Our Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer Team
Getting into an accident with a large truck or a tractor-trailer can be a traumatizing experience for the driver. Cars, SUVs and even pickup trucks are dwarfed by massive unwieldy trucks, which means that wrecks don’t often end well for the smaller vehicle. Their sheer size, coupled with exhausted, overworked drivers, can spell disaster for drivers on the road.
Reckless driving is the main cause of fatal truck wrecks in Georgia. Falling asleep behind the wheel of a semi, or simply being too tired to properly operate such a massive vehicle, can severely injure people who are unlucky enough to be in their path.
If you’ve been injured in a tractor-trailer wreck, you need proper representation from a firm experienced in representing the literal “little guy” in tractor-trailer wreck cases. In many cases, tractor-trailer drivers are represented by their company’s well-prepared legal team, which can make it difficult to win a claim alone. Mabra Law is here to offer the help you deserve after a tractor-trailer wreck.
Do You Specialize in Truck Accident Cases?
Not every Atlanta personal injury attorney can handle a truck accident case. Some specialize in different types of accidents such as slip and fall accidents, work-related injuries, or medical negligence.
Mabra Law specializes in personal injury accidents related to motor vehicle accidents, including truck accidents. You need truck accident attorneys who have handled similar cases to yours in order to get you a proper settlement figure.
Mabra Law has experience handling a variety of truck accident cases in the state of Georgia. Below is something else to consider after contacting a personal injury attorney at Mabra Law.
Understanding Your Truck Accident Case
The main reason why injured parties in an accident file a personal injury claim is to get compensation for the damages and truck accident injuries sustained. However, sometimes you may not have the legal grounds to file a compensation lawsuit.
Your eligibility to file for damages and personal injury compensation will depend on what happened during your accident.
Your lawyer will check whether the five elements of negligence were present during the crash. To prove fault, your lawyer will need to examine whether the impact had the following conditions:
- The liable parties breached their duty
- The responsible parties had a responsibility to protect and prevent the accident that caused you harm
- You suffered an injury and measurable loss
- The at-fault party’s actions directly caused the accident
Your trucking lawyer will also investigate things such as vehicle maintenance records, driver log books, tire blowouts, unsafe vehicles, hazardous materials, brake failure, mechanical failure, driver fatigue, impaired driving, trucking regulations, federal regulations, and other pieces of evidence that may have caused the truck collision.
Mabra Law will help you evaluate your case during a free consultation. During the initial consultation, our lawyers will evaluate your case, weigh your options and give you proper guidance on how to proceed.
Ensure you also ask the lawyer what kind of fair compensation you should claim based on your case. Different damages may result from a truck crash. Ask your lawyer whether you should claim compensation for all of them. Some of these damages include out-of-pocket medical expenses, loss of income, and property damage.
There are also other intangible damages like physical impairment, emotional distress, and pain and suffering. Mabra Law will help you get maximum compensation for all the damages you suffered because of liable parties. You may also be wondering what the fee structure is like at Mabra Law.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Physical injuries and mental anguish frequently happens to trucking accident victims. Below is a list of common injuries caused by 18-wheeler trucking accidents.
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Catastrophic injuries
- Internal injuries
- Minor injuries
Physical therapy is often needed after 18-wheeler accidents. Our law firm can refer you to experienced medical professionals so that you can get the appropriate medical care.
Tragically, a commercial truck accident can result in critical injuries and wrongful death. Mabra Law also specializes in handling wrongful death claims and can help families receive maximum compensation and justice for the loss of a loved one.
What Damages Can I Recover for a Truck Accident?
Understanding the damages you are entitled to recover is essential for protecting your legal rights after a truck accident in Georgia. Broadly speaking, damages in truck accident cases fall into three categories:
#1: Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the financial costs of a truck accident. This includes your medical bills, the cost of purchasing medications and medical supplies, and other out-of-pocket expenses. It also includes your loss of income (and benefits) if you are unable to work for any length of time.
#2: Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages cover all of the other ways your accident-related injuries negatively impact your life. Emotional distress, pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life are all examples of “non-financial losses” that truck accident victims can recover under Georgia law.
#3: Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are only available in certain types of cases. While economic and non-economic damages provide compensation for victims’ losses, punitive damages are intended to punish bad actors. If you got hit by a truck driver who was drunk or high, or if the truck driver intentionally caused the accident in a fit of road rage, these are examples of circumstances in which punitive damages might be available.
Do I Need to Report a Truck Accident to My Insurance Company?
You will most likely need to report your truck accident to your insurance company. Failing to do so could violate the terms of your insurance policy, and this could lead to termination of your insurance coverage. If you have questions or concerns about contacting your insurance company, an Atlanta truck accident lawyer at Mabra Law can help.
It is also worth noting that using your insurance coverage after an accident can be beneficial in some cases. For example, if you have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage under your policy, you may be able to rely on this coverage while your truck accident claim is pending. You can still seek full compensation from the at-fault party; and, if you receive full compensation, your insurance company will get reimbursed at the end of the process.
Who Do I Sue for a Truck Accident in Atlanta?
When you hire an Atlanta truck accident lawyer to represent you, answering this question will be one of your lawyer’s top priorities. In order to file a lawsuit, you first need to know who (or what company) to file your lawsuit against.
To answer this question, your lawyer will conduct a comprehensive investigation focused on determining why the accident happened. Depending on the specific cause (or causes) of your truck accident, you may have a claim against one or more of the following companies:
- The truck driver’s insurance company (if the truck driver is an owner-operator)
- The truck driver’s employer (if the truck driver is an employee)
- The truck’s manufacturer (or the manufacturer of a defective component)
- A dealership or shop that serviced the truck before the accident
- The company that owns or loaded the truck’s cargo
But, even these are just examples. If another driver was involved in your truck accident, you may need to file a claim with his or her insurance company. If your brakes or airbag failed, you may have grounds to sue your vehicle’s manufacturer. If an issue with the road played a role in the accident, you could have a claim against the government. There are numerous possibilities—and this is one of several reasons why it is essential to have an experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer on your side.
How Do I File a Claim for a Truck Accident in Atlanta?
Another reason why it is essential to have an experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer on your side is that you need to take all of the steps that are necessary to protect your legal rights effectively. Filing a claim for a truck accident in Atlanta is very different from filing most other types of auto accident claims. Not only are large commercial trucks much more complicated than ordinary cars, pickup trucks and SUVs (which means there is more that can go wrong), but the legal issues involved in truck accident cases can be much more complicated as well.
With this in mind, the first step toward filing a claim for a truck accident in Atlanta is to speak with a lawyer who can help you. At Mabra Law, we have extensive experience securing just compensation for truck accident victims and their families. If you have a claim, we can handle your claim for you from start to finish, and we can help you make smart decisions every step of the way.
How Much Are Truck Accident Law Firm Fees?
Every truck accident lawyer has different fees. Thanks to the different fee structures, some lawyers prefer charging a flat rate while others prefer an hourly fee. Mabra Law handles cases based on a contingency basis.
Charging on a contingency basis means that you will only pay the attorney fees after the ruling is in your favor. For truck accidents, it’s better to take the contingency payment option.
Personal injury lawyers who work on a contingency basis will do their best to get you a proper settlement figure since they will only get paid after you receive compensation. Mabra Law has the experience to get you the maximum amount of compensation.
How Long Have You Practiced in Atlanta?
A personal injury lawsuit is complicated because it includes all types of intentional and unintentional accidents. Personal injury can include workplace injury, slip and falls, auto accidents, and medical malpractice cases.
Mabra Law has been serving truck accident victims in Georgia since 2007 and has personal injury lawyers on staff with decades worth of combined experience. Our law firm can help you navigate the complex accident laws in Georgia to get favorable results.
The other party’s insurance company will have a team of experienced attorneys to fight your case. Their legal representation will ensure that your truck accident injury claim is denied or you get lower compensation than you deserve for your financial damages.
Our personal injury law firm stands up against insurance companies and gets our clients the compensation that they need. Additionally, the majority of our cases are settled out of court.
What Happens If My Atlanta Truck Accident Case Goes to Trial?
In most cases, semi-truck accident cases are often settled before going to trial. Unfortunately, the insurance company may refuse to pay you a fair settlement; thus, your case may go to trial.
Our knowledgeable attorneys can handle your case if it goes to trial. We will present your case in front of a jury to obtain a favorable ruling if necessary.
If your case goes to trial, your truck accident attorney will be tasked with convincing the jury or bench judge that the other party was a negligent driver and caused the accident. They will present evidence and cross-examine witnesses to prove that the truck accident injuries and financial losses you sustained were caused by the negligent and careless actions of the other party.
Mabra Law’s experienced truck accident attorneys have an excellent track record of success.
What Are My Chances of Winning This Truck Accident Lawsuit?
When looking for a law firm to handle your case, ensure you settle for one with a higher success rate. While it’s never guaranteed that the law firm you choose can give you your desired results, it’s essential to be on the safer side and choose one with a higher success rate with truck accident claims.
Mabra Law has a 99 percent success rate. We attribute our success to experience and a personalized approach with our clients.
Who Will Handle My Semi-Truck Crash Case?
Most accident lawyers work in big law firms. If you approach one and you’re wondering if they will be the one handling your case, ensure you ask them. Some lawyers may take you as a client then pass your case to other attorneys who understand your case better.
While this is a fantastic option, you may not be entirely comfortable working with the other attorney. Ensure you ask about who will be handling your case to maximize the probability of winning.
Is It Worth Hiring an Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer?
From determining which company (or companies) you need to sue to calculating the damages you are entitled to recover, there are many reasons why it is worth hiring an experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer to represent you. Since we handle all truck accident cases on contingency, you never have to pay anything out of pocket for our legal representation. You pay nothing unless we win; and, if we win, our fees will be based on the percentage we discuss at the outset of our representation.
When you choose Mabra Law to handle your truck accident case in Atlanta, our lawyers will:
- Conduct an on-scene investigation to determine what happened and who (or what company) is to blame.
- Speak with eye witnesses, obtain traffic or surveillance camera footage (if available), and gather any other types of evidence that are available.
- Obtain employment records, cell phone records, maintenance records and any other forms of documentation that are necessary to establish liability.
- Work closely with you and your doctors to understand the long-term effects of your accident-related injuries.
- Carefully calculate the economic and non-economic damages you are entitled to recover, and determine if your case warrants a claim for punitive damages.
- File all appropriate claims on your behalf and negotiate with the insurance companies to secure a favorable settlement.
- Take your truck accident case to court if a favorable settlement isn’t on the table (cases still can, and often do, settle at this stage).
Get An Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer in Atlanta Today
Depending on the severity of the accident, you may suffer from severe injuries and significant financial losses. This may mean that you lose your job and have to pay for medical costs.
If the semi-truck accident was a result of another party’s negligence, you might be entitled to financial compensation.
Contact a truck accident lawyer in Atlanta with Mabra Law to help you claim a fair settlement from the insurance company.
At Mabra Law, we are a semi-truck accident law firm in Atlanta, and our team of personal injury lawyers puts the needs of injury victims first. Call us today, and an experienced truck accident lawyer from Mabra Law will handle your case and ensure you get the financial compensation you deserve.