Were you injured in a large truck accident? These crashes can have devastating outcomes for those involved. Trucks weigh thousands of pounds more than most passenger vehicles, and when they collide with smaller cars and trucks, injuries can ensue. Although most truck drivers are responsible and alert, semi-truck accidents are frequent events on Georgiaโ€™s highways.

People injured in motor vehicle collisionsย involving big rigs should seek the help of a truck accident attorney serving Douglasville, Georgia. A truck accident lawyer serving Douglasvilleย may be able to help you obtain compensation for your injuries and damaged property. Truck accident restitutionย could help you cover your medical bills and other expenses.

Kaufman Injury Law can provide you with trucking accident legal representation in Douglasville. We have served the Atlanta area and the state of Georgia for more than 45 years, and we fight aggressively for our clients. Our attorneys bring more than 100 combined years of experience to the table. Call us today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help.

Types of Truck Accidents

Commercial trucks and tractor-trailers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Due to their large size, they cannot accelerate, turn, and decelerate as quickly as smaller passenger vehicles. They are also highly prone to flipping over and jackknifing if they have to swerve for any reason. Massive trucks also have extensive blind spots that make it difficult for truckers to see smaller vehicles nearby. Large trucks are often involved in many different types of accidents, including:

  • Rollover โ€“ If a truck turns or swerves too fast, its high center of gravity can cause it to roll over onto other vehicles.
  • Blind spot โ€“ Commercial trucks have large blind spots on all four sides where they cannot see other vehicles.
  • Jackknife โ€“ If a truck driver brakes suddenly, the rear of the trailer can swing up beside the truck, often swiping other vehicles as it moves.
  • Underride โ€“ Underride accidents occur when a truck suddenly stops, and the vehicle behind it goes under its trailer.
  • Head-on โ€“ Head-on collisions with trucks are often particularly devastating. When a larger truck collides head-on with a smaller vehicle, the vehicleโ€™s occupants can suffer severe injuries.

Due to the enormous size of trucks, truck drivers must drive carefully and obey all traffic laws. Careless or reckless driving can easily result in deaths or injuries for other motorists.

What Causes Truck Accidents?

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), many factors can contribute to a truck accident. Car accident attorneysย are knowledgeable about these factors and understand they can be catastrophic in many cases. Here are some of the main causes of motor vehicle collisions in Douglasville:

  • Speeding
  • Driving while fatigued or sleepy
  • Running red lights
  • Failure to follow traffic laws
  • Distracted driving
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Reckless driving

Although drivers of passenger vehicles may engage in the actions listed above, the accidents they cause typically do not have such deadly outcomes due to the smaller sizes of their vehicles.

Who Is Responsible for a Truck Accident?

You may need to seek truck accident justiceย with the help of a legal team serving Douglasvilleย if a truck malfunction causes your accident. Even the safest truck driver may not be able to maintain control of their vehicle if there is a manufacturing defect or there are other problems with the truck. If you were injured in a semi- or large truck accident,ย and depending on the nature of the accident, you may be able to hold the manufacturer of the truck liable for your injuries and losses.

Trucks need regular inspections to ensure they are safe to drive. If a company fails to adequately inspect a truck before it hits the road, it can be held responsible in court. Other potentially responsible entities may include the trucking company, the company responsible for loading the truckโ€™s cargo, repair shops, and maintenance companies.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

If you are lucky, you may only walk away with a few scrapes, bumps, and bruises after a truck accident. Unfortunately, doing so is not common, and often, truck accident survivors sustain severe and life-altering injuries. Some of the most common truck accident injuries include:

  • Back, neck, and spinal cord injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Traumatic head injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Facial and dental injuries
  • Burns
  • Loss of limbs
  • Damage to internal organs
  • Cuts and lacerations

When a person sustains such severe injuries, it can leave them unable to work or live a normal life. Often, they must undergo a lifetime of medical care. Some injured people also experience serious mental health conditions due to the trauma of the accident. These individuals often need help from therapists or psychiatrists.

Establishing Negligence

Filing a claim after a truck accident is rarely as easy as it seems. Often, survivors must face off against insurance companies with deep pockets and teams of attorneys. Fortunately, with help from a tough truck accident lawyer, accident survivors can pursue the justice they deserve. To do this, a personal injury lawyerย will need to establish:

  1. The at-fault party owed the injured party a duty of care.
  2. This at-fault party breached this duty.
  3. The injured party suffered injury and/or property damage as a result of this breach.
  4. The injured party incurred expenses related to their injuries and losses.

When you secure trusted legal representationย from a skilled and experienced truck accident attorneyย serving Douglas, Georgia, they can obtain evidence such as cell phone data, maintenance records, black box data from the truck, photographs and videos of the accident scene, and other material to support your case. They will also act as your legal advocate and provide support throughout settlement negotiations and at trial.

Are You Entitled to Financial Compensation After a Truck Accident?

After a truck accident, you may need to stay in the hospital for a long time. If an accident leaves you permanently injured or disabled, you may not be able to return to work. If you find yourself in such a predicament, you may be able to obtain truck accident restitutionย from the responsible party.

To fully understand what your accident may be worth, you will need to consult a truck accident attorney serving Douglasville, Georgia. All accidents are unique, and factors such as the extent of your injuries and the cost of your medical expenses contribute to the value of your case. After an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for:

  • Medical bills
  • Nursing care (at home or in a facility)
  • Mobility devices
  • Loss of income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

The at-fault party may offer a settlement to get you to drop your claim. You should never accept a settlement without consulting with your attorney first. Your attorney can assess the value of your claim to determine what an appropriate settlement would be.

Contact Kaufman Injury Law for a Free Consultation

If you need the help of a truck accident lawyer serving Douglasville, Georgia, you should reach out to Kaufman Injury Law. We have decades of experience assisting truck accident survivors and helping them obtain the compensation they deserve. Our highly skilled attorneys use an individualized approachย to each case and will fight fervently for you both at the negotiating table and in court.

Kaufman Injury Law achieves successful results for accident survivors in Atlanta and across the state. If you are injured in a truck accident, you must act fast before you lose the chance to file a claim. Let our tough truck accident lawyersย help you seek justice and restitution. Contact us today for a free consultation for your truck accident.

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