East Cobb Truck Accident Lawyers

Semi-trucks are a mainstay on East Cobb roads, especially roads like rt. 120 and Piedmont Road, where they deliver goods to the Publix Super market and the Walgreens on Roswell Rd. Most drivers know that tractor-trailers have the ability to cause serious damage, so they naturally keep their distance and watch for unexpected turns and lane changes.

However, no matter how carefully you drive, you never know when you’ll be sharing the road with a fatigued, inexperienced, or reckless driver. When that happens and you’re injured in a crash, you need to know how to fight for the compensation you deserve.

The team at Bailey Javins & Carter knows that a truck accident can devastate your physical health, your career, and your financial stability. We’re here to fight for victims like you. Call us at 678-981-5370 to schedule a consultation right now.

Strict Regulations for Truck Drivers

Truck drivers are in control of massive amounts of cargo, and as a result, their work is heavily regulated at the state and federal levels. Federally, trucks are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. After 10 hours off-duty, a truck driver cannot spend more than 11 hours driving.

There is a 14-hour cap from the end of the off-duty time to the start of the next off-duty time. When a driver spends at least eight consecutive hours driving, they must take at least a 30-minute break. During a seven-day stretch, a driver cannot drive more than 60 hours. The limit is 70 hours in an eight-day stretch. The next seven- or eight-day stretch starts after at least 34 hours spent off-duty.

These laws are usually only applicable to long-haul drivers. Under Georgia law, however, these laws also apply to short-haul drivers. Drivers must maintain thorough logbooks showing their on-duty time, off-duty time, and mileage. Vehicle inspections must take place before and after each trip.

These laws are important to you as an accident victim. If a driver is in violation of one of these laws, that could affect the outcome of your injury claim.

What Causes Truck Accidents in Georgia?

Truck accidents are unfortunately fairly common across the United States. In 2020 alone, there were 234 fatal truck crashes in Georgia. Some crashes are related to equipment failure—for example, unsafe tires or brake failure. However, most accidents are the result of driver error on one or both sides. Common causes include:

• Fatigue caused by long hours on the road and minimal breaks
• Intoxicated driving
• Distractions like the CB radio, music, food and drink, or smartphones
• Failure to complete proper inspections and maintenance
• Poorly loaded cargo
• Unsafe road conditions
• Poor weather and a failure to adjust speed to accommodate the weather

How do you figure out what caused your accident? Your East Cobb truck accident attorney will be able to get a wide range of evidence that they can use to investigate your crash. The truck driver’s logbook may be a good source of information, as it will prove whether or not they violated any trucking regulations. For example, fatigued driving is a likely explanation if the logbook shows that the truck driver skipped their 30-minute break and drove for 14 hours without stopping.

Your attorney may also look at data provided by the truck’s black box. The black box includes information on traveling speed, crash events, GPS data, communication between the driver and the company, ignition status, sudden braking, and fault codes. This type of data will show if the driver had any behaviors consistent with fatigued, impaired, or distracted driving. It may also reveal whether there were any issues with the truck that should have been identified prior to driving.

Protect Yourself After a Crash

There is a lot at stake after a truck accident. The following steps will help you get the care you need while protecting your right to seek compensation:

• Check for any visible injuries and call emergency services. Reporting any immediate injuries when you call 911 allows them to send the help you need.
• Take video footage and photos of everything. This includes the point of contact of the crash, every damaged part of your vehicle, wide scenes showing road markers and other identifying items, and injuries.
• Limit communication with the driver and their representatives. Some truck companies have investigators and attorneys ready to go as soon as a crash happens. Should they show up at the crash site, don’t answer questions or get into a conversation.
• Talk to the police and find out how to get a copy of the police report. Make sure that your side of the story is included in the report.
• Exchange relevant information. This includes contact information for the company and insurance information.
• Get checked out by a doctor. Even if you feel fine, head to a local facility like Wellstar East Cobb Medical Center or Piedmont Urgent Care. You could have life-threatening injuries that are invisible to the naked eye.
• Talk to an East Cobb truck crash attorney. You’ll likely incur massive repair bills or car replacement expenses, medical bills, and lost wages because of the collision. Find out if you can recover any compensation.

How Bailey Javins & Carter Can Help

At Bailey Javins & Carter, our focus on truck accidents makes us the natural choice for your personal injury claim. We have seen firsthand how these collisions can ruin lives and leave families destitute, and we’re committed to holding negligent companies and drivers accountable.

Through a thorough investigation, we’ll identify the root cause of your collision and use that to determine liability. From there, we will calculate the losses you’ve incurred as a result of the accident and demand a fair settlement from the insurance company. While most claims are settled outside the courtroom, we are also prepared to take your case to court if need be. Instead of juggling calls from insurance companies and trying to handle the stress of negotiations, you can trust our attorneys and know that you’ll be informed every step of the way.

Choose Us for Your Truck Accident Claim

Ready to start pursuing the compensation you deserve? Let’s get started. Call our team at 678-981-5370 or fill out our contact form if you want someone to reach out to you.