Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyers

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Lawyers in Metro Atlanta turn to Shiver Hamilton Campbell when they need help with a case involving car or truck accidents, catastrophic personal injury, or wrongful death. If you are an attorney with a high-stakes or complicated case that needs to be litigated and tried for a successful result, or if you or your loved one has been injured in a car or truck accident or otherwise by the negligence of others, call Atlanta truck accident lawyers Shiver Hamilton Campbell for the representation you need to get the outcome you deserve.

Help With The Most Serious Accident & Injury Cases

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury deaths in the state and the number two cause of hospitalizations and visits to the emergency room. The DPH also notes that traffic deaths in Georgia occur out of proportion to Georgia’s population in the United States. While the state continues efforts to increase seat belt use and child restraints, our office continues to represent accident victims injured by speeding, distracted, drunk, reckless and negligent drivers. Our firm’s experience in auto and truck accident cases allows us to take on the most serious accident and injury cases in metro Atlanta.

Damages in a personal injury claim can include present and future medical expenses, present and future lost income or disability, pain and suffering, and more. In cases involving wrongful death, Georgia law allows surviving family members to sue for the “full value of the life of the deceased” while representatives of the estate can recover other damages such as final medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, and the conscious pain and suffering experienced by the deceased. Money may be a poor substitute for one’s health or to make up for the loss of a loved one, but it is necessary to help families deal with the harm done to them and the disruption in their lives, and to help them regain a sense of normalcy and the best quality of life they can have. It is also the way our legal system holds negligent actors accountable for their misconduct and helps make society safer for all. By thoroughly preparing every case for trial and going to court when necessary, our lawyers position every client for the best possible result and the maximum recovery available.

Metro Atlanta Truck/Tractor Trailer/18 Wheeler Accidents

Tractor trailers can weigh 20-30 times more than a car and take as much as two football fields distance to come to a complete stop. Trucks are powerful, dangerous vehicles, yet they commonly share the Atlanta roads with automobiles, bicycles, and pedestrians. When a truck is in an accident, the results can be devastating. Moreover, the process of seeking recovery for injuries suffered in a truck accident is usually much more complicated than in the case of a car accident. Trucks are usually part of commercial enterprises, so the list of potentially liable parties could be complex and difficult to ascertain. In addition, trucks are often involved in interstate commerce, so federal transportation laws may enter the equation.

So, if you are suffering from an injury as the result of a truck accident, it may be a good idea to speak with an experienced Atlanta truck accident attorney who understands all the unique aspects of these cases and could help you obtain the full amount of compensation you deserve.

Truck accidents in Atlanta are often severe, causing considerable damage and injury due to the sheer size and weight of commercial trucks. Given Atlanta’s bustling roadways and its position as a major transportation hub, these accidents are not uncommon. Understanding the types of truck accidents, the roads where they most frequently occur, and how the Georgia settlement process works can be invaluable for anyone impacted. For those seeking legal guidance, the experienced attorneys at Shiver Hamilton Campbell provide essential support to navigate these claims effectively.

Common Truck Accidents in Atlanta, GA

There are several ways a truck collision could occur, each with particular legal ramifications and contributing causes.

Jackknife Accidents: Often occurring when the driver brakes quickly, a truck’s trailer swinging out to form a 90-degree angle is referred to “jackknife.” Multiple lanes can be blocked and multi-vehicle pile-ups produced by jackknifing.
Underride Accidents: Smaller automobiles may slide beneath a truck’s trailer in an underride collision. Extremely risky, these collisions usually cause major injury or death.
Rollover Accidents: Trucks may roll over if they turn too quickly, particularly in cases of poor loading. For nearby drivers, rollover accidents usually prove lethal.
Tire Blowouts: A unexpected tire blowout can lead the truck to deviate off track and maybe collide with other cars. Extreme weather or neglectful maintenance might cause these mishaps.
Blind Spot Collisions: Trucks have rather large blind zones on all sides. Ignorant of these blind areas, drivers run danger, particularly when vehicles suddenly shift lanes.
Rear-End Collisions: Given the weight of trucks, stopping distances are significantly longer, hence rear-end collisions—especially deadly when trucks follow too closely or run across unexpected traffic—have great impact.

Popular Roads and Highways for Atlanta Truck Accidents

The position and infrastructure of Atlanta mean that many trucks pass its streets every day. Because of our concentration of commercial vehicles and considerable traffic, several routes and roads suffer more regular truck accidents:

Interstate 285 (I-285): Called the “Perimeter,” Interstate 285 (I-285) is a hotspot for truck accidents near Atlanta. Particularly during peak hours, I-285’s crossroads and exits are often hazardous for both vehicles and trucks due of great congestion.
Interstate 75 (I-75): Key for commercial traffic, Interstate 75 (I-75) extends from the northern to the southern sides of Atlanta. Its relationship to other big interstates and strong traffic helps explain regular mishaps.
Interstate 20 (I-20): Another main path for truck traffic is Interstate 20 (I-20), which stretches east to west across Atlanta. The merging zones and high-speed limitations can produce truck accident-prone zones.
Georgia State Route 400 (GA-400): Running north from Atlanta, GA-400, Georgia State Route 400 (GA-400) is a main corridor for both commuters and truckers moving north; it is typically crowded and vulnerable to traffic-related truck accidents.

Typical Causes and Injuries in a Georgia Truck Crash

All those engaged in a truck collision can suffer greatly. Although the reasons behind collisions vary, there are several typical Atlanta truck accident causes. See an attorney right away if you have been in a crash. An experienced ATL truck accident attorney could assist you in pursuing the compensation you are due for suffering and injuries. Though most of them have to do with phone use, there are a few typical reasons of truck accidents in Atlanta. Truck accidents have suffered greatly as cellphones have become more and more used.

Although the reasons of mishaps could vary, the degree of collisions is constant. Because trucks have more mass and hence more possibility for injury due to the significant amount of energy being transmitted onto the passenger vehicle, car drivers and their passengers commonly suffer severe injuries when struck by a tractor-trailer. Load a truck and it can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. The typical passenger car weights just 2,000 to 4,000 pounds. Whether it is a rear, frontal, or side hit determines most of the possible injuries. Though regular Atlanta truck accident reasons differ, most injuries from truck collisions cause problems with the spine. Common injuries in trucking accidents are also orthopedic, shoulder, and head ones.

Anti-cellphone Rules

Even at a stop sign, the federal government forbids a truck driver or commercial motor vehicle operator from texting or browsing at apps using a smartphone. Besides, most trucking firms forbid using cell phones. Many trucking businesses, in spite of this, do not take sufficient action to really enforce the no-cell-phone ban. According to cell phone records, truck drivers are often texting and calling while behind the wheel.

Is Atlanta Jurisdictional Comparative Negligence or Contributory?

Atlanta is a comparative negligent jurisdiction. This means that the individual bringing the claim forward might not get as much compensation as they would have if the accident was totally the other driver’s fault if they are partially at blame for the crash. The jury will examine all the facts, pay attention to witness testimony, consider the plaintiff’s and the defendant’s testimonies and apply this knowledge to ascertain the responsibility of every driver. Should the plaintiff be less than fifty percent accountable, the claim is valid. In Atlanta, on the other hand, the plaintiff might not get any compensation should a truck accident occur and she is fifty percent or more at responsible.

Arguing Negligence in an Atlanta Truck Accident

Recovering a financial reward for injuries sustained in an Atlanta accident requires proving that the careless behavior of one or another involved company or person led to the accident’s occurrence. Those who use Atlanta’s public roads need a duty of care to make sure their conduct do not unnecessarily endanger others. Should they neglect that obligation, they can find themselves legally accountable. Many ideas exist under which a driver, trucking business, manufacturer, or other entity might be accountable for the results of a truck accident. Negligent actions include:

Neglect of truck maintenance
Flaws in manufacturing
Inattentive driving
Letting a driver operate with inadequate knowledge
Promoting negligent behavior
Driving under impairment
Breaking trucking rules or traffic legislation

An attorney might look at whether these or other elements led to the accident. To help determine exactly what happened during the accident, this inquiry might include a review of the driver’s credentials and driving record, an inspection of the trucking company’s logs and policies, an analysis of police reports and photos, interviews with accident witnesses, and consultations with accident reconstruction experts.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM)

At least $1,000,000 of coverage is included in a big truck insurance policy. A person should get legal advice to let their own insurance company know if their injuries could be worth more than that. Should the value be unreachable, independent of truck company policy, the individual can refer to their own policy to gather the extra value up to the limits of their UM coverage.

Establishing Liability

Liability is showing that the crash and damage resulted from someone else acting carelessly. Other than the wounded person. Finding where the liability rests could prove to be crucial for figuring Atlanta truck accident damages. There exist several tiers of responsibility:

Laws of the road
Perception-reaction time
Medical Causation

The first layer of responsibility is the guidelines of the road that relate to trucks and drivers going beyond the basic regulations applicable to every other driver. These guidelines cover loading, driving, driver tiredness, driver distraction, braking adjustments, if the safety equipment on the truck is in good operation, and truck speed analysis.

Perception-Reaction Time and Medical Causation

The second layer is a study of perception-reaction time, in which case a truck driver should have seen the hazard and reacted evasively. The same regulation governs the other vehicle’s driver. Medical causation completes the third component of responsibility. Reviewing medical records and speaking with medical professionals helps truck accident lawyers determine whether aging or a pre-existing ailment caused the person’s injuries and limits or if the truck accident did.

Settlements in Atlanta Truck Accident Cases

Many personal injury lawsuits wind up settling rather than involving a jury trial. While agreeing on a specific amount of money early and avoiding a court battle could seem enticing, an injured individual may miss out on much-needed money to cover missed wages and medical expenditures resulting from their injury. Should you need legal assistance, think about appointing an attorney to assist with Atlanta truck accident case payouts. A caring truck accident attorney serving Atlanta could guide you through the settlement procedure and help you to avoid becoming caught in the web of the defendant’s insurance company.

Estimating Settlement Value

A jury determines the settlement figure; no official formula is applied. Insurance firms have tried to simplify this into a formula based mostly on what lawyers agree upon for like circumstances. Companies find it more difficult to justify lowball offers the more lawyers there are advocating fair settlements. Individuals should be advised that should they indicate to the insurance company what settlement amount they would like, the firm will see that sum as a ceiling for upcoming negotiations.

The injured party should consider their net recovery—that is, what they will get following payment of attorney’s fees, litigation expenses, and other obligations linked to the settlement. This covers exceptional medical expenditures or loans they could have taken out against the case to cover lost income or the medical demands.

When to Take a Settlement?

The client ultimately chooses whether to take a lawsuit before court or settle. But since they will be able to determine the value of the case, a lawyer with trial expertise is rather valuable. If someone thinks the sum would be sufficient or if there is a great chance of losing at a trial, they could wish to take a settlement offer. Finding a firm with a solid track record of trying cases is crucial since occasionally an attorney may be too shy to handle a trial and may advise a settlement. The claimant’s own risk tolerance and confidence in their counsel finally determine whether or not to reject a settlement and proceed to trial.

Getting the Settlement Money in a Timely Fashion

Usually, thirty days separate the agreement with the insurance company until the time money is ready to be sent to the client. Making ensuring their medical records are comprehensive and current will help someone make sure they get their payment on schedule. The claimant should not try to settle early if they still suffer and require ongoing medical attention. Thus, it is advisable to have a lawyer in the city keeping careful eye on the truck accident compensation. Once medical professionals can show how the injuries may affect the plaintiff’s future capabilities, they could have the personnel and tools to swiftly present the case in a position for a settlement demand.

Process for Georgia Truck Accident Settlements

Because commercial organizations are involved and the losses could be significant, the Georgia settlement process for truck accidents can be complicated. The process consists as follows:

File a Claim: Following an accident, the initial action is to submit a claim to the pertinent insurance providers. Multiple policies—that of the trucking firm, the driver’s personal policy, and other pertinent coverage—often abound in truck accident situations.
Collecting Evidence & Investigating: Thorough investigations are absolutely vital in truck accidents and evidence collecting. Establishing culpability and demonstrating damages can all depend critically on black box data, maintenance records, eyewitness statements, and accident reconstruction professionals.
Demand Letter: Once evidence is obtained, a demand letter detailing the damages—medical bills, lost earnings, property damage, and other losses—is given to the insurance company. The insurance company then looks over things and can present a first settlement.
Negotiation: Most of the time, talks are used to get to a just conclusion. Compensation for all medical bills, future treatment needs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses is sought for.
Settlement or Trial: Should negotiations yield success, the matter is resolved outside of court. Should not be the case, the matter could go to trial and a judge or jury will decide the result. The stakes in major truck accidents make litigation somewhat typical.

Lawyers That Try Cases and Get Results

At Shiver Hamilton Campbell, we work through several cases. Of course, we settle disputes when it would be most advantageous for our clients; but, we also often take cases all the way through to a jury decision with major outcomes. We have collected hundreds of millions of dollars for injury victims through verdicts and settlements, and we keep diligently and professionally serving our clients.

These are the reasons other excellent attorneys in Atlanta, throughout Georgia, and around the country bring us to fight and try matters either for or alongside them. We can be found in the classroom and seminar hall teaching present and future lawyers about personal injury and wrongful death law and litigation when we are not in the courtroom arguing for the rights of accident and injury victims. From the classroom to the courtroom, we are ready to apply our abilities on behalf of injury victims all over metro Atlanta.

Shiver Hamilton Campbell is Ready for Your Atlanta Truck Accident Case

Cases involving truck accidents call for a thorough knowledge of both state and federal trucking regulations, and the stakes are usually great. At Shiver Hamilton Campbell, we have a great deal of expertise with difficult truck accident claims and will walk victims through each stage of the legal procedure with an eye on obtaining just and whole compensation.

Deep knowledge of trucking laws—including hours-of-service standards, maintenance schedules, and driver qualifications—allows us at Shiver Hamilton Campbell to find any violations that might support your case. To gather important evidence supporting liability, our staff works with forensic experts, accident reconstruction analysts, and detectives. Negotiated skillfully, our lawyers examine all aspect of your losses—future medical needs, reduced earning capacity, and emotional suffering—to maximize the best potential settlements. Should your case go to trial, we are fully ready to represent you in court using our trial experience to properly present evidence and guarantee strong witness testimony. Should you or a loved one sustain injuries in an Atlanta truck accident, Shiver Hamilton Campbell may offer the legal direction and assistance required to obtain justice and equitable pay. Get in touch now to go over your situation and investigate your choices.

Shiver Hamilton Campbell is one of the top Atlanta truck accident lawyers in the area. Celebrated for our knowledge in managing challenging truck accident claims, we have earned over $500 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Our staff is skilled in negotiating the complexities of insurance policies and trucking rules, therefore guaranteeing that victims get their due recompense. Shiver Hamilton Campbell is a reliable advocate for Atlanta area truck accident victims, committed to individualized care and success. When searching for the best truck accident lawyers near me in Atlanta, consider Shiver Hamilton Campbell.

Contact Our Dedicated Metro Atlanta Truck Accident Attorneys

Call Shiver Hamilton Campbell if you need help with a car accident, truck accident or personal injury case for yourself or a loved one, or if you are an attorney needing help with a difficult case that may require litigation or trial to resolve. We take all personal injury, accident, and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis; we don’t charge any fees if we don’t win compensation on your behalf. We also have the resources to advance all costs of the litigation and make sure it is handled properly for an optimal result.

If you have been injured in a metro Atlanta car or truck accident, workplace or construction accident, or other incident caused by another party’s negligence or wrongful misconduct, call Shiver Hamilton Campbell at 404-593-0020 for a free consultation to find out how we can help you. Our Atlanta truck accident attorneys take on cases involving the most serious catastrophic injuries or wrongful death, and we fight to secure significant compensation for our clients who were hurt because of another’s negligence or wrongful conduct.

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