Truck Accidents

About Truck Accidents

Every day, commercial trucks safely transport goods across Georgia and throughout the U.S. However, when a crash occurs, the size and weight of these vehicles can cause life-changing injuries and create legal issues far more complex than those in a typical car accident.

Although commercial trucks represent a relatively small percentage of vehicles on the road, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), crashes involving large trucks continue to result in thousands of deaths and injuries each year and remain a significant highway safety concern.

Commercial truck accident claims often involve:

• Multiple sources of liability, including truck drivers, trucking companies, maintenance providers, cargo loaders, and manufacturers. 
• Federal safety regulations covering commercial drivers, vehicle inspections, cargo securement, and hours-of-service (HOS) rules.
• Specialized evidence such as electronic logging device (ELD) data, black box information, and maintenance records.
• High-value commercial insurance claims involving larger policies and multiple insurers

Childers, Schlueter & Smith (CSS) represents individuals and families injured in commercial truck accidents throughout Georgia and nationwide. Whether your accident involved an 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, delivery truck, tanker, dump truck, or another commercial vehicle, our Atlanta truck accident attorneys are committed to helping clients understand their legal rights and pursue the compensation they deserve.

Why Hire Childers, Schlueter & Smith for a Truck Accident Lawsuit?

A serious commercial truck accident can leave victims and their families facing mounting medical bills, lost income, long recoveries, and uncertainty about the future. Choosing the right attorney is a crucial step.

At Childers, Schlueter & Smith (CSS), we represent individuals and families whose lives have been affected by commercial truck accidents and other serious personal injury matters. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling complex litigation against trucking companies, corporations, insurance companies, healthcare providers, and other defendants, and have secured significant verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured clients.

We understand how to investigate commercial truck accidents, analyze the evidence, and pursue claims against trucking companies, motor carriers, manufacturers, and other parties whose negligence may have contributed to a crash.

The CSS team works with accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, and other professionals when needed to develop a clear understanding of how a truck crash occurred and the full impact it has had on our clients’ lives. Whether a case is resolved through settlement negotiations or requires litigation, we’re committed to pursuing the compensation our clients deserve while providing responsive, compassionate representation throughout the process.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a commercial truck accident, Childers, Schlueter & Smith offers free consultations to discuss your situation, answer your questions, and help you understand your legal options.

Why Truck Accidents Are Different From Car Accidents

At first glance, a commercial truck accident may seem similar to any other motor vehicle collision. However, truck accident claims are often far more complex because they involve commercial vehicles, federal safety regulations, multiple businesses, and extensive documentation that isn’t present in most passenger vehicle accidents.

Unlike a typical car accident, responsibility for a truck crash may extend beyond the driver. Trucking companies, maintenance contractors, cargo loading companies, vehicle manufacturers, and other parties may all play a role in the safe operation of a commercial truck. Determining what happened often requires looking into the company’s safety practices, maintenance history, driver qualifications, and compliance with federal regulations.

The physical differences between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles also contribute to the severity of these crashes. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average passenger vehicle weighs only a fraction of that amount. Because of this significant size and weight difference, truck accidents are more likely to result in catastrophic injuries, permanent disabilities, and fatalities.

Understanding these differences provides context for the claims process after a commercial truck accident. The sections below explain the common causes of truck accidents, who may be responsible, the evidence used to determine fault, federal regulations that govern the trucking industry, and what to do in the aftermath of an accident.

Types of Commercial Truck Accidents

Although commercial trucks account for only a portion of the vehicles traveling Georgia’s highways, crashes involving large trucks continue to significantly impact public safety. According to the FMCSA, Georgia experiences more than 9,000 large truck crashes each year, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and thousands of injuries.

Georgia’s major freight corridors—including Interstates 75, 85, 20, and 285—carry thousands of commercial trucks every day. Because tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and other commercial vehicles are larger, heavier, and less maneuverable than passenger vehicles, they’re involved in collision types that are less common in ordinary car accidents. The way a truck accident occurs can provide valuable insight into what went wrong, what evidence investigators should examine, and who may ultimately be held responsible. Some of the most common types of commercial truck accidents include:

Jackknife Accidents

A jackknife accident occurs when the trailer swings outward from the cab, forming an angle similar to a folding pocketknife. These crashes may occur when a driver brakes suddenly, loses traction, or drives too fast for the road or weather conditions. Jackknife accidents can block multiple lanes of traffic and involve numerous vehicles.

Rollover Accidents

Because of their height and weight, commercial trucks have a higher center of gravity than passenger vehicles. Taking a curve too quickly, making a sudden steering correction, or carrying an improperly balanced load can cause a truck or trailer to roll over, creating a serious hazard for nearby motorists.

Rear-End Collisions

Commercial trucks require much longer stopping distances than passenger vehicles. When a truck driver is distracted, fatigued, following too closely, or traveling too fast, the truck may be unable to stop in time to avoid striking another vehicle.

Underride Accidents

An underride accident occurs when a passenger vehicle slides beneath the side or rear of a tractor-trailer during a collision. These crashes are among the most severe truck accidents because the upper portion of the passenger vehicle may absorb the impact, increasing the risk of catastrophic or fatal injuries.

Blind Spot Accidents

Large commercial trucks have significant blind spots along both sides of the vehicle, directly behind the trailer, and in front of the cab. If a driver can’t see a nearby vehicle before changing lanes or turning, a serious collision can occur.

Wide Turn Accidents

Semi-trucks often need additional space to complete right turns safely. Drivers may swing left before turning right or occupy multiple lanes during the maneuver. Vehicles caught beside or between the truck and the curb can become trapped during these turns.

Cargo-Related Accidents

Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can shift while a truck is in motion, affecting its balance and stability. In some cases, cargo may fall onto the roadway or contribute to rollovers, jackknife accidents, or loss of vehicle control.

Common Causes of Georgia Truck Accidents

Commercial truck accidents rarely have a single cause. While driver error is often a contributing factor, many crashes result from a combination of human error, mechanical problems, inadequate maintenance, or failures to follow established safety procedures. Identifying the cause of a collision is an important part of determining whether negligence contributed to the accident.

Driver fatigue remains one of the trucking industry’s most significant safety concerns. Long hours behind the wheel, demanding delivery schedules, and inadequate rest can reduce a driver’s ability to recognize hazards and react to changing traffic conditions. Other crashes result from distracted driving, excessive speed, impairment, or other unsafe driving behaviors.

Responsibility isn’t always limited to the driver. Mechanical failures, improperly secured cargo, overloaded trailers, poor vehicle maintenance, inadequate driver training, and unsafe company practices can all contribute to serious collisions. In many cases, investigators determine that several factors—not just one—combined to cause the crash.

Some of the most common contributing factors in commercial truck accidents include:

• Driver fatigue
• Distracted driving
• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Improper vehicle maintenance
• Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo
• Inadequate driver training
• Unsafe hiring or dispatch practices
• Failure to comply with federal safety regulations

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Truck Accident?

One of the biggest differences between Georgia truck accident claims and ordinary car accident claims is that responsibility may extend far beyond the person behind the wheel. Commercial trucking often involves multiple companies working together to transport freight, and each may have legal responsibilities related to safety, maintenance, or cargo handling. A trucking company may share liability if it failed to properly hire, train, supervise, or retain its drivers. Other businesses may also be responsible for inadequate maintenance, cargo loading errors, defective truck components, or other negligent acts that contributed to the collision.

Those liable in a truck accident case could include:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company or motor carrier
• The owner of the truck or trailer
• A maintenance or repair company
• A cargo loading company
• A manufacturer of defective truck parts
• Other individuals or businesses whose negligence contributed to the collision

Identifying who may be responsible is only part of the investigation. The next step is gathering the evidence needed to determine exactly how the collision occurred.

Evidence in a Truck Accident Case

Truck accident investigations often begin with identifying and preserving evidence that can help explain how the collision occurred. In addition to photographs, witness statements, and police reports, investigators may review electronic data, company records, and other documents that provide insight into the truck’s operation before, during, and after the crash.

Much of this evidence may only be available for a limited period of time. Electronic data can be overwritten, company records may change, and physical evidence may disappear if it’s not preserved promptly. Attorneys often request that trucking companies preserve records and electronic data before they are lost or destroyed.

Truck accident cases often rely on records such as:

• Electronic logging device (ELD) records
• Black box (event data recorder) information
• Driver qualification files
• Vehicle inspection and maintenance records
• Hours-of-service (HOS) logs
• Cargo manifests and loading records
• Dash camera footage
• GPS data
• Police reports
• Witness statements
• Photographs and videos from the accident scene

Much of the evidence gathered during a truck accident investigation is tied to federal safety regulations governing commercial drivers and trucking companies. Understanding those requirements can help explain how investigators determine whether safety violations contributed to a crash.

Federal Trucking Safety Regulations

Commercial trucking companies and drivers are subject to federal safety regulations that don’t apply to most passenger vehicle drivers. Established by the FMCSA, these regulations are designed to promote highway safety and reduce preventable crashes involving large commercial vehicles. As discussed in the previous section, many of the documents and electronic records collected during a truck accident investigation exist because trucking companies are required to comply with these federal standards.

The regulations cover nearly every aspect of commercial trucking operations, including HOS limits that restrict how long drivers may remain behind the wheel, driver qualification standards, drug and alcohol testing requirements, commercial driver’s license (CDL) requirements, vehicle inspection and maintenance obligations, and rules for safely loading and securing cargo.

When investigators discover evidence that federal safety regulations were violated, those findings may help explain how the collision occurred and whether a trucking company, driver, or another party failed to meet its legal safety obligations.

What Compensation May Be Available After a Truck Accident?

When someone else’s negligence causes a truck accident, an injured person may be entitled to seek compensation for the losses resulting from the crash. The amount that may be recovered depends on the specific facts of the case, the damages that can be proven, and the applicable law. While no legal claim can undo the harm caused by the accident, compensation may help relieve the financial burden associated with medical care, lost income, and other losses.

Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical treatment and rehabilitation
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Wrongful death damages

Commercial trucking companies generally carry larger insurance policies than private motorists because of the risks associated with operating heavy commercial vehicles. However, obtaining compensation still requires establishing liability and demonstrating the full extent of the damages suffered.

What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?

After a commercial truck accident, it’s not always clear what to do next. Medical treatment, vehicle damage, insurance calls, and questions about liability often arise within hours of the crash. While your health should always come first, taking a few practical steps can also help protect your legal rights.

If possible, consider the following after a truck accident:

• Seek medical attention immediately. Even if injuries seem minor, some conditions may not become apparent until much later. Prompt medical care also creates documentation of your injuries.
• Report the accident to law enforcement. A police report can provide valuable information about the accident and may be used as evidence during the claims process.
• Document the accident scene. If it’s safe to do so, take photographs of the vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, traffic signs, visible injuries, and any other relevant details. Collect contact information for witnesses whenever possible.
• Avoid discussing fault. Be honest when speaking with law enforcement, but avoid speculating about what caused the crash or accepting blame before all the facts are known.
• Preserve records related to the accident. Keep copies of medical bills, repair estimates, receipts, insurance correspondence, and any records of missed work or other losses resulting from the collision.
• Be cautious when speaking with insurance companies. Insurance adjusters may contact you soon after the accident. Before providing a recorded statement or accepting a settlement offer, it may be beneficial to speak with an attorney to understand the potential impact those decisions could have on your claim.

When Should You Contact a Georgia Truck Accident Lawyer?

Many people wonder whether they should contact an attorney after a truck accident. While not every collision requires legal action, commercial truck accident claims are often more complicated than you may expect. Learning about your legal rights early can help you make informed decisions about how to move forward.

An attorney can help identify everyone who may be legally responsible, preserve important evidence before it is lost, communicate with insurance companies, evaluate the full extent of your damages, and explain the claims process so you can make informed decisions about your case.

Even if you’re unsure whether you have a claim, speaking with an experienced Georgia truck accident lawyer can help you better understand your legal options and the steps that may be available to protect your rights.

Contact Childers, Schlueter & Smith

An accident with a commercial truck can leave victims and their families facing serious injuries, mounting medical expenses, lost income, and many unanswered questions. The Atlanta truck accident attorneys at Childers, Schlueter & Smith (CSS) understand the challenges these cases present and are committed to helping injured people navigate the legal process with confidence.

CSS has experience handling complex truck accident litigation involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. Whether through a negotiated settlement or trial, we thoroughly investigate each case and pursue the compensation to which our clients may be entitled.

We understand that choosing an attorney after a serious truck accident isn’t an easy decision. Our team is available to answer your questions, explain the legal process, and help you understand your options during a free consultation. You can contact CSS online, via live chat, or by calling 1-800-641-0098.