Why Are Truck Accident Cases Different?

Many people may assume that truck accident cases are the same as any other kind of motor vehicle accident case. But truck accidents are much more complicated. Consider these differences:

• More severe injuries – Because of their size, large commercial trucks crash with great force when they hit smaller passenger vehicles. As a result, the occupants of those smaller vehicles tend to suffer much more severe injuries than those of a typical car accident. The more serious the injury is, the more expensive and lengthier the recovery becomes. This can make resolving a truck accident claim more difficult because the at-fault parties will fight the much larger damages they face. The injured party will also need to make sure that compensation includes future medical expenses and lost income.
• More complex evidence – Truck accidents involve more evidence than other types of motor vehicle accidents. Commercial trucks often carry a recording device that can show what the truck driver was doing in the moments before an accident. The truck driver’s logs may show the driver was potentially fatigued at the time of the accident. Other documents, such as the load manifest or the maintenance logs, may indicate that a mechanical problem with the truck caused the accident.
• Multiple liable parties – Parties other than the truck driver may face liability for the accident. Those parties include the driver’s trucking company, the truck’s owner, the freight company that loaded the truck or the truck’s manufacturer. These companies tend to have complex insurance structures. That can make it difficult to determine how much insurance coverage may be available.

How Our Georgia Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help

If you have been involved in a truck accident, you don’t have to go through the legal process alone. At Spaulding Injury Law, our Georgia truck accident attorneys are here to help. We can maximize the financial recovery you receive by:

• Thoroughly investigating your accident – Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate your accident. We often work with accident reconstruction experts to determine how your accident occurred. That can help point to the at-fault party.
• Recovering all relevant evidence – Our firm will also ensure that all relevant evidence is preserved in your case. That evidence includes driver’s logs, load manifests and truck maintenance records. Our attorneys will send evidence preservation requests to the truck driver and the trucking company. That will ensure that critical evidence in your case is not lost or destroyed.
• Identifying potentially liable parties and sources of financial recovery – Our attorneys will evaluate your case to determine which parties may have legal liability for your accident. The financial sources often go beyond the truck driver to include the trucking company, the freight company or the truck manufacturer. We will find the full extent of insurance coverage that these companies have. We want to make sure you receive full compensation for your damages.
• Negotiating for a fair and full settlement – We will push back against the tactics of the insurance companies and the defense law firms to ensure that you get maximum recovery in your case. We will never let you settle for anything less than fair compensation under the circumstances of your case.
• Preparing your case for trial, if necessary – We will work hard to get you compensation as quickly as possible through settlement. We will also prepare to take your claim to trial if necessary. That way, the other side will know we are serious about getting you the maximum compensation for your damages.

Evidence in a Truck Accident Lawsuit

When investigating a truck accident, experts may examine evidence that is not normally present in a typical car accident. The evidence may include:

• The driver’s logs – Many truck accidents occur when a truck driver is fatigued behind the wheel after driving more hours than federal and state regulations allow. The driver’s logs can show how long the driver had been behind the wheel prior to the accident. Those logs may point to fatigue as a factor before the accident.
• The driver’s toxicology report – In truck accident cases involving serious injury or death, the truck driver may be required to undergo an alcohol/drug test. That will show if the driver was under the influence during the accident.
• The truck’s “black box” – Many trucks are equipped with a “black box.” That device records data such as the truck’s position, speed, steering and acceleration/braking inputs. This data can show what the truck driver was doing in the moments leading up to the accident.
• The load manifest – If a truck accident was caused by an unsafe or improper truckload, the load manifest can show this.
• The truck’s maintenance logs – If the accident was caused by a lack of maintenance or improper maintenance, the truck’s maintenance logs can show this as well.