed days at work and, if your injuries make it impossible for you to return to work, lost potential income. Your attorney will also calculate and include the value of any work-related benefits, such as retirement benefits
- The value of property damaged or ruined in the accident
- Financial justice for your physical and emotional suffering and diminished quality of life
- Any additional accident-related expenses. If you need to hire childcare or household help or pay to make your living space more suitable to your changed abilities, your lawyer will pursue coverage for those expenses.
The Strong Arm Fights for You
When you have the Strong Arm of Georgia on your side, you are in the best position to see a favorable case outcome and a high settlement. We will not let insurance companies take advantage of you. We will ensure your case moves through the legal process with great efficiency.
Contact John Foy & Associates today to partner with a Chamblee 18-wheeler accident lawyer. We look forward to speaking with you, fighting for you, and helping you move toward recovery.
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