About Truck Accidents
- Collisions with large commercial trucks often result in severe injuries or fatalities due to the significant size and weight difference between trucks and passenger vehicles.
- Victims may pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering if injured by a negligent truck driver. Trucking companies typically carry substantial insurance policies, which can be a key source of compensation.
- Truck accident claims are complex, often involving multiple parties. An experienced attorney can help by investigating the accident, negotiating with insurance companies, and pursuing maximum compensation.
Why Hire CSS for a Truck Accident Lawsuit
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a tractor-trailer accident, you know how severe they are. A car can be fixed or replaced — but the physical and emotional wounds that follow a serious tractor-trailer accident can’t be healed so fast. Some people may never recover from their injuries. If you’re dealing with the burden of these injuries, you need to speak with a truck accident attorney. At Childers, Schlueter & Smith, we handle truck wreck lawsuits across Georgia and understand the devastation that follows. The aftermath can feel overwhelming—emotionally, physically, and financially. Our team is dedicated to helping you navigate this challenging time with skill and compassion.
We have extensive experience handling complex truck accident claims in Georgia. From investigating the accident scene to negotiating with large insurance companies, we work tirelessly to ensure you receive the maximum compensation you deserve. Our Atlanta truck accident attorneys are seasoned litigators who won’t settle for less than what you’re entitled to, and we will exhaust every legal avenue to secure justice on your behalf.
Choosing the right attorney can make all the difference in your recovery. At CSS, we don’t just represent your case — we advocate for your future. With us by your side, you can focus on healing while we handle the rest. Consultations are free, and there’s no obligation, so contact us today to learn how we can help you rebuild your life after a truck accident.
Truck Wreck Statistics
No driver wants to be in an accident–and certainly not in an accident involving a tractor-trailer that weighs dozens of tons more than your car. The results can be catastrophic. Tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and other large commercial vehicles can pose a major threat to passengers traveling in smaller vehicles. While the typical, fully-loaded commercial truck can weigh 80,000- 150,000 pounds or more, the average passenger automobile weighs approximately 3,000 pounds. Because of the disparity in size and weight and the laws of physics, collisions between passenger automobiles and large trucks are likely to result in serious injury and fatalities. Moreover, the size and weight of commercial trucks make them a hazard when they brake and turn corners, due to longer stopping distances and impaired maneuverability.
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision with a large tractor-trailer, consider speaking with a truck wreck lawyer in Atlanta.
Causes of Commercial Trucking Accidents
While tight federal regulations govern the activities of drivers, their trucks, and their cargo, these laws have often been breached in accident cases and ignored by many drivers, in our experience. Common causes of commercial truck accidents include:
- Driver fatigue due to too many hours on the road
- Excessive speed
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs
- Improper vehicle maintenance
- Inadequately or improperly secured loads
- Failure to maintain proper driving logs
- Transport of hazardous materials without required permits and licensure
- Forced dispatches by companies on their drivers
If any of these negligent acts led to your semi-truck wreck, a lawyer could help you file a legal claim against the responsible party.
Your Legal Rights After an 18-Wheeler Accident in Atlanta
These potential acts of negligence- either on the part of the driver or any number of other parties- should be investigated in all collisions involving a large truck. Whether you have been injured in an accident with a commercial truck or are a truck driver yourself, know that you have legal rights to be fully compensated for any acts of negligence. Accidents involving commercial vehicles can be especially complicated, since multiple parties may be at fault. Trucking companies, employees, contractors, and insurance companies may be obligated to compensate for your injuries but will immediately investigate the scene, vehicles, and witnesses in order to diminish your potential case and claim. A skilled attorney could assess your Atlanta truck accident to determine the full value of your claim.
What Compensation is Available in a Semi-Truck Collision Lawsuit?
There is nothing that can take back what has happened. An attorney cannot fix physical pain. But we are committed to seeking the best possible future for our clients. By filing a lawsuit, you may be able to be reimbursed for your medical expenses and be able to face the future without the financial stress brought by this ordeal.
Trucking companies are required to carry substantial insurance policies. Depending on the weight of the truck and its cargo, the insurance policy may have a minimum limit of as much as $5 million. Compensation we may be able to seek can include:
- Pain and suffering
- Harms and losses due to disruption of your personal and professional life
- Past and future lost wages if you are unable to work
- Medical expenses
- Pain and Suffering
Each case is different, and so is the compensation that may be available. One thing we can pledge, however, is that if we represent you, we will seek the maximum compensation available under the law, and we won’t stop until we’ve pursued every legal avenue to secure your compensation.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
- Always call the police and emergency medical services if needed.
- If possible, gather the other driver’s information yourself, including contact information, vehicle identification numbers, company name, license plate number, and insurance information.
- Do not admit fault.
- Do not sign any papers without understanding what you are signing. We recommend you speak with an Atlanta truck accident lawyer before signing anything.
- Use caution when speaking to insurance companies. They may sound like they are trying to help, but in reality, they are looking to spend as little money as possible to boost their bottom line. They aren’t working for you.
- If you have a camera, take pictures of the accident scene, the vehicles involved, skid marks, and any other visible evidence at the scene.
- Seek medical treatment or see your doctor if you’ve been injured. Remember that some injuries do not become apparent until hours or even days have passed.
- Do not discuss the case with anyone except your doctor or your attorney.
Statute of Limitations in Truck Accident Cases
A statute of limitations is the time period during which a lawsuit can be brought. If the time period ends without filing your case, you may forfeit your right to seek justice and compensation.
Georgia has a two-year statute of limitations for truck accident cases. This is why you should contact an Atlanta attorney sooner rather than later in your semi-truck wreck case.
Do I Need a Truck Accident Attorney?
Recovering from serious injuries after an accident with a tractor-trailer is a painful and often drawn-out experience. It’s a time of stress and uncertainty. You likely have an accumulating stack of medical bills. You may be dealing with insurance companies that care only about their bottom line, not about your health.
You shouldn’t have to deal with this. You have enough to worry about. That’s why hiring a truck accident attorney may be your best option. At Childers, Schlueter & Smith, we do the following for you if we handle your truck accident lawsuit:
- Gather necessary paperwork
- Speak with insurance companies on your behalf
- Make the process as easy as possible for you
- Build the strongest case for compensation
Contact Our Atlanta Truck Accident Attorneys Today
Our law firm is committed to promoting traffic safety in Georgia. We support organizations working to protect drivers, and as Atlanta truck accident lawyers, we consider ourselves advocates for traffic safety. When Childers, Schlueter & Smith attorneys represent your case, we will work to identify potential defendants and investigate all possible causes of fault to ensure maximum reward for your hardship and injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you should contact our attorneys to see if we can help you get what you need to get your life on track. Consultations are free and without obligation, so call us today.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you were injured in a commercial truck accident that may have been caused by another person’s or company’s negligence, you may have a valid legal claim. Every case is different, and determining liability often requires reviewing the facts of the accident, your injuries, and the available evidence. An experienced truck accident attorney can evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and help determine whether you may be entitled to compensation.
Truck accident investigations often rely on evidence that is not available in a typical car accident. Important evidence may include electronic logging device (ELD) data, black box information, driver qualification files, maintenance records, inspection reports, police reports, witness statements, photographs, and other documentation that helps explain how the accident occurred. Gathering comprehensive evidence is essential for building a strong truck accident case.
Liability in a commercial truck accident may extend beyond the truck driver. The trucking company, truck owner, maintenance provider, cargo loading company, vehicle manufacturer, or another party may also share responsibility. A thorough investigation can help identify everyone who may be legally liable.
The trucking company may be legally responsible for a truck accident in certain circumstances, even if the truck driver was operating the vehicle at the time of the crash. Depending on the facts of the case, a trucking company may be liable for negligent hiring or training, failure to maintain its vehicles, violations of federal safety regulations, or other unsafe business practices. Because trucking companies often play a significant role in commercial truck accident lawsuits, identifying their involvement is an important part of a thorough investigation.
Depending on the circumstances, compensation in a truck accident lawsuit may include medical expenses, lost wages, future medical care, pain and suffering, diminished earning capacity, and other damages available under Georgia law or the laws of the state where the accident occurred.
In most cases, Georgia law gives injured victims two years from the date of a truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If your accident occurred outside Georgia, the applicable filing deadline may be different because each state has its own statute of limitations. Speaking with an attorney soon after a truck accident can help you understand the deadline that applies to your case.
Many truck accident attorneys, including Childers, Schlueter & Smith, handle cases on a contingency fee basis. Whether your accident occurred in Georgia or another state where our firm represents clients, you generally don’t pay attorney’s fees unless compensation is recovered on your behalf. During your consultation, your attorney can explain how contingency fees work and answer any questions about the costs of pursuing a claim.
If you’re contacted by the trucking company’s insurer after an accident, be cautious. You should avoid giving a recorded statement, speculating about what happened, or accepting a settlement offer before understanding your legal rights. If you’ve retained an attorney, you can refer the insurance company to your lawyer, who can communicate with the insurer on your behalf.
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