Lawrenceville Truck Accident Lawyer

Honest Lawrenceville Truck Accident Attorney

With an influx of delivery and freight trucks across the state in recent years, the number of truck accidents seen in Georgia is quite high. Dealing with the aftermath of a truck accident is never easy, especially if you have injuries to focus on. Luckily, working with a skilled Lawrenceville truck accident attorney can ease the stress that comes with an accident. They can be a steadfast legal representative who advocates for your rights.

If you get into an accident with a truck, don’t wait to contact a Lawrenceville truck accident lawyer. If you then suffer from negligent care at your treatment facility, a Lawrenceville medical malpractice lawyer with experience in truck accidents can pursue compensation from all the parties that harmed you.

Your Lawrenceville Truck Accident Team

At The Tolson Firm, LLC, our team of experienced personal injury lawyers has spent years helping Georgia residents file successful claims and secure compensation. We can work tirelessly to investigate fault, negotiate with insurers, and advocate for the damages you deserve after being involved in a truck accident. You can consult one of our attorneys today to learn more about your rights and legal options after a Lawrenceville truck accident impacts your life.

What to Do If You Are Injured in a Lawrenceville Truck Accident

In 2024, large trucks were involved in 5,218 fatal crashes, which is 3% fewer than in 2023 but 30% more over the last decade. Fatal crash involvement rates per 100 million large-truck miles traveled decreased 3% from 2023, but they are also 9% higher over the past decade.

Large trucks are defined as any medium or heavy truck, not including buses and motor homes, with a gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 10,000 pounds. Large trucks include commercial and non-commercial vehicles.

If you are injured in a Lawrenceville truck accident, the Georgia Department of Driver Services Driver’s Manual recommends taking certain actions following an accident. These measures can protect your safety, the safety of others, and your future legal claim:

• Always get checked out by a medical professional. Even if you don’t feel like you’re injured, it’s essential that you have evidence of a medical evaluation. Many injuries may not appear immediately. Getting assessed can catch any unnoticed harm you suffered.
• Keep all of your medical records and collect other documents, such as the police report from the accident, photos of the damage, receipts, pharmacy records, and documented proof of lost wages or other expenses.
• Do not discuss your involvement in the accident with anyone. You could inadvertently end up admitting fault and jeopardize your compensation amount. Insurance companies do everything they can to pay you a smaller amount than you’re owed. You do not have to talk to the insurance company of the other party, nor should you. It is not a requirement; in fact, it can hurt you to do so.
• Don’t talk about your accident or case on social media. Also, don’t post any photos online. Insurance companies are looking for every possible piece of evidence to justify denying your claim.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Lawrenceville

The causes of accidents involving commercial trucks can differ more than those of crashes between two passenger cars. The braking and turning radii of tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles are greater than those of passenger vehicles. Truck drivers can be behind the wheel for extended periods, and trucks may develop mechanical defects or have improperly loaded/unsecured cargo. Determining what caused a collision is usually part of assessing who may be legally responsible.

Lawrenceville is located near several major highways, including State Route 316, Sugarloaf Parkway, and Buford Drive, with easy access to I-85. Large trucks use these roads to travel around Gwinnett County, and many deliver goods and services throughout the Atlanta metro area. High traffic volumes, intersections, merging traffic, and changing roadway conditions can create situations where drivers must make sudden maneuvers. Some common causes of truck accidents include: 

• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions. Large trucks require more distance to slow or stop. Driving too fast for traffic conditions, weather conditions, road construction, or other situations can make it difficult for a truck driver to stop if traffic ahead suddenly slows.
• Driver distraction. Texting, cellphones, navigational devices, dispatch systems, eating, and other objects inside and outside the cab can distract commercial truck drivers from the traffic around them.
• Driver fatigue. Truck drivers who drive for hours without rest can experience fatigue, which can affect their alertness and reaction time. Commercial drivers are subject to Federal Hours of Service requirements that limit driving time and mandate rest periods.
• Following too closely. If a truck driver fails to leave enough space between their truck and the vehicle in front of them, they may not stop in time to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of them if traffic stops.
• Unsafe lane changes. Blind spots on tractor-trailers are significant. Failure to properly check the surrounding lanes before making a lane change or merging with traffic can cause a truck driver to collide with a vehicle driving next to them.
• Brake or tire problems. Like any vehicle, trucks should be properly maintained to make sure brakes, tires, and other components are functioning properly. Brake failure or worn tires can increase the likelihood of an accident.
• Improperly loaded or secured cargo. Cargo that shifts can change the truck’s center of gravity and make it harder for drivers to handle the vehicle. Falling material can create hazards for other motorists on the road.
• Driver inexperience or lack of training. Truck drivers should be trained on how to safely operate a large vehicle. Proper training includes methods for safely braking, turning, handling large blind spots, and managing unique challenges while sharing the road with passenger vehicles.

How Federal Trucking Regulations Can Affect an Accident Investigation

Trucking companies that travel in interstate commerce, along with their drivers, must comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. These rules cover: 

• Driver hours
• Vehicle inspections
• Vehicle maintenance
• Commercial driver license qualifications
• Cargo securement guidelines

Hours of service regulations prevent most truck drivers who haul property from driving too long without taking required breaks and rest periods. Motor carriers must also abide by maintenance regulations that require routine vehicle inspections, repairs, and maintenance.

Violating truck accident laws, including federal trucking regulations, does not necessarily mean that a trucker or trucking company may be responsible for causing an accident. However, evidence that a driver was driving beyond their legally allowed hours or that a trucking company failed to maintain a truck may explain why an accident occurred.

Common Injuries Caused by Lawrenceville Truck Accidents

Trucks are heavier and have more mass than passenger vehicles. The FMCSA recognizes that larger trucks have different acceleration, braking, and maneuvering capabilities than other vehicles. Some accidents result in catastrophic injuries, while others may cause only minor injuries. The severity of injuries in truck accidents depends on many t factors. Some common injuries caused by truck accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck injuries
• Broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Burns
• Cuts
• Psychological harm

Not every injury is noticeable right after an accident. Some injuries do not appear until hours or days after the collision. Seeking medical treatment can help identify injuries early, and it can create a record of the victim’s injuries.

Lawrenceville residents can receive treatment at medical facilities across Gwinnett County. Northside Hospital Gwinnett on Medical Center Boulevard is close to downtown Lawrenceville. However, providing the name of a local hospital does not mean that every truck accident victim should or is going to be treated at that facility. Recommended treatment after an accident depends on the nature and severity of the victim’s injuries.

Why the Cause and Injuries Matter to a Truck Accident Claim

Who caused an accident is essential in determining who may be responsible from a legal standpoint. Based on the facts, responsibility can lie with:

• A truck driver
• A trucking company
• A truck maintenance company
• The company that loaded the truck
• Another driver

Multiple parties can even be at fault to varying degrees.

The injuries a person sustains will impact another portion of a claim: damages. Medical bills, future medical treatment, lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more can become part of a claim based on the unique facts.

Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means that a victim’s damages can be reduced by their percentage of fault. In addition, if a victim is 50% or more responsible for the accident, they cannot recover damages under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33. While determining who caused a truck accident may seem simple in some situations, it’s important to understand how the crash happened.

A truck accident claim may ultimately be filed in Gwinnett County State Court, which can be found at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. However, the exact venue will depend on who is at fault and the total amount of damages. Commercial truck accidents can involve multiple pieces of evidence and several responsible parties. A full investigation may look at the cause of a crash as well as events that led to it.

Why Hire a Truck Accident Attorney?

Truck accident cases can be more complex than the average car accident claim because they often involve multiple liable parties and extreme damages and injuries, which is evident in Georgia’s rising truck accident trends over recent years. If you or someone you know was a victim of a truck accident in Lawrenceville, working with a skilled personal injury lawyer gives you the strongest chance of filing a successful claim and obtaining the damages you’re owed.

An experienced truck accident lawyer has knowledge of personal injury law, strong negotiation skills, and a deep understanding of how insurance companies work. Your lawyer can leverage these skills to help you file a strong claim and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. If they can’t come to an agreement with an insurance company, your truck accident lawyer can even help you take your case to trial and represent you during the entire process.

FAQs

How Long Do Truck Accident Claims Take to Settle in Georgia?

There is no average amount of time that finalizing a truck accident claim takes, as each case is unique. How long it takes to settle your unique claim depends on:

• The parties who were at fault
• Whether multiple parties were at fault
• Whether insurers are willing to negotiate
• How severe your injuries were

To get a better estimate of the potential length of your truck accident case, you should consult a Georgia personal injury lawyer.

How Much Is My Truck Worth After an Accident in Georgia?

The worth of a truck following an accident depends on how severe the damage is. If the truck is totaled, the insurance company may give you the amount the truck was valued at before the accident, and you may have to pay off any liens on the truck with your settlement. However, if your truck is not totaled, your truck’s diminished value following the accident may lower the amount of the final settlement to 20% of the truck’s market value prior to loss.

How Do You Know If Your Truck Is Considered Totaled in a Truck Accident Case?

A truck is considered totaled if the cost of repairing the vehicle after an accident exceeds a certain percentage of its cash value. In Georgia, that percentage is 75%. Furthermore, damage to the truck’s frame, other structural components, or safety features, like airbags, can also render it totaled. Ultimately, it is up to the insurance company to make the final and official declaration that your truck is totaled.

What Happens If You Don’t Agree With a Total Loss Adjuster in Georgia?

If you don’t agree with the insurance adjuster that your car is a total loss, you should:

• Contact a truck accident lawyer to negotiate with the insurance adjuster.
• Obtain an appraisal by an independent third party.
• Consider mediation.
• File a complaint with your state’s insurance commissioner.

An attorney can advise you on which route may result in the most ideal outcome for your case. In Georgia, you also have a right to a second opinion appraisal.

The Tolson Firm, LLC: Lawrenceville’s Truck Accident Firm

If you’re ready to pursue justice and file a truck accident claim in Lawrenceville, the attorneys at The Tolson Firm, LLC, can represent you. Our lawyers can work hard to prove fault and negotiate an optimal settlement for your unique situation. Contact The Tolson Firm, LLC, to learn more about our truck accident services and hire a truck accident lawyer today.