Atlanta Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyer

Atlanta Tractor Trailer Accident Attorney

Commercial trucks are crucial elements of the United States’ supply chain, but they are also some of the most dangerous vehicles on the road due to their size and weight. If you or a family member recently experienced an accident involving one of these vehicles, you need to speak with an experienced Atlanta tractor-trailer accident lawyer as quickly as possible to determine your most viable legal options for recovering your losses.

Truck accidents are among the deadliest hazards on roads and highways in Georgia and nationwide. Giant 18-wheelers and other large commercial trucks are far bigger and heavier than standard passenger vehicles, meaning that occupants of the latter are most likely to be killed or suffer catastrophic injuries in a crash.

Offering Legal Support for Truck Accident Victims in Atlanta

If you were hurt or lost a loved one in truck accident in Georgia, contact me, Attorney Stephen LaBriola. I bring more than three decades of trial-tested experience in personal injury and wrongful death litigation, and I am ready to be your advocate both in and out of the courtroom. I have helped countless other clients, and I can help you, too.  You can also visit us at Fellows LaBriola LLP or book a free consultation with our legal team.

Benefits Of Hiring Legal Counsel You Trust

Even if you think that fault for your recent tractor-trailer accident is readily apparent, you should not assume that you can manage your case on your own without an attorney. This is especially true if you have suffered catastrophic injuries because of another party’s actions. You need experienced legal counsel on your side to not only have the greatest chance of winning your case, but also for maximizing the total compensation you obtain if you do win.

Your Atlanta tractor-trailer accident lawyer can handle your legal affairs for you so you can focus on recovery and your personal obligations. You can rely on them to gather the evidence needed to prove liability for your accident, and they will ensure your case meets all procedural deadlines with the court. They can assess the viability of an auto insurance claim and handle all of your interactions with insurance companies for you as well.

As your case unfolds, your attorney can provide you with updates and keep you informed on the latest progress. They will prepare you for each new stage of your case and if you must endure any litigation, they will help you approach your courtroom sessions with confidence. You can also rely on your attorney to accurately determine the extent of your damages so you have the greatest chance of maximizing the final settlement or verdict you obtain.

Ultimately, a tractor-trailer accident can be far more challenging to resolve than a standard passenger vehicle accident case, but with the right attorney representing you, you will be ready to face any unexpected challenges and seize every opportunity that presents itself throughout your proceedings. Stephen LaBriola approaches every personal injury suit with the intention of helping the client maximize their recovery as much as state law allows.

Determining Fault And Liability After A Truck Crash

In many cases, truck accidents can be attributed to the negligence of the truck driver, trucking company, a company responsible for the freight or for the truck itself. Common causes of truck accidents include:

• Fatigued and drowsy drivers
• Truckers who speed, drive aggressively violate of hours-of-service rules in order to meet unreasonable delivery deadlines imposed by the trucking company or customer
• Cargo loads that are unbalanced, too heavy or improperly secured
• Vehicle maintenance and repair issues, especially worn-out brakes and balding tires
• Negligence in hiring, training and monitoring drivers

Following a deadly or highly injurious crash, all of the parties mentioned above may attempt to blame one another in order to absolve themselves of liability. They may even try to blame you, the victim. Trucking companies and their insurers will be on the accident scene within hours to take control of the evidence and begin building a favorable narrative about the accident.

You cannot expect to take on these powerful defendants on your own. Instead, put my knowledge and experience to work for you. As soon as you hire me, I will begin a thorough and detailed investigation into the crash, naming all potentially liable parties in order to maximize your chances of a successful financial recovery.

Proving Fault For A Tractor-Trailer Accident In Atlanta

The state follows a fault-based system for resolving all motor vehicle accidents, including those involving commercial trucks. This means that you must prove fault for your recent tractor-trailer accident before you can start fighting for your fair compensation recovery for your damages, and the party at fault for causing the accident is liable for your damages. It’s possible for a tractor-trailer accident to happen for many possible reasons.

When an accident happens because of a single driver’s negligence, that driver is responsible for the damages they caused to others. In a tractor-trailer accident case, it could mean the truck driver is liable for the crash, or liability may fall to another driver who crashed into the truck and caused a multi-vehicle collision. It is also possible for multiple drivers to share fault for this type of accident or for a trucking company to bear fault for the actions of their employees.

Employers in the trucking industry are required to follow strict regulations pertaining to hiring and training their employees and ensuring all drivers possess the necessary training and certification to complete their job duties safely. If a trucking company fails to uphold any applicable industry regulations and this contributes to causing an accident, the company can face vicarious liability for the resulting damages.

Your Atlanta tractor-trailer accident lawyer can help you secure evidence such as the trucking company’s internal documentation, proof of regulatory compliance, truck maintenance records, and records pertaining to their hiring processes. You need to determine whether fault falls solely to another driver or if the trucking company shares fault for the accident if you want to maximize your recovery as much as state law allows.

Assessing Damages And Seeking Compensation

If another party is responsible for harming you with an act of negligence or intentional misconduct, you have the right to hold them accountable for the damages they inflicted. This process can be challenging, but with the right attorney handling your case, you can approach the situation with peace of mind. One of the major challenges you face when it comes to your recovery is accurately determining the extent of the damages you can claim.

Truck accident litigation is typically high value and high stakes for all involved. As your attorney, I can help you calculate and pursue damages related to:

• Current and future medical bills.
• Lost wages from time spent unable to work.
• Permanent disability and costs related to adapting your home and vehicle to the limitations you now face.
• Economic Damages are the tangible losses you have suffered as a result of your injuries and can include any past or future medical expenses, lost wages or diminished work capacity if you are unable to work to the same ability as before, and property damages.
• Non-Economic damages are more difficult to measure because they include the lasting impact of your injuries on your life – such as your pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Life Care Plans prepared by medical doctors and economists and CPAs that calculate the future costs of medical care necessary for life.
• The loss of someone you love as well as their lifetime of earnings.
• Pain and suffering.
• Vehicle damage.

You can’t afford to leave money “on the table” after a truck accident. I will ensure that the true costs of your accident and injuries are reflected in your claim, and I will not entertain any settlement offer that fails to meet your needs or respect what you’ve been through.

Filing An Auto Insurance Claim For A Tractor-Trailer Accident

You may be able to recover compensation for your damages with an auto insurance claim. Georgia law requires every driver to have auto insurance that meets minimum coverage requirements for property damage liability and bodily injury liability. This insurance will pay for damages that a policyholder caused in an accident, and most trucking companies are covered by more expansive policies than average individual drivers have.

However, it does not mean that insurance can fully cover your losses or that dealing with insurance companies will be easy. Insurance companies will almost always push back against claims for compensation however they can. They train their employees to look for ways to use a claimant’s own words against them, justify claim denials whenever possible, or look for ways they can justify the lowest possible settlement offers.

Do not try to negotiate with an insurance company on your own without consulting an attorney. An insurance company will do everything it can to convince you to settle for as little as possible, or it may attempt to trick you into admitting fault for the accident so the company can justify denying your claim. If an insurance company reaches out to you after an accident to discuss a settlement, politely decline and tell the representative that you must consult your attorney first.

Navigating the insurance claim filing process after a tractor-trailer accident will be much easier and more likely to bear positive results with an experienced Atlanta tractor-trailer accident lawyer on your side. Your attorney can assist you with the claim filing process, resolve any disputes raised against your claim, and help you explore alternative avenues of recovery when insurance will not fully cover your damages.

Economic Versus Non-Economic Damages In Your Case

If you intend to file any type of personal injury claim in the state, it is vital to understand the differences between the various forms of damages you are eligible to claim and how you can maximize each aspect of your recovery. While the average plaintiff may understand their immediately recognizable economic damages, they are likely to struggle with a calculation of the full long-term economic impact of their accident.

Economic damages include direct financial losses that are typically proven with the correct documentation. For example, in your tractor-trailer accident case, your economic damages may include vehicle repair or replacement costs, medical bills, future medical treatment costs for a serious injury, lost wages, and the income you are no longer able to earn if you have been permanently disabled from the accident.

Non-economic damages can be far more challenging to define as these include subjective, intangible losses like physical pain, psychological trauma, and emotional distress resulting from a personal injury. State law does not set any restrictions when it comes to how much a plaintiff may claim for their non-economic damages, nor is there a specific formula the plaintiff must use to calculate this aspect of their case award.

When a truck accident causes catastrophic harm, the injured victim has the right to seek maximum compensation for the damages they suffered, including their pain and suffering. Having the right attorney handle your case is the most effective way to ensure a fair result, and Stephen LaBriola is ready to help you fight for the compensation the defendant owes after causing your accident.

Resolving Your Personal Injury Suit In Atlanta

A personal injury case is a civil claim for damages in which an injured plaintiff seeks compensation for damages a defendant caused with their negligence or intentional misconduct. Success with a personal injury case requires clear proof of fault along with evidence showing the full extent of the plaintiff’s damages. The plaintiff must prove causation as well, meaning they need to show the defendant is solely responsible for their claimed damages.

Your Atlanta tractor-trailer accident lawyer can help you gather the evidence you need to establish liability for your accident and hold the at-fault parties accountable for the damages they caused. Truck accidents have a very high chance of resulting in catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain damage, spinal injuries, and broken bones. An injured plaintiff may face a long and difficult recovery, and a personal injury suit is an effective means of recovering these losses.

Once you have gathered the evidence to prove exactly how your tractor-trailer accident happened and have identified the party or parties responsible for causing the accident, your Atlanta tractor-trailer accident lawyer can help you file your case and determine the optimal path to resolving it. Many civil claims can be settled privately outside of court, but while this may lend itself to a speedier outcome, the plaintiff may face a diminished recovery compared to what they might win at trial.

In Georgia, whether you are seeking to settle your tractor-trailer accident claim as quickly as possible or you intend to take the case to court, Stephen LaBriola has the skills, experience, and professional resources necessary to guide you to a positive conclusion to your case. In every case I accept, my goal is to help my client maximize their recovery as efficiently as possible. An Atlanta tractor-trailer accident lawyer is the ideal asset to have on your side for your recovery efforts.

FAQs

Contact for Legal Counsel on Tractor Trailer Accidents

From my office in Atlanta, I represent truck accident victims and their families throughout Georgia. I offer free, no-obligation consultations so that you can learn about your legal options and discover how I can help you. To get started, reach out online or call me at 470-801-1362.