Loganville Truck Accident Attorneys

Due to their immense size and weight, transport trucks and other large commercial vehicles cause some of the most severe damage when they are involved in a crash. Transport trailers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when they are fully loaded and when they are not, they still weigh up to 40,000 pounds. Compare that to the average passenger vehicle that weighs approximately 4,000 pounds, and it is easy to see why occupants of these smaller vehicles suffer catastrophic injuries after a crash at the accident scene. 

If you or someone you love has been hurt in an accident, you may have legal options for recovering compensation. Our Loganville truck accident attorney from our legal team can help you obtain the full settlement from your truck accident injury settlement you deserve to take care of medical bills and medical expenses.

Common Types of Truck Accidents

There are many different types of truck accidents, but all of them will result in extremely serious injuries. Our Loganville truck accident lawyer from our personal injury law firm has experience handling all types of truck accidents, including:

• Rollovers
• Tire blowouts
• Wide turn accidents
• Jackknife accidents
• Rear-end collisions
• Underride accidents
• Sideswipe accidents
• T-bone accidents
• Head-on collisions

Determining Liability After a Truck Accident

Truck accidents are far more complex than car accidents. One reason for this is that it is much harder to determine who is liable, or to blame, for the crash. When two smaller vehicles are involved in a crash, it is usually one of the drivers at the scene that is to blame for the injuries sustained. This is not the case in truck accidents. There are many potentially liable parties after a truck accident and they are as follows:

• Truck driver: Truck drivers can act negligently just like other motorists. They may drive while impaired or distracted driving, speed, or otherwise act in a careless manner that puts other motorists at risk. When truck drivers act negligently, they can be held liable for injuries from motor vehicle accidents.
• Trucking companies: Trucking companies also often act negligently and when they do, they can be held liable for any accident that results. Trucking companies may engage in negligent hiring or training practices, allowing inexperienced or incapable drivers to operate their trucks, or they may encourage drivers to violate the federal hours of service rule and stay on the road longer. Additionally, trucking companies can be held liable for the negligent actions of their drivers if the truckers are employees disobey trucking industry regulations.
• Third parties: There are a number of third parties that work around trucks. These include inspection, maintenance, and cargo loading companies. All of these third parties have a duty to perform their jobs properly to ensure that no one becomes hurt. When they fail to do this, they can be held liable for a crash.
• Manufacturers: Manufacturers also have a legal obligation to ensure the products they create are safe to use. This includes manufacturers of trucks and truck parts. When any part of a truck is defective and causes a crash, the manufacturer can be held liable.

It is not always easy to determine what caused a truck accident. For example, you may think the truck driver is at fault because they crashed into you from behind. However, an investigation with our truck accident attorney and car accident attorney may find that the brakes on the truck were defective and that is what caused your accident.

The Comparative Negligence Law in Loganville

The law in Loganville, and throughout Georgia, recognizes that accident victims can contribute to the crash that caused their injuries. For example, a truck driver may have been speeding but when you changed lanes, you cut them off. In these instances, the truck driver may be found 80 percent at fault for the accident while you are found to be 20 percent to blame.

The law in Georgia allows you to still recover compensation if you contributed to an accident. However, you must be less than 50 percent to blame to pursue damages. If you are 50 percent or more at fault, you are barred from receiving any compensation at all. If you are less than 50 percent to blame, any damages you are awarded will be reduced by your same percentage of fault. Using the above example, you may be awarded $200,000 for your injuries. These damages will be reduced by your same percentage of fault, 20 percent, and so, you will receive $160,000.

It is not uncommon for defendants to use the comparative negligence law so they do not have to pay full damages. It is important to work with a Loganville truck accident lawyer who can refute these claims so you obtain the full damages you deserve.

Statute of Limitations in Truck Accident Claims

Like all personal injury cases, truck accidents are governed by a statute of limitations, or time limit, in Georgia. Under this law, you have just two years from the date of the crash to file a claim. If you fail to file your claim within this time, you will be barred from receiving any compensation at all. While there are some exceptions to the statute of limitations, they are very limited.

To many people, two years sounds like a long time. In truck accident cases, though, it is not. Before a truck accident victim files their claim, an investigation must be conducted and evidence must be gathered to prove their case and to determine liability. Witnesses must also be located and interviewed and there is a great deal of paperwork to fill out and submit to various parties. All of this takes time and so, it is important to contact a Loganville truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after any crash.

Contact Our Experienced Truck Accident Attorney in Loganville Today

If you have been hurt in a crash, do not go through the personal injury claims process on your own. At Ponton Law, our Loganville truck accident lawyer and personal injury attorney can help you navigate it and will always make sure your best interests are protected. Our experienced attorney will accurately value your claim, determine who is to blame for your injuries, and hold them accountable for paying the full and fair damages you are entitled to for fair compensation. Call our personal injury lawyer now at 404-418-8507 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation of your case and to learn more about how our truck accident attorney cost can help with your case against the insurance companies with proper legal representation.