Accidents involving 18-wheelers can cause serious vehicle damage and devastating injuries due to their size and weight. These large trucks, also called semi-trucks and tractor-trailers, are usually used to transport cargo over long distances.
Drivers of these trucks must carry a commercial driver’s license. Many state and federal laws regulate the operation of these trucks. At Jones & Swanson, we understand these regulations and will use our legal knowledge to file a strong claim for compensation on your behalf.
Our Marietta truck accident lawyers have 50-plus years of combined experience handling cases like yours. We’ll provide the personalized counsel and strong representation you need to get the damages you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and get started on your case with our 18-wheeler accident lawyers in Marietta.
Damages Our 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers in Marietta Will Pursue for You
A serious 18-wheeler crash leaves you with bills, lost income, and pain that impacts every part of your life. Our Marietta personal injury lawyers will pursue all the damages you deserve, which may include any of the following:
- The cost of emergency medical care, hospital stays, and surgery
- Future medical bills for long-term treatment and rehabilitation
- Lost wages from missed work days
- Loss of earning capacity if your injuries keep you from returning to your job or working in a similar capacity
- Property damage, including damage to your vehicle and personal belongings
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages, if your loved one passed away due to injuries suffered in a commercial truck crash
In cases involving especially reckless conduct, such as a trucker driving drunk, falsifying driver logs to get around federal hours-of-service limits, or operating a rig the company knew was unsafe, our team will also pursue punitive damages.
Punitive damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer and discourage that kind of behavior. If we have to file a lawsuit to recover the damages you deserve, we will, and our team will present compelling evidence in court.
Common Causes Of 18-Wheeler Accidents
Truck crashes can happen for many different reasons. Our Marietta 18-wheeler accident lawyers have handled many cases like yours and, as a result, we know how these collisions happen. We will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident to find out how it happened and who should be held liable.
You can count on our trusted team of truck accident lawyers to file a strong claim after a commercial truck crash involving any of the following factors:
- Truck rollover
- Jackknife accidents
- Smaller vehicles traveling in blind spots
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Mechanical failures due to a lack of vehicle maintenance
- Brake failure
- Driver fatigue
- Improper cargo loading or cargo securement
- Dangerous cargo, such as flammable liquids
- Speeding
Common 18-wheeler Accident Injuries
When a large commercial truck collides with your vehicle, the impact can leave you with serious and catastrophic injuries. We understand the gravity of your situation and are prepared to work with medical professionals to identify all your current and future medical needs and expenses.
Our legal team will also connect you with medical professionals who will treat you on a lien basis. That means, if you don’t have health insurance, you won’t have to pay for the medical treatment you receive until we’ve secured your settlement.
Our 18-wheeler truck accident law firm will work tirelessly to get you the resources and damages you need to deal with any of the following injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe lacerations
- Broken bones
- Skull fractures
- Brain damage
- Neck injuries
- Spine injuries
- Paralysis
- Amputations
- Death
We Take On Cases Involving Catastrophic and Fatal Injuries
Catastrophic injuries lead to a lifetime of challenges and medical or nursing care, or both. There will be substantial medical bills every year. You may be left with severe challenges due to paralysis or other physical damage. There will be extensive financial losses due to the inability to work, or you may even be rendered incapable of continuing to work in your profession.
If someone you love passed away in an accident with a truck driver, you and your family members could pursue a wrongful death claim. There will be expenses for the funeral, lost wages, and future financial losses.
Our Marietta wrongful death lawyers will help your family pursue these damages, giving you the peace of mind and support you need to deal with your loss.
What to Do After a Truck Crash
The hours after a truck crash matter more than you might realize. Trucking companies dispatch their own rapid-response teams to the scene within hours, and important evidence like driver logs, black box data, and dash cam footage can be overwritten or destroyed within days.
Taking action soon preserves evidence, protects your claim, and helps your physical recovery. Getting medical care immediately will ensure that all your injuries are identified and treated. Some conditions, like concussions, can go unnoticed for hours or days. Our Marietta 18-wheeler accident attorneys recommend taking all the following steps soon after a trucking accident:
- Dial 911 immediately so police and EMS can respond to the scene.
- See a doctor as soon as possible.
- Take photos of the cab’s DOT number, trailer markings, license plates, skid marks, and any visible cargo.
- Note the name of the trucking company visible on the truck, along with the trailer number.
- Ask the driver for their insurance details and the trucking company’s contact information.
- Gather contact information from bystanders and other motorists who saw the crash happen.
- Decline any request to give a recorded statement to the trucker’s or trucking company’s insurer.
- Don’t post about the crash or your injuries on social media.
- Hold onto every hospital invoice, prescription receipt, repair quote, and paycheck stub showing lost income.
- Contact a Jones & Swanson truck accident attorney ASAP.
The importance of hiring our truck accident lawyers soon after a crash can’t be overemphasized. Our team will begin investigating your case, securing important evidence, and working to meet tight deadlines right away.
Who Can Be Held Liable
When it comes to truck crash cases, there are often multiple parties who can be held liable for your injuries and losses. The trucking industry is built on layers of contractors and corporate relationships, and identifying every party that contributed to your crash is one of the most important parts of your case.
Our Marietta truck accident lawyers will analyze all available evidence to determine which of the following parties can be held responsible:
- The truck driver, for unsafe driving or violating federal hours-of-service rules
- The trucking company, for negligent hiring, poor training, or pressuring drivers to push past safe driving limits
- The truck’s owner, when the cab or trailer is leased from a separate company
- The cargo loader, for improperly loaded or unsecured freight that shifted in transit
- The maintenance contractor, for skipped inspections or faulty brake and tire repairs
- The truck or parts manufacturer, for defective brakes, tires, steering systems, or other components
- Other drivers on the road who contributed to causing the collision
We’ll work with accident reconstruction professionals to find out exactly how the crash happened. No matter how complicated the incident was, we’ll find out who is to blame and present evidence to show that they should be held liable for what you’ve been put through.
We’ll Deal With the Insurance Company After a Truck Wreck
Handling insurance companies after a truck accident can be incredibly complicated. A single 18-wheeler crash can involve multiple policies and sometimes an umbrella policy or broker’s policy stacked on top. Each insurer brings its own adjusters, defense attorneys, and investigators whose job is to limit what you receive.
We will deal with every one of those insurance companies on your behalf. We will identify all available policies, refuse lowball offers, push back on attempts to shift blame onto you, and document every dollar of damages so the insurers cannot undercut your claim. We’ll use the following forms of evidence to make your case as strong and undeniable as possible:
- Medical records
- Witness statements
- Testimony from expert witnesses
- Black box data
- Maintenance records
- Evidence of federal regulation violations
- Photos and video footage from the scene of the trucking accident
- Evidence of negligent hiring practices
Statute of Limitations for 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Lawsuits in Marietta, Georgia
Our personal injury attorneys are closely familiar with all the laws and deadlines that apply to your case. One of the most important requirements is Georgia’s statute of limitations for injury suits. Under Georgia Code § 9-3-33, you have two years from the date of the crash to sue.
If you don’t take legal action in time, you’ll be blocked from pursuing the damages you need to get back on your feet. If you get in touch with our 18-wheeler accident attorneys in Marietta soon, we’ll have the time we need to gather information and file a compelling lawsuit before the deadline.
Hiring legal help after a serious truck crash should not add more financial stress. That is why our firm handles every case on a contingency fee basis.
No Fee Until We Win
You will not pay an upfront retainer or an hourly rate when you hire our truck accident attorney. Our firm covers the cost of investigating the crash, preserving the black box and driver logs, and consulting the accident reconstruction experts your case needs.
Our fee comes only out of the damages we recover for you, and if we do not recover damages, you owe us nothing. Schedule a free consultation with our firm today to learn more about our contingency fee policy and learn more about your options after a serious collision.
We Consider Trucking Industry Regulations
There are federal and state laws that regulate the commercial trucking industry. Due to the more significant potential damages in an accident, trucking companies must carry high liability insurance coverage. Someone hurt in an accident involving a negligent 18-wheeler operator has the potential to recover not only from the truck driver but also from the truck owner and others.
Handling an accident involving an 18-wheeler truck driver can be complicated due to the laws that regulate the trucking industry. For example, drivers must qualify physically to drive a truck. They must adhere to regulations regarding how long they can drive and how long they must rest. There are also laws that dictate how cargo must be loaded.
We will dig deep to find out if these laws were violated during the incident. We’ll use strong evidence to show that the driver or another party failed to abide by regulations. You can count on us to gather the records and testimony we need to prove fault and get a fair outcome.
Our Marietta Truck Accident Attorneys Are Here for You
It is important to have experienced and skilled attorneys advocating for you after a truck wreck. Our team at Jones & Swanson has the experience and skill to secure a judgment in your favor or successfully settle your claim when the truck driver or the trucking company was negligent and caused your injuries.
Our attorneys know how to investigate these accidents effectively, and we fight hard to protect you and recover the settlement you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how our 18-wheeler accident lawyers in Marietta will help you.
