East Cobb Truck Accident

Truck accidents are some of the most serious accidents a person can suffer. Because of their large size, tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks can send someone to the hospital with life-changing injuries. It is critical that survivors and their family members reach out to a legal team with deep experience in these types of accidents. Not all personal injury lawyers have the skills you need.

Contact Ponton Law today. An East Cobb truck accident lawyer can meet to go over what you remember about your collision. If we think your claim has merit, we can discuss possible compensation and other relevant information. We can then develop a negotiation strategy that works for you.

Truck Accidents Are Common

Statistics from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety show that large trucks are involved in many serious accidents. In 2021, 14% of traffic fatalities involved at least one large truck. The majority of those who were seriously injured or killed were occupants of other motor vehicles.

Truck accidents regularly make the news. For example, two people were killed when one truck crashed into another on South Cobb Drive at Maner Road. A Red Bull delivery truck also crashed into Cobb County’s historic Concord Bridge.

These accidents illustrate the severe consequences caused by a truck accident, and motorists are advised to exercise caution around these vehicles. Anyone involved in a wreck should contact an experienced East Cobb truck accident lawyer at Ponton Law to learn about their rights.

Serious Injuries from Truck Collisions

Many commercial vehicles weigh 40 tons when fully loaded. These vehicles will devastate any passenger car they run into. Our truck accident lawyers in East Cobb have helped clients struggling with:

• Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
• Whiplash
• Fractured ribs
• Organ damage, like collapsed lungs
• Herniated discs
• Fractured vertebrae
• Burns and lacerations
• Paralysis
• Crush injuries
• Amputation

Major Causes of Truck Accidents

The federal government and the state of Georgia tightly regulate the trucking accident. This industry should be safer than it is. Many truck accidents are preventable if only people acted with sufficient care.

Some of the most common reasons for accidents include:

• Driving too fast for conditions
• Failing to observe surroundings
• Driving while distracted
• Fatigue
• Trucker intoxication or chemical impairment
• Defects on the truck (such as brakes failing)
• Overloaded trucks
• Failing to yield

In the hours after the collision, the trucking company should send investigators to the scene to collect evidence. You should reach out to one of our lawyers to begin representing you.

Determining Fault for Your East Cobb Truck Accident

Truck accident liability depends on fault. At Ponton Law, we review all available evidence to pinpoint why an accident happened and who is to blame. Sometimes, multiple parties will share liability. We can then demand compensation from every business or individual who is at fault.

Common defendants include:

• Truckers. A trucker could drive carelessly or while intoxicated. A trucker might also fail to perform a necessary pre-trip inspection and take a dangerous truck onto the road.
• Trucking companies. A trucking company could have liability for various reasons. It might fail to service its vehicles and allow dangerous or defective trucks onto the highway. In other cases, a trucking company is automatically liable when one of its employees hurts someone on the job.
• Truck mechanics. A mechanic could fail to perform adequate maintenance, which renders the truck dangerous to drive.
• Freight companies. The company that owns the freight often loads it into a trailer. They might fail to secure the load, causing a shift and jackknife or other accident.
• Road crews. A crew could fail to set up a work zone properly, leading to a preventable collision.

An injured driver could also bear some fault. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, a motorist’s compensation is reduced proportionally by their share of fault. If you were 40% to blame, you will receive 40% less. The law also states that someone who is 50% or more blame will receive nothing.  

You Deserves Full and Fair Compensation

Accident victims call Ponton Law to ask whether they can receive compensation for their injuries and car damage. The reality is that these collisions are expensive. Your car is likely destroyed. Your medical bills probably cost thousands of dollars.

We can request fair compensation for:

• Emergency medical care, such as ambulance transportation and life-saving surgery;
• Doctor’s visits and diagnostic tests;
• Physical therapy and other rehabilitation;
• Prescription medication and prosthetic devices;
• Income or wage loss;
• Future economic losses, including ongoing medical care or diminished earning capacity;
• Pain and suffering;
• Disability;
• Property damage, such as the cost of car repairs.

If a loved one perished in a truck accident, we can also request financial compensation for wrongful death. Consult us to find out more.

Choose an Experienced East Cobb Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accident cases are far more demanding than regular automobile claims. Our legal team knows how to pull together a strong claim on your behalf. The steps we take include:

1.       Gather evidence. We typically use eyewitness testimony, as well as evidence from the truck, including the freight manifest and electronic data. We might need to ask a judge to help us gain access to truck evidence, as well as the trucker’s cell phone records, if we believe they are relevant.

2.       Coordinate with insurance companies. They usually have dozens of forms to fill out, and we will handle all the paperwork. You should remain 100% focused on healing from your injuries.

3.       Start negotiations with the at-fault party. We usually make a demand for compensation from every party that shares at least partial fault. A demand letter kicks off negotiations.

4.       Meet deadlines. Georgia gives personal injury victims a maximum of two years to file a lawsuit, and you can lose all compensation if you go even a day over. We ensure your case stays on track.

5.       Continue negotiations and attend mediation. Negotiation is not a fast process. Some trucking companies and their insurers dig in and refuse to budge. We might need to attend mediation to help bridge the divide.

6.       Litigate your claim, if necessary. We aren’t afraid to march into the courthouse and file a lawsuit on your behalf. We will even take your case to a jury trial to seek full compensation for your injuries.

Speak with an Award-Winning East Cobb Truck Accident Lawyer

Anyone injured in a truck accident should call Ponton Law today. Our lawyers will offer frank advice about your chances of receiving compensation and, if hired, begin working immediately to protect your rights to a financial settlement.