Our Atlanta Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer Team
Collisions with semi-trucks may not happen every day in Atlanta, but the outcome of these accidents is often severe. These commercial vehicles are typically 20 times heavier than passenger cars. Their tremendous size can cause catastrophic damage to other vehicles and their occupants.
If you were hurt in a commercial truck crash, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The team at Mabra Law understands what is at stake, and we can help you fight for the best possible outcome. Let one of our Atlanta semi-truck accident lawyer team members aggressively pursue justice on your behalf.
What is the Value of a Commercial Truck Accident?
After the shock of being in an accident with a semi-truck wears off, those injured may realize that they are in a tough financial position. Medical bills are costly, but all too often, people are too hurt to return to work. If their own car or truck was damaged or totaled, the unexpected loss of reliable transportation – and independence – can compound frustration.
If you were struck by a commercial vehicle, you could be entitled to numerous types of monetary damages. Every settlement is made up of different kinds of compensation related to your physical, emotional and financial hardships.
No attorney can promise your case will settle or guarantee that you receive a fair offer. However, our firm can evaluate the extent of your injuries, identify who was at fault and offer insight into what your case could be worth. Some of the types of damages available include:
- Past and Future Medical Bills
Costly medical care can quickly overwhelm a person who was injured in a crash with a semi-truck. These injuries have the potential to lead to permanent health issues or even fatal consequences. You might be able to recover damages for past and future medical expenses, including surgical procedures, ambulance transportation, physical therapy or hospitalization.
- Lost Wages
Missing work due to an injury can have a lasting financial impact. If you are too hurt to work, it can cost you the income that you and your family were counting on. You could be entitled to damages that allow you to recoup your lost wages, both in the past and the future. You might also be entitled to damages if you were forced to use paid time off during your recovery.
- Diminished Future Earning Capacity
Some injuries are so severe that they permanently harm your ability to earn a living. Even after you are able to return to the workforce, your physical capabilities could be diminished due to your permanent health issues. This, in turn, can reduce your future earnings dramatically.
You could be entitled to financial compensation based on your reduced future earnings. This amount is the difference between your likely earnings prior to your injury and what you can expect to make now.
- Pain and Suffering
Pain is subjective. There is no question that pain follows a serious physical injury, but the way pain impacts each person differs dramatically. What’s more, there is no way objectively to measure the suffering that a person faces. Despite this uncertainty, it is possible to recover a financial award based on your pain and suffering. Sometimes it may require testimony from you or experts to show a judge or jury how much this claim is worth.
- Scarring and Disfigurement
Chronic pain is not the only personal loss you might experience following a semi-truck crash. Some serious injuries such as deep lacerations or burns can leave you with scarring or disfigurement. Such physical damage can substantially impact your emotional state as well.
Living with disfigurements can lead to a number of issues, including depression. This is especially true for anyone with scarring on their neck or face. It can lead to social challenges that remain in place long after your other injuries have healed. The good news is that you could recover financial compensation based on your scarring or disfigurement from a semi-truck crash.
- Property Damage
The top concern after a truck accident is the health and wellbeing of those involved. Next is addressing damage to their personal property. A truck crash can result in the total loss of your vehicle. You could recover a monetary award that pays to repair or replace your car by pursuing a civil lawsuit against the responsible party.
How Can an Atlanta Semi-Truck Accident Attorney Help Me?
Dealing with serious injuries following a truck accident can be difficult for anyone. While managing your physical recovery can feel like a full-time job, it can be further complicated by your inability to work or care for yourself.
Our firm is ready to help you pursue the financial compensation you deserve. Some of the ways we could help with your case include:
- Investigating the Cause of Your Accident
The first step in any successful injury accident case is determining what happened. We can carefully evaluate the cause of the crash by reviewing witness statements, police reports and video evidence. Tracking down this evidence not only helps us better understand what happened, but it can also be compelling proof of negligence at trial.
- Determining Who Was At Fault
There are different parties who could be liable for a semi-truck crash. Often, more than one individual or entity will be at fault. Our firm can work to identify each of the potential defendants in your case. The most obvious place to start is the driver of the commercial vehicle, as operator error is the most common cause of truck accidents.
Other individuals also might be to blame, such as the truck driver’s employer. If the driver was acting within the scope of their employment, the employer might be on the hook for any damage the driver caused. Other potential defendants could include mechanics who performed shoddy or inadequate repair work or the manufacturers of defective truck parts.
- Managing the Statute of Limitations
Every lawsuit has a deadline for filing, and your semi-truck injury claim is no exception. In Georgia this deadline—primarily known as the statute of limitations—expires two years from the date of the crash. If you file your lawsuit after that window of time, the judge likely will bar you from ever recovering compensation for your injuries. Our firm is ready to help you manage all of the legal deadlines in your case.
- Negotiating a Settlement
A common outcome in many of these cases is a negotiated settlement. In exchange for your promise not to sue, the negligent party or their insurance company might offer you a financial settlement. Although this outcome is common, receiving an offer worth accepting is not always easy. This is especially true when you act without the help of a lawyer. Insurance adjusters will aggressively pursue unreasonably low settlement offers with the hope that they can bully you into accepting. Our team can advise you on when is the right time to take an offer.
- Taking Your Case to Trial
If the other side refuses to make you a serious offer, it may be time to take your case to trial. Most plaintiffs will never see their case get this far, but our team is always prepared for the possibility of litigation. We can also make certain that you are prepared to testify before a judge or a jury of your peers.
You Can Learn a Lot From a Free Consultation
Most people who are involved in serious accidents have a lot of questions about their legal rights. If the other driver was at fault, you could have a viable case for compensation. This type of lawsuit can be complicated, and many injured parties are unclear on how the litigation process works. The good news is that most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations.
At Mabra Law, we know what it is like to be overwhelmed by the aftermath of a serious accident. That is why we always offer free consultations with an Atlanta semi-truck accident lawyer. We can not only help you understand the strength of your case, but also advise you on how the justice system works in general.
The chance to speak with an attorney at no cost is a valuable opportunity. Preparing all of the questions you have beforehand is a good way to ensure you get all the answers you need regarding your potential civil suit. Some questions you might ask include:
- Do you exclusively practice personal injury law?
- How many truck accident cases have you handled?
- Have you ever had a case similar to mine?
- What was the outcome?
- What is your fee structure?
- Can you estimate the value of a settlement?
- How many truck accident trials have you had?
What If I am Partially at Fault?
Personal injury lawsuits following semi-truck accidents are based on the legal theory of negligence. In order to recover financial compensation, you must be able to prove that the careless or reckless acts of the other driver were responsible for your injuries.
In many semi-truck accident cases, the question of liability is clear. Truck drivers frequently are liable for these collisions due to factors such as impairment, fatigue or aggressive driving. But what if you share some of the fault of the accident?
The State of Georgia recognizes the concept of contributory negligence. This legal theory applies when both parties in an accident share a degree of fault. Being partially to blame will not automatically prevent you from recovering a monetary award from the other parties As a plaintiff, you still can recover damages as long as you are less than 50 percent responsible for the crash.
Although injury victims who are partially to blame can pursue legal action, the amount they are eligible to recover may be impacted by their degree of fault. A jury is required to reduce their verdict by the percentage of liability.
Consider this example: A commercial truck driver is texting while behind the wheel and fails to notice the stop sign ahead. They crash into a car that had the right-of-way, but the driver was speeding. Both parties have committed traffic offenses, but a jury determines that the driver of the passenger car is only 10 percent at fault. They also decide that the driver sustained $100,000 in damages. Their award would be $90,000, given that 10 percent of the recovery be removed due to comparative fault.
Understanding the Types of Semi-Truck Accidents
Not all semi-truck accidents are the same. The nature of these collisions can vary, from single-vehicle accidents to multi-car pileups. Understanding how these crashes happen can be valuable for anyone considering legal action after an accident. An Atlanta semi-truck accident lawyer could pursue a personal injury lawsuit in the following situations:
- Rollover Accidents
The consequences can be devastating when moving semi-trucks flip and roll over. This usually happens when the operator loses control of their vehicle before turning sideways and rolling over. Driving at unsafe speeds or overcorrecting after taking a turn can lead to rollover accidents. Due to their size, semi-trucks risk crossing into multiple lanes of traffic and striking more than one vehicle.
- Underride Accidents
Underride accidents are unique to large commercial vehicles. Because transport trucks ride so much higher than passenger cars, smaller vehicles in some cases can actually become lodged beneath the trailer. This often happens when a passenger car strikes the trailer on the rear or side and slides underneath it.
- Head-On Collisions
One of the most dangerous types of semi-truck accidents, a head-on collision occurs when the front of a commercial vehicle strikes the front of another car or truck. This can happen in different situations, but the most common is when a driver crosses over into the lane occupied by oncoming traffic. The impact generated by these accidents can be catastrophic and traumatic.
- Rear-End Collisions
The most common type of accident involves one vehicle striking the back of another. Commercial truck drivers frequently rear-end other motorists when they fail to stop in time to prevent a crash. This can happen due to a number of factors, including impairment, distraction or fatigue. These accidents often are relatively minor, but they also can result in traumatic injuries—particularly when semi-trucks are involved.
- Side-Impact Crashes
Side-impact collisions occur when a semi-truck strikes the side of another vehicle. This often occurs in intersections where one driver fails to yield at a stoplight or other traffic control device. These accidents often are referred to as T-bone accidents due to the “T” shape the colliding vehicles create. Injuries associated with these accidents can be severe, especially for passengers sitting on the impact side of the vehicle that was struck by the semi-truck.
- Jackknife Accidents
Semi-trucks have articulated joints between the cab and the trailer. When a truck turns sideways while moving at a high speed, it can cause the trailer to fold in on itself like a switchblade. A skidding commercial truck represents a significant hazard that could strike numerous nearby vehicles.
What Does it Cost to Hire an Atlanta Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer?
If you have been injured in an accident with a negligent truck driver, your financial situation could be challenging. The cost of medical care can add up quickly. Missing work due to your condition can compound these issues by costing you your primary source of income. With all of these factors in play, the prospect of hiring a lawyer might sound beyond your means. The good news is that Mabra Law is here to help regardless of your financial situation
Our firm works on something known as a contingency fee basis. This approach allows us to get to work on your case without you paying any upfront fees. Instead of billing by the hour or charging a flat fee, we keep a portion of what we recover on your behalf as our fee. This means that we only get paid when we recover compensation on your behalf, which means our success is tied to yours. Clients whose cases do not result in a successful outcome do not owe us any legal fees whatsoever. This is a no-lose prospect for you because you have the opportunity to pursue justice following a semi-truck accident without facing the risk of walking away with nothing but a bill from your lawyer.
Seek Assistance with Your Injury Case - Speak with an Atlanta Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer Today
contact-us/You should never have to deal with the complications of a personal injury lawsuit on your own. If you were hurt in a collision with a commercial vehicle, the team at Mabra Law is here to help. We are ready to aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve. Before you attempt to resolve your case on your own, reach out to our Atlanta semi-truck accident lawyer team as soon as possible for a free consultation.