Athens, GA Truck Accident Lawyer

Accidents on the road are so frequent that we often disregard them as inconveniences. Accidents involving large trucks are much harder to dismiss. If you were injured in a truck accident, speak to an attorney about getting fair compensation.

Risk factors for truck accidents include various negligent actions on the road, such as tired truckers, speeding, malfunctioning equipment, and more. There are various highways in and around Athens, GA, where trucks and accidents are common. Our team must gather strong evidence to support your claims for damages. Photos and videos from the accident scene, witnesses, and details from the trucking company about the truck and driver might be extremely important in your case. We need evidence to prove the trucker, their employer, and possibly others share the blame for the accident. Evidence may vary significantly based on your specific circumstances. Get started with our team as soon as possible because you have a limited time to file your case.

Speak to our truck accident lawyers for a free, confidential assessment of your claims by calling (470) 287-3070 and talking to us at Rice, Murtha & Psoras.

Truck Accident Risk Factors in Athens, GA

Almost anything might cause a bad accident. Our truck accident lawyers can wait until the police have conducted a thorough investigation of the accident to help you determine how the crash happened.

Fatigued driving is a huge problem on the road today, and lots of truck accidents come from overly tired truckers. Truckers are on the road for very long periods of time. Trucking companies should be making sure their drivers are taking enough breaks and getting adequate rest, but this does not always happen. Tired truckers might doze off and hit other vehicles, causing a major accident.

Speeding is another major concern on the road. The faster a truck or other vehicle is moving before an accident, the worse the accident is likely to be. For example, if you are hit by a truck going 20 mph, you might be okay. If you are hit by a truck traveling at 50, 60, or 70 mph or more, your injuries are more likely to be catastrophic, possibly even fatal. It is also hard to stop an accident when truckers are speeding because trucks are heavy and cannot slow down quickly.

Some accidents result from truck equipment malfunctions. Maybe the trailer hitch that connects the trailer to the truck came uncoupled. Maybe the equipment in the trailer keeping the cargo secured came undone. When cargo is not properly secured, the trailer might become unbalanced and swerve or even topple over in traffic.

Evidence to Prove Your Claims in an Athens, GA Truck Accident Case

We might start our search for evidence by looking for security cameras. Depending on where the accident happened, security cameras and traffic cameras might have recorded the accident. Many trucks are equipped with their own security cameras. If so, we should move quickly to obtain the footage before it is deleted or lost.

We should also review business records about the trucking company and the truck driver. For example, truckers must often log their time on the road and during breaks. We might use these logs to determine if the driver was taking breaks as they should or if they were driving for unsafe periods of time.

We can also gather evidence regarding industry standards. The trucking industry, as a whole, follows certain safety rules and protocols. It might be necessary to show that the trucking company failed to do things correctly. Deviation from trucking industry standard practices might be evidence of negligence.

Who is to Blame for Truck Accidents in Athens, GA?

Various parties might be implicated in a truck accident. We are quick to blame some, but others might be overlooked without legal assistance from an experienced lawyer.

The Driver of the Truck

The primary defendant in many truck accident cases is the truck driver. The trucker is often the person directly responsible for the accident. Perhaps they fell asleep at the wheel because they refused to stop and rest. Maybe they were speeding, not paying attention, or driving recklessly. Almost anything is possible.

The Truck Company or Business

If we sue the truck driver, we might also sue their employer. Even if their employer was technically not present at the accident, they might still be held responsible. Generally, if a plaintiff sued an employee, they may also sue the employer if the employee’s negligence occurred in furtherance of their normal job duties. Many trucking companies are aware of the negligent behavior of their drivers, but they do nothing to stop it.

Additional Parties

There might be various other parties who share some degree of blame. For example, maybe another driver recklessly swerved in front of the speeding truck. Both drivers may be held legally liable for your injuries if both drivers are responsible for the collision.

One of the parties we believe caused the accident may accuse you of somehow contributing to the crash. According to O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33(a), the plaintiff’s damages may be reduced according to their share of the blame determined by the tier of fact. If you are determined to be 25% responsible for the accident, your damages may be reduced by 25%. According to Subsection G, a plaintiff may not recover any damages if they are found to be at least 50% responsible for the accident.

When to Start a Truck Accident Case in Athens, GA

Your time to file a case is not unlimited. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, truck accident victims seeking to file injury claims may have only 2 years to do so. The clock starts counting down on the day of the accident, so time is critical. If you miss the deadline and do not file your case on time, you risk losing your right to file at all. In short, talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. Even if you are unsure about what you want to do regarding legal action, talk to a lawyer. They can help you make an informed decision about your next steps.

Contact Our Athens, GA Truck Accident Attorneys to Get Help

Speak to our truck accident lawyers for a free, confidential assessment of your claims by calling (470) 287-3070 and talking to us at Rice, Murtha & Psoras.