Our truck accident lawyers can help victims of truck accidents get the compensation they deserve after a crash with a semi truck or other large commercial vehicle. We know that proper compensation can mean the difference between sending you into an economic spiral and getting your life back on track after a crash, and we work to help you get your life back after a serious injury in a truck accident.
Trucking companies and the insurance companies that these companies have policies with often work to minimize payouts and protect their bottom lines. As such, it often takes a strong legal team to get the compensation you deserve.
For a free case evaluation, contact our truck accident lawyers today at Howe Law by calling (844) 876-4357.
Holding Truckers Liable for Truck Accidents in Milton, GA
Many truck accidents are caused by negligent truck drivers. These drivers often spend hours upon hours on the road as part of their job, and they can become tired and distracted and lose diligence over time. Many truckers have even been accused of using drugs or alcohol on the road. When these drivers cause a crash, they can be held directly liable for the accident.
Suing a trucker for an accident often means proving that they did something wrong to cause the crash. This can be a traffic violation or a violation of basic safe-driving principles. Truckers also have to follow additional regulations as commercial drivers, such as different licensing requirements, restrictions on how long they can drive in a given day, and restrictions on driving with certain health conditions. There are also equipment regulations that require them to check their vehicles for things like proper lighting and tire condition before getting on the road.
If the truck driver is an independent contractor or a self-employed owner-operator, our truck accident lawyers can often help you sue them for damages. Their insurance company should be able to provide much of the compensation, avoiding any problems with a driver who might otherwise be “judgment-proof” because of their financial situation.
Holding Trucking Companies Liable for Truck Accidents in Milton, GA
When truck drivers are employees at a trucking company, the trucking company can often be held liable in place of the driver for any accidents the driver caused while working for them. Additionally, trucking companies can face liability in their own right for mistakes involved in hiring, vehicle upkeep, and other things.
A legal principle called “respondeat superior” allows employers to be sued when their employee commits negligence while carrying out their job duties. That principle often allows victims to sue trucking companies for crashes that truck drivers cause while working within the scope of their employment as employees of the trucking company. This often does not apply to contractors.
When suing a trucking company this way, you will have to show that the accident happened during the driver’s job duties; accidents that occur during personal errands or other diversions from their job might not qualify. However, accidents while pulling into a rest stop or taking a detour should still count, as taking breaks and alternate routes are still part of their job requirements.
Trucking companies might also commit their own trucking violations or face responsibility for hiring practices or vehicle maintenance and upkeep practices. For example, there have been cases where trucking companies were held responsible for forcing truckers to overload their vehicles, drive beyond hours of service limitations, and commit other regulatory violations. Trucking companies can also be held responsible if they kept a dangerous driver on staff or hired a driver with a bad driving history that they should have known about. They might also be held liable if any maintenance issues or vehicle equipment issues that were their responsibility to fix end up contributing to a crash.
Damages for Injured Truck Accident Victims in Milton, GA
The other drivers, passengers, bikers, and so on who are hit by truckers are often the ones to face serious injuries in truck accident cases. Drivers themselves are often injured as well and can seek damages if they were the victim of the crash or if their employer caused their injuries. However, our lawyers typically fight to help those other parties seek compensation for their injuries.
Since trucks are so big and heavy, they can cause substantial damage to another car. Even though cars, trucks, and SUVs are designed with crumple zones, airbags, and other safety features, huge trucks can still cause substantial damage and serious injury to the occupants. In many cases, these crashes are even fatal, allowing the victim’s family to sue for their loss.
Our clients often face damages for severe medical expenses from these crashes, along with lost wages at work and other economic damages based on household services they now need help with. Our lawyers can fight to get these damages compensated in an insurance claim and, if needed, take the case to court.
Injured truck accident victims can also bring claims for pain and suffering. These damages can pay them back for physical pain, mental anguish, emotional distress, and other damages that are not tied to bills or financial costs. Calculating these damages is often complex, and our lawyers can help with this task.
Whenever you are considering a claim or lawsuit for injuries in a truck accident, make sure to have an attorney review your case. Insurance companies often seek to shut down claims early by issuing settlements that are lower than the victim deserves in hopes that they will accept it anyway and end the case. If you accept any settlement, you will likely be barred from getting additional damages later, so make sure you are getting what you deserve when you accept a settlement.
Call Our Truck Accident Lawyers in Milton, GA Today
Call (844) 876-4357 for a free case review with the truck accident lawyers at Howe Law.
