Truck Accident Lawyers Atlanta

Certain types of evidence can strengthen your case and must be preserved. Photographs of the accident scene — from all angles — are critical. Witness statements, police reports, and medical records are crucial in establishing liability and damages. Documentation regarding the truck driver, employment status, and the truck itself are also necessary.

These types of documents include:

• The truck driver’s personnel record, including documentation regarding their status as an employee or independent contractor
• The truck driver’s logbook
• The data collected from the truck’s onboard recording device
• The trucker’s driving history, including records of any violations
• Any safety violations committed by the owner or manufacturer of the truck, cab, or other vehicle components

When trucking accidents occur and people are injured, several parties may be partially or wholly liable for the collision.

Several variables must be evaluated to determine liability, such as:

• Whether the truck, trailer, cab, or any of their components were defective or improperly maintained
• The employment status of the truck driver

Many questions must be asked to determine liability:

• Was the driver an independent contractor, employee, and/or vehicle owner?
• Did the driver lease the truck and/or the trailer?
• What company owned or leased the vehicle?
• Who ordered that the freight be shipped?
• Who owned the cargo?
• What companies manufactured and serviced the truck, cab, trailer, and every little piece that makes up those components?

Our big rig accident lawyers at Van Sant Law have significant experience representing clients throughout Georgia and can evaluate the evidence to determine which parties can be responsible for your injuries.

Every case is unique. Our attorneys can help you understand the steps of filing a claim and the steps you must take following the truck accident. Many local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and laws may have been violated, and our experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyers know how to apply them to your case.

Additionally, the statute of limitations for a truck accident case requires that parties filing a truck wreck injury lawsuit must do so within two years of the collision date. However, exceptions exist, and you should discuss your case with a truck accident lawyer who knows what deadlines apply. Consult with a lawyer near you as soon as possible.

In addition to understanding the legal framework and procedures for bringing truck accident claims, our experienced attorneys are ready, willing, and able to battle with the team of lawyers and insurance representatives who represent the truck driver, the trucking company (or companies), and the insurance companies. We have years of experience taking legal fights to the trucking industry and pursuing favorable settlements and verdicts for clients.

Truck accidents are often complex, involving multiple parties, stringent regulations, and a thorough investigation to determine liability. Unlike standard car accidents, truck accident cases require in-depth investigations to uncover the full scope of the incident and hold the responsible parties accountable.

Truck accident investigations involve detailed scrutiny of the accident, the truck driver, and the trucking company. Gathering this information helps establish liability and holds responsible parties accountable.

Critical components of a truck accident investigation include:

• Examining the truck driver’s qualifications. Your truck accident attorney can contact the truck driver’s company to obtain the Driver Qualification File (DQF), which is required documentation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
• Getting witness statements. Eyewitnesses who saw the accident can provide valuable testimony about how the crash unfolded. These statements offer perspectives that can either corroborate or challenge the accounts of the involved parties. Securing witness contact information at the scene and obtaining their statements soon after the accident ensures that their recollections are accurate and detailed.
• Obtaining and reviewing the police report. Police reports provide an official accident record, including vital details such as the time, location, and parties involved. The report also includes the responding officer’s initial assessment of the cause of the accident, traffic violations, and whether any citations or arrests were made. Reviewing this report is essential to verify facts and identify potential areas of negligence.
• Examining the accident scene and damage. A thorough examination involves looking at the road conditions, traffic signals, weather, vehicle damage, and skid marks to understand how the accident occurred. Your lawyer may also review photos, videos, and other physical evidence to piece together the events leading up to the collision.
• Reviewing data from the truck’s onboard records. Most commercial trucks have black boxes and electronic logging devices (ELDs) that record critical data, such as speed, braking patterns, and hours driven. This information can be invaluable in determining what happened in the moments leading up to the accident and whether the driver complied with regulations regarding rest periods and driving hours.

Truck accident investigations often require third-party professionals' insights to understand the case's nuances. Your attorney may collaborate with accident reconstruction experts, forensic specialists, and other industry professionals to uncover critical details that may not be immediately obvious. They will also review relevant reports from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).