Truck Accident Lawyer

HIRING A SKILLED SEMI-TRUCK ACCIDENT LAW FIRM

If you suffered an Injury in a Truck Accident in the state of South Carolina or Georgia, our Personal Injury Attorneys can help you with your case.

Commercial trucks such as big-rigs, tankers, tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers are extremely large and heavy vehicles that can cause serious and lethal accidents.

There are strict government regulations that trucking companies must follow regarding the operation of their rigs. This includes driver training and work schedules.

When a truck causes an accident, the driver and trucking company can be held accountable for injuries and property damage.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault, contact an experienced truck accident attorney from The Brown Firm for legal advice and representation.

Attorney Harry Brown Jr. DC, JD is extremely familiar with the debilitating injuries a person can suffer due to a large vehicle accident and will use his legal and medical experience to vigorously fight for your right to compensation.

DETERMINING FAULT IN A TRACTOR TRAILER WRECK

Commercial trucking companies must follow strict guidelines set in place by the government to protect motorists from these kinds of life-threatening accidents.

If any Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations are not followed and result in an accident, the truck driver or company will most likely be at fault and can be held liable.

Commonly violated rules include:

  • Improperly maintained vehicles

  • Tired drivers

  • Violations of highway traffic and safety laws

Driver fatigue is probably the most common cause of 18 wheeler accidents in South Carolina and Georgia.

Drivers commonly drive over the number of designated hours permitted each day, in order to meet unrealistic deadlines, which makes them fatigued. This is an extremely common problem in the trucking industry and therefore when an accident occurs, a careful examination of records is essential.

More than likely, driving logs will demonstrate an overall disregard for the federal safety regulations, or prove to be fraudulent. Additionally, drivers and trucking companies are only required to keep these records for six months.Therefore, obtaining these implicating logs must be done within the initial six month period or they may be destroyed.

A person who does not have solid proof, or incriminating evidence, that regulations were ignored will have a much more challenging time winning their Commercial Truck Accident Case. Hiring an expert lawyer is essential.

A committed personal injury attorney from The Brown Law Firm will analyze your case to prove that the truck driver or trucking company was negligent and at fault for the accident by:

  • Analyzing Driving Logs

  • Checking Vehicle Maintenance

  • Identifying any Manufacturer Defects or Recalls

  • Authenticating Driver Credentials

  • Investigating the Scene of the Accident:

    • Police Reports

    • Photographs

    • Witness Statements


COMMON TRUCK ACCIDENT INJURIES

Many semi-truck accidents will kill the victims involved or leave them with very serious, life-long injuries. Survivors of truck accidents are often left with a decreased quality of life, both physically and financially.

Truck accident victims can suffer from any of the following:

  1. Loss of Limbs

  2. Lacerations

  3. Third Degree Burns

  4. Back and Neck Injuries

  5. Traumatic Brain Injuries

  6. Seat Belt Injuries

  7. Broken Bones

  8. Internal Injuries

  9. Spinal Cord Damage and Paralysis

  10. Wrongful Death

WHY HIRE AN ATTORNEY FROM THE BROWN LAW FIRM?

When you or a loved one has been involved in a big rig traffic accident, injuries can be so severe that they will require long-term treatment and care.

Our firm will prepare a comprehensive claim and seek maximum compensation for any accident-related expenses and losses, including:

  1. Hospitalization

  2. Medical Care

  3. Lost Wages

  4. Rehabilitation

  5. Physical Therapy

  6. Home Care

  7. Property Damage

You deserve compensation and a just settlement, and we will work hard to minimize hassles and delays.

Contact a Savannah, Atlanta, Athens, or Okatie Truck Accident Lawyer for determined and resourceful representation.

If you were injured in a truck accident in Georgia or South Carolina, click on the link below for a Free Consultation with one of our experienced attorneys at The Brown Firm.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TRUCK ACCIDENTS

What Are Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

An important part of determining negligence is finding who is at fault, but you must first examine the cause of the accident. Common causes of trucking accidents include:

  • Improperly Maintained Vehicles

  • Tired or Fatigued Drivers

  • Intoxication

  • Violate safety laws such as speeding, cutting off drivers, and making incorrect turns

  • Unrealistic schedules

  • Improperly loaded or overloaded trucks

  • Unqualified truck drivers or lack of training

  • Dangerous weather conditions

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the most commonly cited cause of truck accidents is due to truck driver error. Drivers of large trucks are ten times more likely to be the cause of trucking accidents than other factors, such as weather, road conditions, and vehicle performance. The FMCSA study also examined factors that cause truck drivers to make errors such as use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, speeding, fatigue, inattention, distractions, work environment, and unfamiliarity of the road.

What Should I Do if I Am Involved in an Accident With a Semi-Truck?

If you are involved in an accident with a Semi-Truck, if you are physically able to do so, there are some steps that you should take that can help get you through the experience as smoothly as possible.

First, Call the Police. Contacting the authorities is important to both making sure that everyone who needs medical treatment gets it as well as formally documenting the accident in case you have to file a lawsuit.

Usually, truck accidents cause more severe injuries, leading to larger settlement amounts. Getting an accurate police report from the authorities is a crucial piece of evidence that will be used to prove fault in your accident and make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

Second, Gather Evidence. If you are able to, you should gather as much evidence from the scene of the accident as possible. The important pieces of evidence you should try and get include:

  • Pictures of both vehicles and Injuries

  • Drivers Credentials

  • Police Report

  • Witness Statements

  • License Plate and Serial Numbers

By gathering relevant evidence, you strengthen the potential lawsuit you may have, potentially leading to a larger financial settlement.

Third, Contact a Personal Injury Attorney. Semi-Truck Accident Injury cases can become incredibly complex, due to the severity of injuries and amount of parties that could be held responsible. Speaking with an attorney early on can prevent you from making any mistakes that could negatively impact your case, ensure your legal rights are protected and increase the value of your settlement.

I Keep Getting Calls From Insurance Companies. What Should I Tell Them?

If you are contacted by an Insurance Company after your accident, DO NOT SAY ANYTHING to them until after you have spoken with a Truck Accident Attorney. Insurance company's goals are to minimize the amount that they have to pay out in a settlement due to an accident.

Anything that you say to them over the phone regarding your accident can be used by them to argue that they should not have to pay the amount of compensation that you deserve.

An experienced Georgia Truck Accident Attorney will inform you of exactly what you can and cannot say to the insurance company, or may just deal with them directly. Following their instruction is vital to protecting the value of your case.

How Much Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?

If you are involved in a truck accident, the type of attorney you can hire to represent you is called a Personal Injury Attorney. These attorneys specialize in helping the victims of accidents caused by someone else's negligence get financial compensation.

Thankfully, these attorneys work on what is called a Contingency Fee Basis. A Contingency Fee Basis means that you do not pay any legal fees upfront, and your attorneys only collect a fee in the form of a small percentage of your final settlement.

Do Truck Drivers Have To Follow Different Laws When Driving?

Yes.

Truck Drivers and Trucking Companies have more strict Guidelines that they must follow when operating their vehicles. These guidelines are written out in both Federal and State level mandates. If a Truck Driver or Company is in violation of any of these guidelines, they can be fined or lose their license.

Some of the different concepts that are covered in these guidelines include:

  • Hours of Service

  • Securing Loads

  • Weight Limit

  • Maintenance Schedule

  • Drug Testing

  • Driver Physical Exams

If it is determined that a company or driver was in violation of any of these laws, it can mean a larger settlement when it comes to your accident injury settlement.

What if My Big-Rig Accident Was Months Ago?

Although the sooner you act the better off you will be, just because you made the mistake of waiting to act after an accident does not mean that all is lost.

States have what is called a Statute of Limitations which provides a timeframe for which a legal claim must be filed after an accident.

In Georgia, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident. However, even though you are given a two-year window for which to act, cases are usually stronger and have larger awarded settlements the sooner they are filed.