Atlanta Truck Accident Attorneys

Fighting for Truck Crash Victims in GA

Recovering compensation for damages linked to a truck accident tends to be a highly complicated process. Depending on what happened, more than one party – including someone other than the driver – may be liable for your losses. You will also likely be going up against massive insurance companies and aggressive litigators who make it their mission to pay out as little as possible.

Fortunately, you do not have to seek compensation from responsible parties alone.

Our team at Cunningham Bounds has successfully represented thousands of clients injured by negligence and recovered billions in settlements and verdicts. Our Atlanta truck accident lawyers will leverage our experience of more than 60 years and extensive resources to fight for you every step of the way, no matter the complexity of your claim.

Our firm has recovered millions for truck accident victims, including:

$50 million verdict: Truck driver burned to death in a post-accident/rollover fire.
$10 million verdict: Woman died after being hit by a tractor-trailer on the interstate.
$9 million verdict: 17-year-old was paralyzed in a truck rollover accident.
$7.5 million settlement: Motorcyclist was killed in a crash with a delivery truck.
$6.5 million settlement: Impaired truck driver caused head-on collision.
$4.5 million verdict: Family suffered severe injuries in a truck accident.

Do not wait to reach out if you have been injured in a truck accident. Contact us online or call (404) 609-1081 to schedule a free initial consultation today.

Filing a Claim for Compensation

When you get into a truck accident, you are likely to suffer significant or even catastrophic injuries. This is in large part due to the size and weight of these mammoth vehicles. Frequently weighing in excess of 18,000 pounds, large commercial trucks are tougher to slow down and maneuver, leading to potentially deadly collisions when the driver or another party acts negligently.

If you were injured in a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence, we can fight to get you compensation for:

Medical expenses
Lost income and earning capacity
Property damage
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of consortium
Loss of enjoyment of life

Many truck accidents cause fatal injuries. In these tragic scenarios, the surviving family of the victim has the right to seek damages on behalf of their loved one through a wrongful death claim. Our Atlanta truck accident attorneys can advise you of your options and walk you through what types of damages you can expect to recover.

What Causes Truck Accidents?

There is no getting around it: Large trucks are tougher to control than smaller vehicles, which is why drivers need to be properly trained and licensed to operate them. Even certified truck drivers can act negligently. In some cases, a truck accident may be the result of the negligent behavior of someone other than (or in addition to) the driver.

At Cunningham Bounds, we thoroughly investigate each truck accident to determine the specifics of what happened so that we can accurately identify all liable parties.

Many truck accidents are caused by:

Defective automobile components. If any component of a truck fails to work as intended at the wrong time, it can cause or worsen the impact of a collision. In these scenarios, the manufacturer of the defective part is often liable for the resulting injuries.
Driver fatigue. Trucking companies are required to monitor the driving times of their truck operators to ensure they are taking mandatory rest breaks and do not exceed maximum driving times. When truck drivers ignore these rules (or their employer encourages them to break them), they run the risk of losing focus and becoming less responsive to whatever they may encounter on the road.
Excessive speeding. Truck drivers try to complete their routes as efficiently as possible, but when they speed excessively, they will likely have difficulty slowing down their vehicle suddenly, increasing the likelihood of an accident.
Improperly loaded cargo. If a truck’s cargo loaders fail to safely load and secure the vehicle’s cargo, the truck may become imbalanced and impossible to reliably control.
Insufficient training. A truck driver who does not receive adequate training may not understand how to safely navigate turns, regulate speed, or complete other basic maneuvers.
Poor maintenance. Trucks must be regularly inspected and maintained. If maintenance is put off, critical, accident-causing issues like tire blowouts are more likely to occur.

Depending on what happened, the truck driver, the trucking company, the truck’s maintenance team, the truck’s cargo loaders, or even the manufacturer of a defective truck component could all be potentially found liable for your losses after an accident. We can help you determine liability and review your legal rights and options.

Steps to Take after an Atlanta Truck Accident

You should never assume that the truck driver, their employer, or any other potentially liable party will do the right thing after a truck accident. You will need to take steps to protect your rights in the immediate aftermath of a collision.

After a truck accident, you should:

Move away from the scene if at all possible. The contents of the truck could be flammable or otherwise hazardous, so make every effort to put some distance between you and its cargo.
Call the police. Georgia law requires you to report auto accidents to the police, so call 9-1-1 and wait for an officer to come to the scene. They will write up an accident report that may later serve as crucial evidence.
Gather evidence. You will need the truck driver’s name, phone number, address, license number, insurance information, and the contact information of their employer. Then, take photos and videos of the accident scene. Write down (or create a voice memo of) your account of what happened. Give as much detail as possible. If there were any witnesses, try to get their names and phone numbers in case you need their testimony.
Get a medical evaluation. Always see a doctor after any kind of auto accident, even if you feel fine. Some injuries will not be immediately obvious, and you need to connect any injuries you did sustain to the collision.
Report the accident to your insurance company. Most policies require you to promptly inform your insurer about any collision.
Do not talk to the truck driver’s insurance company. The truck driver’s or their employer’s insurance company may reach out to you. Say as little as possible to them and do not sign any documents they give you. They are likely trying to limit or eliminate your ability to recover compensation.
Speak to an attorney. Our Atlanta truck accident lawyers understand what you are going through and will get to work on your case so you can focus on getting better.

How Can I Negotiate a Fair Insurance Settlement?

We strongly encourage you to get legal advice and hire a legal professional to advocate for you in communications with insurance companies. At the same time, we recognize that you may not want to necessarily hire legal representation and wish to negotiate on your own. Keep in mind that, even with excellent negotiating, the insurer of an at-fault party may not be willing to offer a fair settlement, at which point civil litigation may be the only path forward. It is absolutely in your best interest to hire an attorney should it become apparent that you will need to file a personal injury claim.

When negotiating with an insurer after a truck accident, remember these tips:

Never admit or imply fault. Assume that anything you say could and will be reframed and used against you, so do not use any apologetic language or imply you were at all responsible for the accident. If the insurer believes they can prove you were partially at fault, they will likely attempt to offer you significantly less.
Do not automatically sign anything. No matter what the insurance company says, do not sign any document they give you without first carefully reviewing its details. If you are not certain what the contractual language means for you, consult an attorney.
Calculate your claim. Consider the total sum of all expenses linked to the accident, including your current and anticipated future medical expenses as well as lost wages from missed work. While it can be tough to assign a dollar amount to pain and suffering, these consequences should also factor into the value of your claim.
Never accept the first offer. Even if the initial offer seems excellent, proceed with caution. The insurer may assume you are unfamiliar with what your claim is actually worth and will consequently attempt to lowball you.
Get everything in writing. Take notes on any phone conversations you have with the insurance company and insist that all formal offers be made in writing. If you do choose to accept an offer, make sure it is made in writing and signed and dated by both parties.
Hire a lawyer if the insurance company refuses to negotiate. In some cases, insurers will simply stop responding to an unrepresented individual trying to negotiate a fair settlement to try to compel them to give up. If this happens to you, get in touch with our Atlanta truck accident attorneys. We will take over communications and show the insurance company you are serious about recovering what you deserve.

Contact Our Atlanta Office

Get experienced legal guidance today. Call (404) 609-1081 or contact us online to speak to a member of our team.

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