A truck accident with an 18-wheeler in Douglasville, Georgia, can leave you facing serious injuries, time away from work, and questions about how you will pay your bills. The Taylor Law Firm can help you understand your options and take on the legal work ahead.
We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. If you were hurt in a commercial truck crash, contact our Douglasville 18-wheeler accident lawyers at (404) 937-3348 for a free consultation.
Why Choose the Taylor Law Firm After an 18-Wheeler Accident in Douglasville, GA?
A trucking company in Douglasville, Georgia, may have an insurer and investigators working to protect its interests shortly after a crash. You deserve a legal team focused on protecting yours.
Taylor Law Firm is a female-owned law firm that represents injured people and families. Our Douglasville personal injury attorneys have obtained multiple six- and seven-figure jury verdicts and settlements for clients.
You may be missing work, depending on family members for help, or wondering whether you will ever feel like yourself again. Our Douglasville truck accident lawyers take the time to understand those consequences while building a case based on what the accident has actually cost you.
Why Are 18-Wheeler Accident Claims More Complicated?
An 18-wheeler accident is not simply a car accident involving a larger vehicle. Commercial trucking involves businesses, drivers, equipment, and safety requirements that can make determining responsibility more difficult.
The truck driver may have caused the collision, but the investigation should not always stop there.
Depending on what happened, responsibility could rest with:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The truck or trailer owner
- A maintenance provider
- A cargo-loading company
- A parts manufacturer
Our attorneys can follow the evidence to determine whose actions contributed to the collision.
What Causes 18-Wheeler Accidents in Douglasville?
Commercial drivers spend long hours on the road and operate vehicles that require training, attention, and regular maintenance. A mistake behind the wheel or a safety problem with the truck can have devastating consequences.
Common causes of truck accidents include:
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Following too closely
- Driving under the influence
- Inadequate driver training
- Poor truck maintenance
- Brake or tire failures
- Overloaded trailers
- Improperly secured cargo
Federal trucking regulations may also become relevant to an investigation. These rules address issues such as driver hours of service, qualifications, inspections, and vehicle safety.
Finding out what went wrong may require examining evidence not available at the accident scene.
What Evidence Can Help Prove My 18-Wheeler Accident Claim?
Some of the most useful evidence in a truck accident case may be held by the trucking company.
Depending on the circumstances, our attorneys may examine:
- Electronic logging device information
- Driver qualification and training records
- Inspection and maintenance records
- Hours-of-service information
- Dispatch records
- Cargo documents
- Police reports
- Photographs and video
- Witness statements
- Available vehicle data
Time can matter. Trucks are repaired and returned to service, electronic information may not remain available indefinitely, and witnesses can become harder to find.
Getting an attorney involved early can make it easier to identify and preserve evidence before it disappears.
What Compensation Can I Recover After an 18-Wheeler Accident?
A serious truck accident can affect your finances long after you leave the hospital.
You may be able to pursue compensation for losses such as:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical care
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
The value of a case depends on how the accident affected the individual.
Someone who cannot return to a physically demanding career may face very different losses from someone expected to make a full recovery in several months. A permanent injury can also change ordinary parts of life, from caring for children to driving, exercising, or living independently.
Our lawyers can look at both the losses you have already experienced and those you may face in the future.
What If I Am Partially Responsible for the Truck Accident?
Being partly responsible for a crash does not necessarily prevent you from recovering compensation in Georgia.
Under the state’s modified comparative fault rule, your compensation can generally be reduced according to your percentage of responsibility. However, a person who is 50% or more at fault cannot recover damages.
That gives trucking companies and insurers a reason to closely examine your actions.
They may argue that you changed lanes unsafely, stayed in the truck’s blind spot, were speeding, or could have avoided the collision. Those allegations should be tested against the evidence rather than simply accepted.
Our attorneys can investigate what happened and challenge attempts to place more responsibility on you than the facts support.
Contact Our Douglasville 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation
After a truck accident, you should be able to put your energy toward your health and your family—not spend your days trying to track down trucking records or arguing with an insurance company.
The Taylor Law Firm is here for you. We are ready to listen to what happened, investigate the crash, and help you determine what comes next.
Give us a call today for a free consultation with a Douglasville 18-wheeler accident attorney.