Trucking Accident Attorney Valdosta

An accident that involves a commercial truck can cause some of the most unimaginable injuries. The mass, speed, and size of the commercial truck can do major damage to a small passenger vehicle. This usually leaves the occupants of the passenger vehicle seriously or fatally injured. If you have been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, you must speak to a trucking accident lawyer Valdosta as soon as possible. Serious injuries sustained in a commercial truck accident can require weeks or months of physical therapy, doctor appointments, specialists, and physical therapy.

As you’re recovering, you may be unable to return to work and the lack of money coming in only adds to your stress. Meeting with a trucking accident attorney as soon as possible can help alleviate that stress. You can focus on your recovery, knowing that your case is in the hands of legal professionals who are familiar with the complex laws and regulations surrounding the trucking industry.

Top Truck Accident Attorneys in Georgia

An accident victim injured in a truck accident that was caused by the negligent actions of the trucker may have a right to financial compensation to cover the cost of damages, however, litigation in these types of complex cases poses special challenges. A spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or other types of catastrophic injuries can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses, diminished earning capacity, and lost income. This doesn’t include compensation for the pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-economic damages suffered by the accident victim.

The financial, emotional, and physical toll that’s experienced during the aftermath of a truck accident makes it crucial to obtain full compensation for the accident victim’s injuries and other losses. However, the challenges of litigating this time of case make it imperative that you work with a trucking accident lawyer that has extensive experience in this field.

Truck Wreck Attorneys at the Ferguson Law Group

When you’ve been injured in an accident with a commercial truck, your attorney can ensure that all of the appropriate steps are taken to maximize the value of your case. The accident victim can be compensated for damages including pain and suffering, medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages. An experienced lawyer from the Ferguson Law Group can guide you through this type of complex legal process to ensure a successful outcome.

Hiring a truck wreck attorney to pursue your claim is one of the most important decisions you’ll make after an accident. The truck accident lawyers at the Ferguson Law Group know that there’s a limited amount of time to gather evidence to build a solid case. Our legal team also knows how to execute a strategic plan to preserve evidence and how to identify all possible avenues of compensation.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Valdosta

Usually, truck driver error is the most common cause of truck accidents in Valdosta GA. However, negligent behavior is also common and can include:

Driver Fatigue

Driver fatigue can occur when the driver fails to take appropriate breaks and drives too many hours consecutively.

Drug and Alcohol Use

Drug and alcohol use is another common cause of truck accidents. Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs can interfere with the driver’s judgment and can slow down the driver’s reaction time.

Speeding

A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Because of the massive size of these vehicles, a commercial truck requires more time to stop compared to a passenger vehicle that weighs 3000 to 5000 pounds. When a truck driver is speeding and becomes distracted, failing to notice a traffic jam up ahead or debris in the road, this can result in a catastrophic accident.

Lack of Experience

When a trucking company is short on drivers, they may cut corners in terms of how long and how well they train their drivers, or they may send out a new driver who does not have the experience needed for the trip. If this is the case, our attorneys will hold the trucking company responsible for failing to train their employees properly and putting other drivers at risk.

Liability in a Truck Accident

It’s possible for the trucking company to be held responsible if there’s an existing employment relationship with the company and the truck driver. However, it’s also possible that both the truck driver and the company, in addition to the truck maintenance company, truck manufacturer, truck parts manufacturer, and cargo loading company, may also be held responsible.

As you can see, a trucking accident case can be very complex. It’s the job of your attorney to identify each party and hold them liable for damages. This will be done during the investigation. Our team of experienced truck wreck attorneys knows how to investigate this type of complex claim to ensure our clients receive maximum compensation for damages.

Trucking Companies

Typically, liability in a trucking accident will usually fall on the trucking company. In a truck accident where the driver is to blame, the court will hold the trucking company responsible for the accident involving their driver and trucks, even if the company doesn’t technically employ the driver or own the semi-truck. A trucking company is vicariously liable for the misconduct of their truckers, in addition to any acts of negligence such as not following proper training and hiring procedures.

Cargo Companies

The company responsible for loading the cargo may have done so carelessly, causing the cargo to shift when the driver made a turn. This can cause the driver to lose control of their vehicle. Our lawyers will investigate the cargo loading company to determine if the company failed to secure the cargo load properly.

Damages

Depending on the facts surrounding your case, you may be entitled to receive a settlement for your accident. You may receive compensation to cover the cost of medical expenses, damaged property, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. A Valdosta truck accident attorney can review your case to give you a better understanding of the value of your claim.

If you have missed several days, weeks, or months of work for recovery and medical treatment, you may also be compensated for lost wages. If you have sustained a permanent disability from the accident and you are unable to return to your old job, you can also receive compensation for lost earning capacity.

Types of Truck Accidents

Every year, the state of Georgia averages between 180 and 230 fatal truck accidents. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, commercial truck accidents account for almost 14% of the total motor vehicle crash fatalities in the state.

Some of the most common types of trucking accidents include:

• Trailer decoupling
• Tire blowouts
• Rollovers
• Rear-end collisions
• Car collisions
• Dropping the payload as a result of improper loading

Regardless of the type of truck accident, the chances of serious or fatal injuries are higher than in a passenger car accident. This is because trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and collide with more force than passenger cars, even when a truck is traveling at a slower speed. For this reason, cars need to stay further away from commercial trucks whenever possible.

The Investigation

Trucking companies anticipate their drivers will be involved in accidents due to the high number of miles their trucks travel. A trucking company and their insurance company have deep pockets, not to mention substantial litigation resources that they will utilize to defend against a lawsuit. Most major trucking companies will have a team of investigators that they will dispatch to an accident scene within minutes. This fast response means that their team of investigators will have access to the truck driver, accident scene, and any witnesses, allowing them to build a defense strategy almost immediately.

Because of this, accident victims must retain legal representation as soon as possible to protect their rights. A truck accident attorney knows the importance of taking immediate steps to secure police reports, DOT reports, and other types of evidence. Because the trucking industry has a reputation for destroying and manipulating evidence, you need a truck wreck lawyer who will take the necessary steps to ensure that evidence is not destroyed or lost.

Preserving Evidence During an Investigation

While commercial truckers are subject to regulations that require records, as well as the preservation of certain types of evidence, in trucking litigation, the destruction of this crucial evidence is a common tactic used by the defense. While a trucker is required to keep a log that contains their time spent behind the wheel, the information in these logs is often falsified or distorted. An experienced truck accident attorney will know how to expose the practice of falsifying these books by obtaining the onboard data recorder, also known as the black box, in addition to receipts for tires, lodging, and fuel, email communications, GPS data, and other types of evidence.

An experienced truck accident lawyer knows that any delay in taking action to preserve evidence can have a major impact on the success of a lawsuit.

Common Tactics Used by Trucking Companies

A trucking company may repair a damaged trailer, placing it back into service as soon as possible. When this occurs, important evidence can be lost, such as the damage done to the vehicle. This type of evidence would help an accident reconstruction expert analyze the accident and determine the cause.

If a semi-truck is placed back in service before preserving evidence, such as black box data, this can also result in the loss of important information regarding the vehicle’s location, sudden braking, speed prior to the crash, and other important information that can prove negligence.

Our lawyers will send a spoliation letter to the trucking company, notifying them that the semi-truck and the black box must be maintained in the post-crash condition. If the trucking company fails to follow these instructions, the judge may impose a range of sanctions against them.

Trucking Regulations

Litigation in a truck accident case will also require extensive knowledge concerning the complexity of the regulatory framework that applies to the trucking industry. The cause of a truck accident often involves a violation of trucking industry regulations. A truck that engages in hauling cargo across state lines is regulated by the FMSCA, while trucks that operate within the state of Georgia are regulated by state law.

The trucking regulations cover safety issues, such as:

• Hours of service
• Drug and alcohol testing
• Truck weight and length
• Disciplining drivers who violate regulations
• Background checks and pre-hiring screening
• Vehicle maintenance and inspections
• Distracted driving

Benefits of Hiring a Valdosta Truck Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, it’s in your best interest to work with a skilled and experienced truck accident attorney in Valdosta.

An attorney can:

• Represent you in court
• Negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf
• File your claim within the statute of limitations
• Gather and preserve evidence
• Investigate the cause of the accident

Having a skilled attorney working on your case means that you will be able to focus on your recovery, while our attorneys handle your legal needs. We can answer any questions you may have regarding the legal proceedings and explain every step of the process.

When to Consult a Valdosta Truck Accident Attorney

Georgia only allows accident victims to pursue compensation for personal injury cases within two years of the accident.

In every type of accident situation, it’s important to move quickly to preserve evidence and protect the accident victim’s rights. An attorney can ensure that your case is initiated in a timely manner, so you don’t miss out on the settlement you deserve.

Truck Accident Attorneys Near Me

Contact the truck accident attorneys at the Ferguson Law Group today. Our highly experienced attorneys are here to fight for your rights and protect your claim. We will do our best to ensure you obtain maximum compensation for the injuries you sustained in the accident and other losses. Speak with one of our truck accident lawyers today to schedule a consultation and learn how the team at the Ferguson Law Group can help you recover the compensation you deserve.