If you’ve been in an accident with a tractor-trailer in Georgia, it can be quite a bit more complicated than a car accident with another non-commercial car. A tractor-trailer accident can often be more serious than a typical car accident (due to the size of the truck and the cargo that the tractor-trailer might be carrying).
Although there are many laws to protect drivers from tractor-trailer accidents, many companies are negligent, which can result in devastating consequences for motorists.
POTENTIAL CAUSES OF A TRACTOR-TRAILER ACCIDENT
Atlanta highways and city streets are most usually crowded, and typically have a lot of commercial drivers on the road at any given time. Although you should always be cautious driving around these large vehicles, sometimes their drivers are negligent and can cause serious accidents. Here are the most common causes of a tractor-trailer accident:
- The truck is not road-safe.
- The driver is fatigued.
- The driver is speeding.
- The driver ran traffic signs.
- The truck failed to maintain its lane on the highway or city street.
- The driver followed a car too close.
- The driver was driving while impaired.
- The driver changed lanes recklessly.
PROVE TRACTOR-TRAILER DRIVER NEGLIGENCE
In order to get proper compensation after an accident with a tractor-trailer, you must first prove the negligence of the driver or the trucking company. Although there is sometimes video footage or a “black box” in the truck—which contains information about the truck’s speed, whether or not there was a sudden deceleration, when and if the breaks were applied, and whether or not the truck was driving above the speed limit—you’ll still need to be sure to get proper legal representation to examine the case and argue that the truck driver was liable in the accident.
Good legal representation will investigate whether or not the driver had proper credentials, review the police and accident reports, ensure the tractor-trailer was regularly maintained, had the proper weight loading, and interview witnesses on your behalf.
If you’ve been involved in a tractor-trailer accident in Georgia, then you might be entitled to compensation for medical bills, your car damage, and lost wages.
Contact Randy E. Fry at (404) 948-3571 for more information on tractor-trailer accident lawsuits.
