Macon Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorneys
Accidents involving heavy commercial trucks can be among the most devastating traffic accidents imaginable. Truck crashes often involve catastrophic injuries and fatalities, but also, the legal issues surrounding tractor-trailer accident claims are exceedingly complex. If you or a family member has been injured in a truck crash involving a tractor-trailer, semi truck, or commercial vehicle, our personal injury lawyers at Adams Law Firm in Macon have the experience to handle a complicated truck accident case.
National Truck Accident Statistics
According to data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 77,000 large trucks are involved in accidents with injuries each year. In 2012, nearly 4,000 drivers lost their lives in a trucking accident. While these numbers have decreased over the past decade, the attorneys at Adams Law Firm are eager to see the numbers of injuries and fatalities continue to decline.
Common Types Of Commercial Vehicle Accidents
As you can imagine, truck accidents can occur in a myriad of ways. Many of these crashes are likely to be destructive, if not deadly. The immense size and weight of tractor-trailers, combined with the heavy cargo onboard, can cause significant damage to other vehicles.
Common types of tractor-trailer accidents include:
- Head-on collisions: Being struck by a tractor-trailer head-on can cause extensive damage to smaller vehicles and passengers.
- Jackknifes: These accidents occur when a truck’s cab and trailer fold into each other at a 90-degree angle. Such accidents occur due to speeding, slick surfaces, rain, and heavy winds.
- Rear-end collisions: These accidents happen when a truck collides with a vehicle traveling in the same direction from behind. While less injurious than head-on crashes, getting rear-ended by a tractor-trailer can still lead to serious injury.
- Rollovers: These accidents occur when a truck rolls over and can cause immense destruction to anything in the truck’s path. Rollovers are often caused by speeding, unsafe roads, sudden lane changes, improper cargo loading, and bad weather.
- Underride accidents: One of the deadliest truck accidents occurs when a vehicle collides with a truck and slides under the trailer. This usually results in the roof of the vehicle being ripped off.
Accidents may be caused by many other factors, such as tire blowouts, blind spots, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driver fatigue, and more. Determining the cause of a truck accident is complicated and challenging. Our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience with all types of motor vehicle accidents.
Why Gathering Evidence Is Crucial In Truck Accident Cases
When it comes to truck accident cases, gathering evidence is crucial in establishing liability and securing the compensation you deserve. Truck accidents can result in severe injuries and property damage, and without proper evidence, it can be challenging to prove fault and hold the responsible party accountable.
Evidence Proves Negligence
Georgia law requires that an accident victim prove negligence. Gathering evidence, including witness statements, surveillance footage, and accident reconstruction reports, can help establish who was at fault in the accident.
Some types of evidence that can be crucial in truck accident cases include:
- Driver logs and maintenance records
- Electronic control module (ECM) data
- Witness statements and police reports
- Video footage from dashcams or surveillance cameras
- Photos of the accident scene and vehicle damage
This evidence can be crucial in proving negligence on the part of the truck driver, trucking company, or other parties involved. By promptly gathering evidence, you can protect it from being lost or altered.
Evidence Helps Determine Liability In A Truck Accident
Truck accidents often involve multiple parties. Parties can include the truck driver, trucking company, maintenance providers, and more. By gathering evidence, you can determine which parties may be held liable for your injuries and losses.
The more evidence you have to support your claim, the stronger your case becomes. By thoroughly documenting the accident scene, injuries, and other relevant details, you increase your chances of obtaining a fair settlement or succeeding in court.
Evidence Helps To Evaluate Damages
Evidence such as medical records, photographs of the accident scene, and expert testimony can help quantify the damages you have suffered. This includes medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and more.
Tips To Help Avoid A Tractor-Trailer Accident
Approximately one out of every eight traffic fatalities results from a tractor-trailer accident. In the case of an accident, the size and weight of the large vehicles add fuel to the fire. In fact, an overwhelming 98% of associated fatalities occur to the driver in the passenger vehicle.
The following tips can help you stay safe while sharing the road with trucks:
- Stay visible: Trucks have much larger blind spots than passenger vehicles. If the semi’s mirrors aren’t visible, the driver likely can’t see you. Always use your turn signals, and pay close attention to those on the truck, as you may not be visible to the driver.
- Maintain a safe distance: Don’t drive alongside trucks for longer than you need to, and refrain from tailgating. If you need to pass a truck, use your turn signals and keep a safe distance between you and the truck.
- Stay alert: Fatigue, speeding, and sudden lane changes are among the myriad causes of tractor-trailer accidents. Be aware of the drivers around you – including any larger vehicles – and if you begin to feel sleepy, pull over.
- Be extra careful in poor conditions: Poor road design or road conditions create additional difficulties for truck drivers and make it significantly more difficult to stop or slow. Be especially cautious when approaching a merge, and leave extra room when approaching or passing.
Given the high stakes of a tractor-trailer accident, it’s essential to take precautions to keep you and your loved ones safe on the road.
When it comes to the complex trial preparation for a truck accident case, our lawyers will investigate the crash site and secure the truck logs. They will track down any possible information needed to determine fault and accurately calculate your costs, expenses, and other damages.
Dedicated And Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers
At Adams Law Firm, our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience with even the most complicated motor vehicle accidents. We believe in providing compassionate and personalized attention to each client in every case. In the event you’ve lost a loved one in a tragic truck accident, we can also handle wrongful death claims.
The truck accident lawyers at our firm also possess an in-depth understanding of how trucking accident claims and the parties involved work. The legal team has an in-depth knowledge of how insurance claims and companies work and have successfully resolved complicated insurance disputes.
Schedule A Free Consultation With A Truck Accident Lawyer
Our accident lawyers offer a free case consultation and evaluation. To schedule your free appointment, contact our office by calling 478-772-3939 or sending us an email through our online form.
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