The U.S. Census Bureau last reported 13.1 million passenger car accidents and half a million accidents involving large trucks as of 2009. The traumatic results of these accidents include personal injuries, vehicle damage and other accident-related costs that can last far beyond the time of the initial collision.
While every accident is unique, collisions involving commercial trucks differ substantially from those involving cars. Let’s break these differences down into three categories:
- Financial liability
- Personal injuries
- Driver experience and responsibility
The Truck Accident Attorneys dedicate the majority of its casework to identifying these differences and helping victims of trucking accidents seek the justice they deserve. If you’ve been in a truck accident, you need an attorney who knows the ins and outs of truck accident cases.
1. Financial Liability
When a driver is involved in a motor vehicle accident with another car or multiple cars, personal insurance information is exchanged between all involved drivers to process a claim.
In trucking accidents, both the truck driver and the trucking carrier company can be held liable for any financial or physical damages. Traffic reports, log books and equipment checks might all be reviewed for any pertinent information. A company that does not follow federal regulations must be held accountable when serious injury or death results.
2. Personal Injuries
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 2.09 million people were injured in traffic crashes in 2012, with a reported 21,667 fatalities. Injuries range from recurring conditions such as whiplash or migraines to broken bones and brain trauma.
3. Driver Experience and Responsibility
There are traffic safety laws for every person operating a motor vehicle, but the regulations for commercial truck drivers are more extensive and include special attention to driver experience level and a limit on the amount of hours they can drive.
For example, federal regulations have been updated to limit the number of approved driving hours by truckers to a maximum of 70 per work week. Each driver is responsible for accurately logging time.
We Fight for Justice
The Truck Accident Attorneys at Fried Goldberg in Atlanta know the serious nature of trucking accidents, and we know how they should be handled for a successful outcome.
We have more than 50 years of combined legal experience and focus 75% of our practice to helping victims of trucking accidents. If you have been injured in a trucking accident, contact us today for a free case evaluation.