If you have been injured in a truck accident that was someone else’s fault, you deserve compensation and justice. The massive size and weight of commercial trucks mean that they can cause serious injuries when they are involved in accidents with passenger cars. Contact the law firm of Kevin A. Adamson, P.C. for help with your semi truck accident claim today.
Truck Accident Lawyers Serving Norcross
Truck drivers and their employers have a responsibility to take precautions to prevent such deadly accidents. When they or other responsible parties fail in this duty and you are hurt as a result, you can hold the negligent parties financially accountable.
The Norcross truck accident attorneys of the law offices of Kevin A. Adamson, P.C. are passionate advocates for seriously injured victims of truck accidents. Our semi-truck accident lawyers focus on providing smart, vigorous legal representation and personalized service to our clients.
We Have Some of the Best Truck Accident Lawyers in Norcross
Our relationships with our clients are important to us. That’s why we take the time to listen to your story, explain your legal options, and guide you through every step of the process to recover compensation from your truck crash case.
We give your case the personalized attention it deserves and will not rest until we have achieved the best outcome possible. We fight to pursue the full compensation each of our clients deserves. We prepare each case for trial because we are ready to fight for you and take the deep-pocketed insurance companies to court to seek the results you need. Our semi-accident attorneys have deep roots in the greater Atlanta area and are committed to making a difference in the lives of victims.
Schedule a free consultation with a truck accident attorney at Kevin A. Adamson, P.C. today to learn how we can help you pursue your traffic collision claim and seek the compensation you and your family deserve.
What Makes Tractor-Trailer Accidents Different?
Accidents between tractor-trailers and other motor vehicles can be especially devastating to the occupants of the smaller vehicle. The truck is almost always going to inflict much more force on the bodies of the occupants of a passenger vehicle or the rider of a motorcycle than the truck and its driver will receive from the other vehicle. As a result, car accident or motorcycle accident victims of truck collisions often suffer much more severe injuries than in collisions involving only smaller passenger vehicles.
The trucking industry is highly regulated, so many claims are often based on violations when the truck driver or the company fails to follow regulations and the failure causes an accident. This can make truck collision claims more complex, however, because you will likely deal with multiple parties, mountains of evidence, and complex government regulations.
You can count on the responsible parties to mount an aggressive defense to a truck wreck claim. Because insurance limits are often much higher on commercial vehicles and because damages are usually so great, a lot of money is on the line.
For these reasons, hiring an experienced truck accident lawyer from the law offices of Kevin A. Adamson, P.C. is very important after a truck accident case.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Semi-Truck Crash in GA?
Determining liability for a truck accident can be complicated. One of the primary factors that can come into play in determining who is responsible for a truck wreck is the relationship between the trucking company and the driver.
Some trucking companies employ their drivers, and others hire independent contractors – or at least that’s what they call them. Many so-called “independent contractors” are in fact employees in the eyes of the law. This relationship may affect whether you can pursue a claim for negligent hiring, negligent training, or negligent supervision against the trucking company, or whether you are limited to pursuing a negligence claim against the driver alone.
If the truck accident was caused by a mechanical failure of the truck itself, you may be entitled to seek compensation from those responsible for the truck’s manufacture or maintenance. If a defectively designed or manufactured component of the truck caused the mishap, you may be able to assert a claim against the truck manufacturer.
If the truck was negligently or poorly maintained, you may be able to seek compensation from the parties responsible for the truck’s maintenance, whether that be the driver themselves, the trucking company, or the mechanic shop hired by the driver or trucking company to maintain the truck.
What If the Trucking Company Blames Me for the Truck Crash?
Once a crash happens, the driver, their trucking company, and their insurers will begin their investigation immediately and look to minimize their liability, often by trying to blame you, at least in part, for the accident.
Georgia uses what is known as modified comparative negligence. Under this theory, the jury or judge will determine the percentage of fault of each party involved in the accident. If your fault is less than that of all the other parties combined, you will be able to recover damages.
If you are found partially at fault for your accident, your damages will be reduced to an amount equal to your proportion of fault for the accident. For example, if you are initially awarded $100,000 but are found to be 20% at fault for the accident, you would ultimately receive only $80,000. Anyone found to be 50% or more at fault would be barred from recovering any compensation.
The truck accident attorneys at the law offices of Kevin A. Adamson, P.C. are prepared to build a strong case to show that you were not at fault or that your fault was minimal in order to seek maximum compensation.
How Can a Norcross Truck Accident Lawyer Help After a Truck Accident?
When you are involved in a truck mishap, your primary focus should be on recovering from your injuries, getting back to school or work, and providing for yourself and your family.
Our experienced truck accident attorney can take on the burden of working through the complexities of your truck accident claim, gathering and analyzing evidence, negotiating with insurers, and if necessary, presenting your case before a trial court and jury.
Experienced truck crash lawyers can analyze the complicated relationships among drivers, trucking companies, and their clients and suppliers to determine which parties may be at fault for your accident. They can also peel back the multiple layers of insurance that many trucking companies carry to determine how much coverage is available to pay your damages.
A truck wreck lawyer, working with experts, can analyze the evidence from the truck accident to determine what really occurred. Lawyers may engage an accident reconstructionist to examine damage to the vehicles, road skid marks, dash cam videos, and computer and GPS data to recreate each moment leading up to and immediately after the collision.
Forensic auditors may review a truck driver’s logbooks to determine whether the driver violated maximum hours of service rules at the time of the accident – or may have attempted to cover up such a violation through poor or falsified record keeping – and therefore may have caused the accident through fatigue.
An experienced truck accident lawyer can calculate the full extent of your losses and aggressively pursue the trucking companies and their insurance to seek the full compensation you deserve. Trucking companies and their insurers are looking to pay you as little as they can – and ideally, nothing if they can get away with it. Don’t let them.
They’re banking on the fact that you may be out of work, facing unexpected medical bills, and need cash right now. They will try to use your distress as an opportunity to underpay you. Do not accept any settlement offer without getting advice from a Norcross personal injury attorney first.
Compensation for Losses in a Georgia Truck Accident
As with most personal injury claims, the kinds of compensation you may be entitled to following a truck accident fall into four main categories:
- Past and future medical expenses – Medical expenses include hospital bills, surgery, doctor’s visits, medication, physical and occupational therapy, durable medical equipment, and even modifications you must make to your home or vehicle to accommodate any disabilities caused by your injuries.
- Past and future lost income – Past and future lost income including lost wages due to work missed because of your injuries. If you are unable to return to work the same hours you did before your accident or are unable to return to your old job and have to take new work with lower pay, you may be entitled to that difference in future income that you lose out on.
- Pain and suffering – Pain and suffering damages are intended to compensate you for the pain caused by your injuries and for the loss of enjoyment of life, such as if you are incapable of participating in activities you used to before your accident.
- Loss of companionship – Your family, depending on your marital or family status, may be entitled to claim damages for the loss of your companionship caused by your injuries. When this claim is brought by your spouse, it is commonly called a loss of consortium claim.
If you’ve lost a loved one in a truck wreck in Norcross, GA, you and your family may be entitled to bring a wrongful death claim against the parties responsible for the accident.
If a jury finds by clear and convincing evidence that the truck driver’s conduct was willful, reckless, or wanton, you or your loved one may also be entitled to claim punitive damages provided you requested such damages in your complaint. These damages are relatively rare.
If you were in a vehicle or on a motorcycle or bicycle, you may be entitled to claim compensation for the damage to or loss of your personal property.
