Eighty-thousand-pound commercial trucks barreling down Dallas highways can cause catastrophic injuries when they crash, changing truck accident victims’ lives forever. If you or a loved one suffered severe trauma in a truck collision, you need a Dallas truck accident attorney in your corner.
At John Foy & Associates, we have over 20 years of experience fighting auto insurance companies, holding the at-fault party accountable, and helping victims of truck accidents secure the most financial compensation possible.
Our personal injury lawyers in Dallas, GA, provide a free initial consultation to truck crash victims and families to evaluate potential legal claims involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal organ damage, and wrongful death.
Commercial Truck Accidents in Georgia
Truck accidents are far deadlier and more severe than traffic accidents with just passenger cars. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there has been a 17% uptick in commercial vehicle accidents and over 2,000 fatal truck crashes in Georgia since 2021.2
These statistics about truck accidents paint a picture of how serious truck accidents are but do not account for the tremendous number of people who survived the crash but remain suffering from physical injuries. Commercial drivers have a critical responsibility to drive with utmost care and consideration.
Since most people who lose their lives due to truck accidents are not truck drivers but passengers in other vehicles or pedestrians, the help of a truck accident lawyer in Dallas, GA, is largely beneficial against the trucking companies and their team of lawyers.
Get the strong arm
Main Causes of Trucking Collisions in Dallas, GA
Most of the time, the main cause of a commercial truck accident includes some form of negligent conduct, such as breaking safety rules or inadequate commercial truck driver training. Regardless, the liable parties can be held responsible for maximum compensation.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by a cement truck, coal truck, construction truck, or commercial freight truck in Dallas, GA, you likely have many questions. How did it happen? Who is at fault? What are my options?
As experienced Dallas truck accident lawyers, we have seen these crashes cause catastrophic injuries and enormous suffering. We represent victims to uncover the truth and hold negligent parties accountable. The most common reasons we’ve sued negligent truck drivers include:
Defective Truck Issues
Sadly, there are instances when trucks are not well-maintained or manufactured. When driving, these flaws can potentially cause fatalities or severe injuries. Trucking businesses can address issues before they cause a truck accident by inspecting and maintaining their vehicles.
Trucking agencies are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are safe to drive. Compromising on essential maintenance and inspection procedures is not advisable to save money or reduce costs. People are at risk when trucking companies willfully permit defective trucks to continue operating.
Sometimes, the manufacturing businesses that supply the truck parts provide faulty items. These inferior components deteriorate and break, which causes faults. A skilled truck accident lawyer in Dallas, GA, will be able to determine who should be held liable for your catastrophic truck wreck.
Tired Truck Drivers
It is common for truck drivers to put in long hours behind the wheel to deliver their loads quickly. Despite Federal truck regulations, drivers may drive past the hours that are safe for driving. This results in being less alert behind the wheel or even nodding off to sleep.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulatory guide includes instructions and standards about driving hours. But for the sake of expediency and profit for the trucking companies, these guidelines are frequently disregarded.
Fatigued truck drivers may also forget to put out danger markers or utilize turn signals while stopping in the middle of the road. They may swerve into another lane or run entirely off the road. A car driver cannot know if the truck driver next to them is alert and can seek damages.
Lack of Safety Equipment
Commercial truck companies must follow FMCSA rules, but truck manufacturers and motor carriers are exempt from these laws from equipping vehicles with modern safety systems. If trucking companies mandated that their vehicles be equipped with modern safety technology, they might avert more truck accidents.
Weight restrictions limit how much a single truck can tow. The truck’s axles must be loaded and distributed properly while remaining within the weight restrictions to support the cargo fully.
Dangerous Driving Behaviors
Commercial trucking companies must provide their drivers with training so they can operate a vehicle safely. Since operating a truck differs greatly from operating a regular car, truck drivers need to be capable of handling the truck safely.
A hastily driven vehicle can potentially result in major issues, as an accident can be caused by speeding in certain road conditions. Similarly, it could result in disregarding traffic signs, such as failing to yield or running a red light.
It takes a big rig more time and space to slow down before switching lanes or turning than any other vehicle. Trucks also need a longer stopping distance. Truck drivers risk an accident if they fail to account for this extra time and distance.
Oversight in the Hiring Process
The trucking company must use drivers that are safe and certified. They have to perform background checks on their drivers and physical examinations. A corporation is more likely to experience an accident when it fails to upkeep strict regulations in this area.
Unsafe Roads
The integrity and safety of road infrastructure play a critical role in preventing vehicular accidents, especially those involving large trucks. In areas like Dallas, TX, the condition of the road can become a pivotal factor in accidents.
Factors such as uneven or deteriorating road surfaces, insufficient drainage leading to wet or slippery conditions, the lack of essential guardrails, poorly designed or worn-out signage, and malfunctioning or absent traffic signals can amplify the risks for truck drivers. Ensuring regular road maintenance and addressing infrastructure issues promptly is vital to minimize such risks.
Mechanical Malfunction
Large trucks contain several moving parts, some of which can malfunction. A truck accident may happen if components like the brakes or steering malfunction. In instances that we manage, we frequently find concealed truck flaws.
Georgia’s truck crash lawyer in Dallas will fight for fair compensation if someone you know wishes to file a personal injury claim for damages. Having a legal team behind you for every possible scenario can improve your chances of recovering funds for truck accident injuries.
Time Limit for Filing a Dallas, GA, Truck Accident Claim
Our experienced truck accident lawyers understand that the period after a severe truck accident can be emotionally taxing, and you may be confused about what to do next. However, waiting around to figure out where to turn next might cause you to miss filing before Georgia’s statute of limitations expires.
According to Ga. Code §9-3-33, you have exactly two years from when the truck accident occurred to file a claim. After that, you are no longer allowed to file a claim. You must speak to a Dallas, GA, truck accident attorney today to help us help you build the strongest case possible.
Who Is at Fault for a Dallas, GA, Truck Crash?
Most often, trucking accidents are caused by commercial motor vehicle drivers’ negligent and reckless actions, but this is not always the case. Truck accidents can also be the fault of the trucking company, the truck manufacturer, and other drivers on the roads.
Negligence, recklessness, and carelessness are other factors that can cause truck drivers to crash, but these factors can be attributed to other drivers on the road when they rear-end a truck or run a semi off the road.
Trucking Companies or Drivers
Trucking companies can be held responsible for the accident because they must hire competent drivers who prioritize safety first, follow trucking regulations, and are knowledgeable about the proper upkeep of their trucks.
If the evidence from the court case shows that the trucking company, specifically the hiring department, had serious lapses in judgment when hiring drivers, then they can and will be held accountable.
Trucking Manufacturers
Trucks are like any other vehicle, where they can be improperly made yet still sold to the masses. When this happens, a defective part of the truck can cause a traffic accident and potentially cost the lives of other drivers on the road. This is how trucking manufacturers can be at fault.
Cargo Companies
Federal rules dictate semi-truck weight limits. When cargo companies disregard these standards, they can be deemed responsible for ensuing accidents. Overloading a truck compromises the vehicle’s stability and can strain its braking system, making it difficult for the truck to stop in emergencies.
In addition, improperly secured cargo can shift, leading to imbalances that might cause the truck to tip or rollover. Cargo companies must adhere to regulations not just for compliance but for the safety of all road users.
Accountability of Other Motorists in Semi-Truck Collisions
While semi-trucks often receive the brunt of the blame in highway accidents, other motorists can and do contribute to these incidents. Factors like reckless driving behaviors, distraction from mobile phones or in-car entertainment systems, or sheer negligence can lead a car driver to inadvertently cause a collision with a larger truck.
All drivers must exercise caution, especially when sharing the road with commercial vehicles. Recognizing the significant size and weight differences and the unique challenges truck drivers face can help reduce the number of truck-related accidents on our roads.
Even though there are various reasons or multiple parties to sue for compensation, our Dallas, GA, injury law firm is ready to court to secure your settlement.
Why You Should Hire a Dallas, GA Truck Accident Lawyer
After being involved in a traffic collision with a truck, you have already suffered enough; don’t fight for your compensation alone. If you hire an attorney from our legal office, you can expect us to:
- Answer any questions you might have
- Review the scene of the accident
- Investigate the mental and physical state of the at-fault truck driver
- Investigate the background history of the truck driver
- Gather all sorts of critical evidence for your claim
- Calculate the damages appropriately
- Fight against your insurance companies
After we perform all these duties, we expect to win a justifiable amount of financial compensation for all your suffering and hardships due to the truck accident.
Calculating Damages for Truck Accident Injuries in Dallas, GA
Clients often want to know how much settlement money they can obtain by hiring our legal services. While that exact number is hard to calculate because every case is different, we can assure you that we will fight for a rightful amount. Your compensation will be based on:
- Medical expenses
- Surgery costs
- Prescription drug costs
- Physical therapy costs
- Any out-of-pocket payments
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Vehicle damage/repairs
- Vehicle replacement
- Property damage
- Lost wages, including future earnings
Certainly, no one is obligated to sit down and talk to a lawyer following a serious truck accident in which they have been involved. However, if you decide not to file a personal injury lawsuit, you could miss out on recovering substantial damages.
Semi-Truck Accident Injuries Eligible for Compensation in Dallas, GA
Some of the worst and most catastrophic collisions on Georgian interstate highways can include commercial vehicles. They frequently result in serious injuries that have the potential to alter a person’s life and necessitate long-term medical care. Unfortunately, some also result in fatal injuries.
While any accident-related injuries are eligible for monetary compensation, the following injury types are highly likely to result in a higher settlement payout:
- Damage to the spinal cord and neck: Spinal and neck injuries are among the most serious. This damage can cause excruciating agony, paralysis, and even death. Spinal cord injuries can have lifelong consequences, including nerve discomfort, limited motion, or paralysis.
- Severe brain damage: Traumatic brain injury is occasionally used to describe these wounds, which have long-lasting consequences for the human brain. A TBI can impair mental memory, communication skills, and cognitive abilities. Severe whiplash or head trauma can result in a TBI.
- Broken bones or fractures: Broken bones are a common injury in truck accidents. The power of the collision might shatter injuries, which need to be repaired with casts and surgery.
- Severed limb: Dangerous truck crashes may result in damage so great that an amputated limb is the only option.
The victim of a truck accident may experience lifelong effects from their injuries. Without question, it is very challenging for a person to adjust to these changes in their life. Because of this, the truck accident lawyers in Dallas, GA, won’t stop working until you receive the money you require to start over.
This truck accident lawyer team is responsible for relieving you of legal stress. You already have enough on your plate regarding your physical pain and rehabilitation following a vehicle accident. We take care of every part of your truck accident injury claim so you can concentrate on recovering.
Managing a Fatal Truck Accident in Dallas, Georgia
Losing a loved one in a truck accident leaves families shocked, grieving, and uncertain about where to turn. As experienced Dallas wrongful death lawyers, we understand no words can ease your pain. We can provide compassionate guidance so you don’t face this alone.
We conduct thorough investigations to determine causes and pursue maximum compensation through wrongful death claims. This helps cover:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of income and benefits
- Loss of companionship and guidance
- Pain and suffering
Settling an estate can also be confusing after a tragic loss. We work to secure assets, pay outstanding debts, and distribute inheritance according to the decedent’s wishes. While nothing can replace your loved one, holding negligent parties fully accountable is one way to seek justice.
Reach Out to an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney in Dallas, GA, for a Free Case Evaluation
The strong arm of John Foy & Associates is known throughout Georgia as one of the leading law firms in protecting our clients’ rights. Our team of attorneys intends to work 24/7 to first listen to your case, answer all your questions, and fight the at-fault party for compensation.
Contact our Dallas truck accident attorney in Georgia as soon as possible and receive a free evaluation of your case.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form