Peachtree City Truck Accident Attorneys
Advocates for victims of large truck collisions – Peachtree City Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyers
At Montlick and Associates, our Peachtree City trucking accident lawyers are committed to seeking financial compensation for victims of negligent truck drivers and indifferent commercial carriers. Trucking companies utilize extensive litigation resources, insurance companies and accident response teams to build an aggressive defense to liability claims based on serious injuries caused by tractor-trailer collisions. While it is always important to have legal representation in motor vehicle accident cases, trucking accident lawsuits pose unique issues that make prompt legal advice even more critical.
There are approximately a half a million trucking accidents each year that cause 100,000 injuries and almost 5,000 deaths. During a recent year, the percentage of trucking accident fatalities increased by almost 65 percent in a single year according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This rise in semi-truck accidents is anticipated to continue because the number of tractor-trailers is expected to increase by twenty percent in 2012.
When you are involved in a Peachtree City trucking accident, the risk of suffering permanent disabling injuries or wrongful death is much higher than in collisions involving only passenger cars. The massive impact generated by a vehicle that weighs forty tons can easily generate traumatic brain injuries, dismemberment, damage to internal organs, internal bleeding, fractures, bone crush injuries and fatalities. If you suffer these types of devastating injuries, you may need multiple surgeries or lose your ability to engage in basic life activities.
Common Factors in Peachtree City Semi-Truck Collisions
There are many causes of big-rig collisions related to truck defects, poor maintenance and negligent drivers. Many of these causes are specifically related to violations of state or federal regulations designed to mitigate the danger posed by tractor-trailers. At the federal level, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the agency primarily responsible for trucking safety regulations. Some of the most common regulatory violations that lead to commercial trucking collisions include:
- Failure to comply with drug or alcohol screening and testing rules
- Violation of hours of service (HOS) regulations
- Improperly secured loads or overloaded trucks
- Non-compliance with inspections and truck maintenance standards
- Defective truck components like faulty brakes or improper tire tread bonding
- Operating semi-trucks at unsafe speeds
- Drivers failing to check behind semi-trucks when backing
- Improper awareness of “no zones” (large truck blind spots)
- Unsafe lane changes
- Tractor-trailers that violate maximum weight and length requirements
Trucking litigation typically is more complex than ordinary traffic accidents involving cars, pickups and SUVs. While effective representation of trucking accident victims requires extensive knowledge of trucking regulations, the process of proving violations of these safety regulations may be complicated by the manipulation or destruction of evidence.
Evidentiary Issues in Commercial Big-Rig Litigation
While federal regulations require truck drivers to keep records regarding maintenance and hours or service in driver logbooks, the practice of distorting this information is widely acknowledged by many familiar with customary practices in the trucking industry. Although this information can be confirmed by onboard event data recorders (so-called “black boxes”) in many trucking cases, we often need to take prompt action to prevent this critical information from being erased. We also conduct investigations and discovery to obtain other evidence that may establish fault, including lodging records, gasoline receipts and other records that expose driver fatigue.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious trucking accident in Peachtree City, Montlick and Associates may be able to assist you. Our Peachtree City truck accident attorneys represent our clients in seeking recovery of lost wages, pain and suffering, compensation for diminished earning capacity, medical expenses, impairment of one’s quality of life and/or other forms of damages. Call our Peachtree City big-rig accident attorneys today for a free consultation. Feel free to contact us 24/7, and we may even be able to pay you a visit if necessary. Call us anytime at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) for a free consultation. Furthermore, you can visit us online at www.montlick.com to utilize our free consultation form or access our 24-hour live chat service.