Truck wrecks can be incredibly dangerous. Semi-trucks can weigh over 30,000 pounds, 20 to 30 times more than regular passenger cars. When a semi-truck swerves and blocks a highway, it can cause a multi-vehicle accident with multiple fatalities. Motor vehicle accidents involving 18-wheelers often cause severe injuries or death to innocent drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Recovering compensation from injuries caused by a truck accident can be challenging. When an at-fault truck driver causes an accident, he or she is liable for injuries that result.
A Gainesville truck accident lawyer at Smith Hulsey Law offers clients relentless representation. We provide exceptional results for clients who suffer injuries in the truck, tractor-trailer, and 18-wheeler accidents. Our skilled attorneys have represented insurance carriers. We know all of the ways that insurance companies attempt to pay out less than they should to our injured clients. Contact our law firm today to schedule your initial consultation. En español
In 2018, 4,136 people died in truck accidents, and 67% of those were occupants of other passenger vehicles and cars. Truck wrecks are far more dangerous for people in passenger cars than truck drivers. In fact, 96% of people killed in two-vehicle crashes involving a large truck were those in the passenger vehicle that collided with the truck. Most of the deaths, 74% involved tractor-trailer trucks. Additionally, 62% of truck drivers who died in crashes involved a collision with another large truck.
Semi-truck and 18-wheeler drivers work under a tremendous amount of pressure. In many cases, truck drivers are independent contractors who do not receive payment until they complete a job. The more jobs they finish in a short amount of time, the more income they receive. Unfortunately, this setup can create an atmosphere in which truck drivers do not get the minimum amount of sleep to drive safely. Driver error or negligence is the most common cause of tractor-trailer accidents As an experienced attorney can further explain, lack of sleep and drowsy driving are a common cause of serious truck wrecks in Gainesville. Additional causes of truck accidents include the following:
Most semi-trucks and tractor-trailers are 20 to 30 times heavier than passenger cars. When a large truck collides with a passenger car, the results are often deadly. Every year, thousands of U.S. citizens become injured or killed in tractor-trailer accidents. In almost all cases, when a truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the passenger vehicle occupants suffer more serious injuries than truck drivers. Severe injuries common in truck accidents include the following:
The first step to recovering compensation for injuries suffered in a truck is to determine who was at fault. At Smith Hulsey Law, our attorneys conduct thorough investigations into our clients’ tractor-trailer wrecks in Gainesville. We gather evidence, including the police report, witness testimony, and any available CCTV footage. When needed, we call on our network of accident reconstruction experts to help determine who caused the accident. Depending on the circumstances of the truck collision, the following people and organizations may be liable for the accident:
Our local truck wreck attorneys can help determine who is at fault. Once we determine the at-fault party, a personal injury lawsuit might be the best way to seek compensation for injuries suffered in a car accident. Successful plaintiffs can recover all of the following types of damages:
When it comes to auto insurance, Georgia is an “at-fault” state. When someone becomes hurt in a truck wreck caused by another driver’s negligence, the injured party can file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company. When a truck driver who causes the accident works for a trucking company, the injured party can usually file a claim with the trucking company’s insurance provider. Insurance companies are notorious for offering compensation amounts that are much too low. At Smith Hulsey Law, our seasoned lawyers work hard to negotiate with insurance companies so our clients receive a fair amount of compensation.
Georgia is a modified comparative fault state, a legal doctrine that comes into play when determining compensation in truck accidents. Under Georgia law, an insurance company or court can reduce the injured party’s compensation when the injured party is a person is mostly or partly at fault. For example, if a truck driver ran a stop sign and collided with the driver of a passenger car, the truck driver is liable for the other driver’s injuries. However, if the other driver was driving above the speed limit when the accident occurred, he or she is partially at fault. If an insurance company or a court determines that the injured passenger car driver was 10% at fault, it will reduce the driver’s total compensation by 10%.
If you have suffered an injury in a tractor-trailer wreck, our Gainesville truck accident lawyers can help. Contact Smith Hulsey Law today to schedule your free case evaluation.
Smith Hulsey Law
If you were hurt in an accident caused by someone else's negligence, call our former insurance attorneys to help maximize your case's value.
5
223
5
5
Ronnie did an excellent job on our car accident, personal injury case. He worked tirelessly from the time we called him soon after the wreck until our case was settled. He made sure all of our needs were taken care of and that we had the best experience possible with all of the things we were going to have to face. He walked us through step by step when necessary and never hesitated to return our calls. Could not have ask for a more caring team. We highly recommend them to anyone that is in an unfortunate situation like we were.
Trina W.Madeline K.
Tap Here For Free Case consult 