Were you or a loved one injured in a commercial truck accident? Did the truck driver’s negligence cause your injuries? If so, you may be entitled to substantial compensation.
No matter where you are driving in Georgia, you are very likely to encounter a large truck on the road. These vehicles play an essential role in transporting products and materials to every part of the state and the country. However, due to their size and weight, these vehicles are extremely difficult to operate.
Commercial truckers need specialized training to ensure they can safely load, unload, and drive these vehicles. If a trucker makes even one negligent or careless decision while on the road, they place you and your loved ones at risk of a serious accident.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in 2017, large truck accidents caused 148,000 injuries and 4,455 deaths nationwide. Although some truck accidents are truly unavoidable, such as in the case of poor road conditions or mechanical failure, approximately 87% of all large truck accidents are caused by driver error.
If a commercial truck driver injured you or a loved one, this person needs to take responsibility for the harm they have caused. You have the right to demand compensation for your accident, and your Alpharetta truck accident attorney at Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. is ready to help.
You have already suffered so much pain and frustration, and you should not have to wait any longer for financial support. Take the first step toward receiving the compensation you need by calling Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. at 678-213-2401 today.
Why You Need a Lawyer
After a serious truck accident, you are likely healing from severe physical injuries, which may permanently impact your life. As you are learning to manage this new reality, you may be struggling with difficult emotions, such as anger at the driver and sadness about all that you have lost.
You and your loved ones are dealing with unthinkable devastation, and you do not have the time or energy to spend on building a truck accident injury claim. However, without this claim, you cannot seek the money you deserve. You need to work with a skilled truck accident attorney who can guide you through your claim and reduce the stress that this process can cause.
Your lawyer will help you understand your rights, and they will answer your questions at every step during your case. An attorney will spend their time gathering all of the evidence you need to support your case to ensure that you have the strongest argument possible for compensation. Most importantly, your lawyer will negotiate with insurance providers and the trucking company to help you receive fair compensation.
Your truck accident injury attorney will be your advocate throughout your injury claim. They will spend their time protecting you and your loved ones, so you can focus on your physical and emotional well-being.
Why Choose Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. to Handle Your Case
Jonathan Brockman has spent over 30 years fighting for truck accident victims in Alpharetta and throughout the state of Georgia. Through extensive knowledge and experience, Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. has helped clients recover millions of dollars in settlements. This track record of success is a reflection of the dedication and support you can expect from every member of our legal team during your case.
Every attorney at Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. takes the time to get to know you and your case, so we can implement personalized legal strategies that meet your needs. Our compassionate lawyers understand that you are facing an unprecedented time in your life, and you may be feeling overwhelmed and confused. We are committed to answering each of your questions and keeping you up to date with every step we take during your case.
When you work with Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C., you will work with a team that cares about you and is prepared to earn your trust. We work hard to ensure that you receive fair compensation, and we will do everything in our power to help you win.
Understanding Commercial Trucks
The Georgia Department of Public Safety maintains strict regulations for commercial trucks and their drivers. These laws aim to protect you from situations that could put you in danger while on the road. However, even with these restrictions, commercial trucks are still significantly larger than the average car, making them much more dangerous in the event of an accident.
Commercial trucks in Georgia can weigh a maximum of 80,000 pounds and may have a maximum length of 100 feet. The extreme size and weight of most commercial vehicles impact the way they move on the road, making them more difficult to control.
For this reason, any driver who is operating a vehicle that weighs 26,001 pounds or more must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Drivers with a CDL may operate vehicles up to a specified weight, depending on their license classification, and they may only operate the type of truck approved on their license.
A CDL license is intended to ensure that a driver has the appropriate training before they operate a commercial vehicle. However, in many cases, a driver can receive a CDL after passing a written test, and trucking companies are responsible for providing truck-specific training. If trucking companies fail to complete this necessary training, countless untrained or under-trained truck drivers enter the road, creating serious dangers for other drivers.
Types of Trucks Found in Alpharetta
Large trucks can be seen crisscrossing Alpharetta every single day. It takes skill and specialized training to be able to safely maneuver these types of vehicles, but accidents can still happen. When they do, the type of truck involved in the accident may play a role in how and why the accident happened. The type of truck involved may also play a role in how difficult it may be for a victim to recover compensation since many companies now employ teams of lawyers and insurers to protect their business interests in the event of an accident.
Some of the large trucks most commonly involved in accidents on Alpharetta streets include:
- 18-wheelers
- Tractor-trailers
- Dump trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Tow trucks
- Construction trucks
- Heavy haulers
- Box trucks
- Delivery trucks
- Flatbed trucks
- Tanker trucks
If you have been involved in an accident with any type of large truck or commercial vehicle, you need to talk to an experienced attorney right away. Many companies want to offer a quick and low-ball payout, hoping you’ll be desperate enough to cash their check. Don’t accept anything until you talk to an attorney and find out how much your claim is truly worth.
Call the office of Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. to find out how we may be able to help you get the maximum amount of compensation possible for your circumstances.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Negligent or reckless behavior on the road can quickly cause a serious truck accident. Truckers have a responsibility to keep others safe on the road and to avoid dangerous situations whenever possible. However, the trucking industry places immense pressure on drivers to reach their destination on time. When a truck driver rushes to make a delivery, they are more likely to make serious errors or to engage in dangerous behaviors in an attempt to save time.
Some of the most common causes of commercial truck accidents include:
- Speeding
- Making unsafe turns
- Failure to check blind spots
- Ignoring traffics lights or signs
- Failure to properly secure cargo
- Fatigued driving
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Rollovers
- Overloaded/oversized cargo
- Trucking company negligence
These actions are all examples of reckless behavior that a truck driver can control and avoid. Most commercial truck accidents are entirely preventable if a trucker takes their responsibility to other drivers seriously.
However, when a trucker makes bad decisions while on the road, their actions can have life-altering consequences for you and your loved ones. No one should hold you responsible for the harm that a reckless truck driver caused. It is time for this driver to pay the price for their actions.
Injuries Associated with Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can be nothing short of devastating. Many trucks weigh in at 80,000 pounds or more. When this type of vehicle impacts a smaller passenger car or SUV, the results can be traumatic. Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation shows that in 2019, over 4,119 people died in large truck accidents. 67 percent of those people were the occupants of passenger vehicles.
Those that survive a run-in with a large truck often face a difficult recovery process. Injuries from these types of accidents tend to be significant and can leave lasting physical and emotional scars. Life may never truly return to “normal,” and many victims will have lifelong challenges that stem from their injuries.
Some of the injuries most associated with large truck accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Concussion
- Paralysis
- Other head and neck injuries
- Amputation
- Facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Physical burns
- Chemical burns
- Chemical exposure
- Lacerations
- Contusions
- Wrongful death
These types of injuries don’t just pose physical and emotional challenges for victims. Often, they pose serious financial challenges as well. The medical costs associated with treating traumatic injuries can be enormous and put a significant financial strain on a victim.
Possible Compensation After a Truck Accident
Commercial truck accidents frequently cause severe injuries, which may require hospitalization, surgery, and on-going treatment for years after the initial collision. These injuries not only cause you physical pain, but they can also force you to face a serious financial burden, as you seek out appropriate medical care.
Fortunately, your truck accident injury claim can ensure that you and your loved ones have the financial support you need to move forward after an accident. Depending on the circumstances of your truck accident, your injury claim may provide compensation for a wide variety of physical, emotional, and financial harm.
Although every case is different, truck accident injury claims most commonly cover damages such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation services
- Repair or replacement of damaged property
- Lost wages and time from work
- Inability to return to work
- Temporary or permanent disability
Your truck accident injury lawyer will use the details of your accident to help you determine the amount and type of compensation you should expect to receive. Your lawyer will fight on your behalf for fair compensation, and they will not allow you to accept less than you deserve.
In the worst possible cases, truck accidents can be fatal, and you may be managing the loss of someone you love. Under these devastating circumstances, you need to talk to your attorney about filing a wrongful death claim. This type of claim will help you seek additional compensation that is appropriate for the severity of your loss. Wrongful death claims commonly cover damages such as:
- End-of-life medical care
- Funeral services, burial, or cremation
- Loss of future income
- Loss of consortium
- Mental anguish
- Loss of medical, retirement, or other financial benefits
The money you receive after a truck accident can never take away the pain you have suffered or bring back the person you have lost. However, it can ensure that you have the financial support to protect yourself and your loved ones as you move forward from your truck accident.
Georgia Compensation Rules for Truck Accidents
How much of the total compensation a victim may receive may then be dependent upon a Georgia rule known as “modified comparative negligence.” This state regulation tells the courts how to award money in civil lawsuits. It dictates that the courts must review the available evidence and make a determination about fault. A victim may then be able to recover damages, but the money they receive can be diminished by the amount of liability they bear for causing the accident.
If a court is reviewing a case, they may determine that the at-fault party was the truck driver because the driver was distracted by their phone and texting at the time of the crash. They may say that the driver was 90 percent at fault. However, evidence also shows that the victim was speeding, and the court finds that they bear 10 percent of the blame for causing the crash. According to the modified comparative negligence rule, this would make the victim entitled to the total amount of damages, minus 10 percent. This rule also states that drivers who meet or exceed 50 percent of the blame cannot recover compensation.
Even if your case doesn’t go before the courts, this rule can still have an impact on the amount of compensation that you may potentially receive. Although not bound by this regulation in the same way that courts are, insurers will often consider how a court would rule if the case ever went to trial. This guides their assessment and may impact the amount of money they offer the victim.
The modified comparative negligence rule and how insurers treat truck accident claims means that it may be in your best interest to seek legal help after an accident. An experienced Alpharetta attorney has the resources to fully investigate the cause of the accident and find any available evidence that helps establish responsibility for the crash. This evidence can build a compelling case showing why you deserve maximum compensation.
What is the Cost of an Experienced Alpharetta Truck Accident Attorney?
Constant phone calls, mounting medical bills, and the uncertainty of an unfamiliar situation: that is what is ahead for truck accident victims. There is a lot to deal with after a significant truck accident. The last thing most people want to think about is paying for an attorney, especially when they already feel buried beneath a mountain of medical debt and may not be able to work.
At Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C., we understand that your financial situation may be unstable at this time, but that is exactly why you need an experienced truck accident attorney on your side. A skilled attorney has the experience and the resources it takes to go up against the trucking company, its lawyers, and its insurers. We fight to get you the maximum compensation possible for your situation.
Also, because we understand what a difficult time you are going through, we fight for you without any upfront costs or fees. At Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C., we work on a contingency fee basis, which means that we don’t get paid until we recover compensation from the reckless or negligent party. In addition, we also offer a free case evaluation. That means you can call us at [phone number] and schedule a free and confidential consultation to talk about your situation and find out how we may be able to help you. There is virtually no risk associated with consulting an attorney about your case and getting the advice you need.
Contact an Alpharetta Truck Accident Lawyer Today
After a truck accident, you only have a limited time to file your claim. To ensure you can receive the maximum compensation available, you need to take action as soon as possible.
The Alpharetta truck accident attorneys at Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. are ready to start working on your case right now. We even offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation, so you can receive legal advice before you start your claim. Contact Jonathan R. Brockman, P.C. at 678-213-2401 to start working on your truck accident case today.