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Truck Accidents

Truck Accident Lawyers in Riverdale

Millions Recovered for Our Clients Since 1988

Georgia ranks fourth in the nation for the number of annual truck accidents. Statistically, that could put a Georgia resident or visitor at higher risk of being involved in a truck accident than anywhere else in the country. That’s why it’s important to understand the laws regarding automobile accidents and their applicability to truck accidents—doing so will make the process of understanding your personal injury case should this misfortune occur.

You may be tempted to try to handle your claim without a truck accident lawyer, but having qualified and legal representation at your side is your best bet at winning just and fair compensation for your injuries. The Law Offices of Falanga & Chalker is home to truck accident attorneys in Riverdale who want to help. Many of our cases have involved winning favorable outcomes for our clients dealing with this kind of accident. Having attorneys who’ve worked cases like yours before, who know what to look for, and who understand how to litigate your case to get you results that matter can make a difference in your life.

When you’re ready to talk to us, request a free consultation. Contact us online or reach out by phone at (470) 450-1164 today.

How Do Accidents Involving Trucks Occur?

There are many reasons why an accident occurs, but the following factors may determine who is responsible:

  • Speeding: A large truck typically carries more mass than any other vehicle on the road, meaning they’re slower to stop and have less agility to avoid collision. Overloaded or improperly loaded trucks, which are dangerous on their own, compound this risk.
  • Driver Inattention: Any driver not paying attention to what’s going on in and around the road creates an unnecessary risk. Inattention to blind spots can also cause accidents.
  • Driver Fatigue: Tired drivers in any vehicle are hazardous drivers who can cause accidents.
  • Following Too Closely: Truck drivers that don’t provide enough stopping distance risk a collision.
  • Aggressive Driving: Anyone driving aggressively on the road creates unnecessary risk to other motorists.
  • Driving Under the Influence: Drivers of any vehicle with drugs or alcohol in their system pose serious injury-causing risk to everyone on the road. While the legal level of blood alcohol for drivers is set at 0.08 percent, truck drivers must not exceed 0.04 percent in Georgia.
  • Poor Driving History: Some drivers with a history of recklessness can move among trucking companies despite having a collisions and traffic violations on their records.
  • Negligent Hiring and Training: Truckers without proper training or skills for the job are simply dangerous to themselves or other motorists.

When you contact a truck accident lawyer in Riverdale, be sure to include documentation that details weather conditions, road conditions, or anything else that may have contributed to the accident. Be especially sure that you have the truck driver’s name, company, and witnesses, and be sure to gather medical bills, proof of ongoing care, and proof of lost wages.

Truck Driving Regulations

In the event of an accident, trucks are far more dangerous than a car. Because of this the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has placed a lot of rules on truckers and the companies they work for to help ensure the safety of other motorists on the road. While truckers are required to follow these rules, they are often caught breaking these rules, either by their own choice or at the pressure of the company they drive for.

One of these rules is called the hours of service regulations, which regulates how long truckers can drive and when they must take breaks or days off work. Since tired drivers are much more likely to cause an accident, these regulations seek to limit this possibility by requiring all drivers are properly rested.

According to the hours of service regulations, truck drivers can work a maximum of 14 hours a day, but only 11 of these hours can be spent driving. The remaining time must be spent on meal or rest breaks. After the workday is over, truck drivers must rest for at least 10 consecutive hours.

Truck drivers are also required to take days off work at regular intervals. If a trucking company is open seven days a week a driver is only allowed to work 70 hours in an eight-day period before taking at least 34 consecutive hours off. If a company is open less than seven days a week than a driver is only allowed to work 60 hours in a seven-day period before taking 34 hours off.

Liability and Your Truck Accident

Determining liability after a truck accident can take some amount of investigation as there are many possible liable parties and at times multiple parties who can be held accountable. At times a complicated process, our firm has the experience and skill to properly investigate a truck accident claim in order to pursue the full amount of compensation you deserve.

The party who is most often held responsible for an accident is the trucking company a driver works for. While there are many reasons for this a common one is the fact that they are often caught encouraging their drivers to break trucking regulations in order to help save their company time and money. If, however, an accident was caused by the direct negligence or a truck driver they may be held liable for an accident instead. Examples of negligence can include drinking while driving or driving while distracted. Last if a truck is found to have manufacturing defects that caused the accident that led to your injuries, the manufacturer of the truck could be the one held liable.

Accidents Involving Tractor-Trailers

Because of their sheer size and weight, tractor-trailers pose an incredibly deadly risk on the road. Called a semi-truck or an 18-wheeler in other parts of the country, these vehicles differ from trucks in that they’re specifically designed to haul massive trailers filled with goods. With a full load, the entire assembly can weigh 35-40 tons. To state the obvious, a force with that much momentum meeting your 2-3-ton vehicle can have catastrophic consequences.

Luckily, advancements in road safety have made a collision with a tractor-trailer much more survivable, but the cost of medical bills, loss of your vehicle, and psychological trauma are still problems you must face. Don’t accept the consequences of your accident with a negligent tractor-trailer driver without a fight. At the Law Offices of Falanga & Chalker, our truck accident attorneys in Riverdale work hard to seek just and fair compensation for you.

When we go to a trial for a case involving this kind of collision, our focus is on holding the truck driver accountable for their responsibility to the motoring public. Because they’re in control of a massive machine, we believe they should be held to a higher level of accountability on the road. When an accident involving a tractor-trailer occurs on the road, we believe the focus should be on the actions and responsibility of these professional drivers—not the everyday motorist.

If you’ve been injured in an accident with a tractor-trailer, contact the Law Offices of Falanga & Chalker online or call us at (470) 450-1164. Consultations are free!

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