Thomasville Truck Accident Lawyer

Expert Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Thomasville, GA

Truck accidents are an unfortunate reality on Georgia’s roads. While semi-trucks play a crucial role in delivering goods throughout the state, these large vehicles can cause significant damage in the event of an accident. In collisions involving tractor-trailers and smaller passenger vehicles, the truck drivers are often better protected, while the occupants of the smaller vehicles typically suffer more severe injuries, often requiring extensive medical care.

Beyond the physical injuries, accident victims may feel overwhelmed and uncertain about their financial future. This is where a Thomasville Truck Accident Lawyer can provide valuable assistance. The experienced legal team at The Rodd Firm, led by Chris Rodd, is dedicated to helping you navigate the aftermath of a truck accident, ensuring you receive the support and guidance needed to move forward.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can result from a variety of factors, many of which involve human error, mechanical failure, or environmental conditions. Some of the most common causes include:

• Driver fatigue: Long hours on the road can lead to exhaustion, reducing reaction times and increasing the likelihood of mistakes. Federal regulations limit the number of consecutive hours a truck driver can operate, but violations of these rules still occur.
• Distracted driving: Truck drivers, like all motorists, can become distracted by mobile phones, navigation systems, or other activities that take their focus off the road.
• Speeding: Due to tight delivery schedules, truck drivers may exceed speed limits. Speeding in a large truck makes stopping more difficult and increases the severity of accidents.
• Impaired driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or even prescription medications can impair a truck driver’s ability to operate the vehicle safely.
• Improper loading: Overloading or improperly securing cargo can cause the truck to become unbalanced, increasing the risk of rollovers or loss of control.
• Mechanical failures: Faulty brakes, tires, or other truck components can lead to accidents. Regular maintenance is critical, but failures do occur, often due to neglect or poor upkeep.
• Poor weather conditions: Rain, fog, snow, and ice can make driving hazardous, especially for large trucks. Reduced visibility and slippery roads increase the chances of a collision.
• Inadequate training: Truck drivers require specialized training to handle large vehicles safely. Lack of proper training or experience can result in poor decision-making and unsafe driving practices.
• Reckless driving: Aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating, abrupt lane changes, or ignoring traffic signals, can lead to accidents.
• Blind spots: Trucks have large blind spots, also known as “no-zones,” which make it difficult for drivers to see smaller vehicles. Failure to check these blind spots before changing lanes or merging can cause serious accidents.

Understanding the common causes of truck accidents is essential for both prevention and ensuring that liability is appropriately assigned in the aftermath of a crash. Our Thomasville truck accident lawyers can help you figure out your next steps after a crash.

Fatal truck accidents throughout the state of Georgia have experienced a subtle rise in frequency, from about 150 in 2012 to over 180 in 2015, according to the Governor’s Office Of Highway Safety In Georgia. This only considers the fatal accidents, and injuries caused by trucking accidents are several degrees higher. The impact of a tractor-trailer against a standard motor vehicle can lead to catastrophic injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Burns
• Broken bones

The minutes after an accident are often chaotic and involve checking on vehicle occupants and loved ones who may have been involved in the crash scene. It is important to try and get a police report, either at the accident scene or at a later date, if you are severely injured. In serious accidents, police will come to the accident scene regardless and will have a report for the accident. This report will be helpful in pursuing a claim for damages.

Civil Actions for Truck Accidents in Georgia

A personal injury claim will examine all sides of the accident in considering the appropriate liability. Georgia is a modified comparative negligence state, which means that a victim of a tractor-trailer accident will be able to recover the full amount of damages even if it is determined that they were partially at fault. However, if a court determines that the victim was more than 50 percent at fault, no damages will be able to be recovered.

A claim for damages may include the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Future earnings
• Mental anguish
• Punitive damages

Truck accidents are serious accidents that can cause lifelong injuries to victims. It is therefore important to bring a claim for damages to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for the resulting injuries.

Insurance companies will often attempt to settle after an accident occurs. However, keep in mind that insurance companies are in the business of making money, and often will not consider all aspects of the injuries. Insurance settlements will often only consider the existing medical expenses and a small good faith amount of damages. However, this fails to consider ongoing medical treatment and any impact the accident might have on your livelihood. A Thomasville personal injury lawyer will consider all potential outcomes and can present the lasting impact of your injuries on your future to insurance companies or to a jury, should it go to trial.

Contact Our Thomasville Truck Accident Lawyer Today

If you have a loved one was involved in a tractor-trailer accident, you are entitled to bring a claim for damages against the driver and the company which employed the driver. Our skilled team can help you and your family recover the compensation that you deserve. Contact us today for your initial free consultation. Our Thomasville truck accident attorneys are ready to assist.