Sugar Hill, GA Truck Accident Lawyers

Tractor trailers and other commercial trucks are a common sight on Sugar Hill roads as they bring raw materials, finished goods, and supplies to Atlanta and Georgia’s many rural communities. Truck drivers are held to extremely high standards, and their work involves an extraordinary amount of training and education. Regardless of this, though, accidents do happen. And when they do, it is essential that you know your rights and protect yourself.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a Sugar Hill truck accident, it’s time to connect with the team at Bailey Javins & Carter. We’ll help you pursue compensation and demand a fair settlement. Call us at 678-981-5370 to get started.

How Common Are Truck Accidents?

Truck accidents are less common than other vehicle accidents, but still more common than you may expect. These collisions jumped substantially from 2020 to 2021, the most recent year for which current statistics are available. Fatal crashes jumped 18%, resulting in 5,700 fatal crashes across the United States. Injury-causing collisions also saw a sizable jump of 11% with 105,000 crashes in 2020 and 117,000 in 2021. There was a 25% increase in property damage-only accidents, leading to more than 400,000 in 2021. In general, collisions are more common on interstates and rural roads than in any other setting. When injury-causing and fatal crashes occur, it’s rare for truck occupants to be affected. It’s far more likely for occupants of the smaller vehicle to be impacted.

Different Types of Truck Accidents

There are many different types of truck collisions. Each has its own particular risks and outcomes, and it’s important to understand what type of crash you’ve been involved in. In some cases, knowing the type of collision you experienced can even point a finger at the liable party. Different types of collisions include:

• Rear-end: Rear-end collisions are common across every type of vehicle, but they are much more dangerous when a tractor-trailer is involved. When a tractor-trailer hits another vehicle from the back at any speed, there’s a significant risk of serious property damage and bodily harm.
• Underride: Underride accidents are among the most devastating truck accidents, often leading to fatal and catastrophic injuries. They happen when a smaller vehicle runs into the back or side of a truck and gets stuck. The weight of the truck crushes the smaller vehicle and often kills its occupants. Because of the danger of these accidents, a growing number of trucks have both side and rear underguards.
• Rollover: Rollover accidents are particularly prevalent among tractor-trailers because of these vehicles’ high center of gravity. Rollovers are even more common when a truck is overloaded or improperly loaded, as load shift can result in such an imbalanced weight distribution that the truck cannot right itself.
• Jackknife: Jackknife accidents are often seen among inexperienced truck drivers when they come across an unexpected obstacle in the road. Sudden changes in direction can cause the trailer of the truck to swing out and away from the tractor, making it impossible for the driver to steer and maintain control of the vehicle.
• Tire blowout: Tire blowouts are more often seen among tractor-trailers because of the enormous amount of weight they bear every single day. Furthermore, tractor-trailers put on far more miles on a weekly basis than the average personal vehicle, which puts a lot of wear and tear on a vehicle. A tire blowout can cause a truck to grind to a halt and possibly roll over, spilling cargo across the road.

Potential Liable Parties

One of the complicated aspects of truck accidents is the wide range of potentially liable parties. In the average car accident, liability often lies with one of the drivers. In truck accidents, one driver is generally at fault—but not always. And even if a truck driver is at fault, that usually translates to liability for the trucking company. Employers are liable for their employees’ decisions while they are working, and that means that trucking companies are responsible for their drivers’ negligent or unsafe driving choices.

In addition to being liable for their drivers’ errors, trucking companies may be found liable for other reasons. For example, if they hire unsafe drivers due to lax hiring protocols, require drivers to operate outside the allowed hours-of-service, or knowingly put unsafe vehicles on the road, they are responsible for the consequences.

Cargo loaders are another party that may be held liable for accidents. Cargo must be loaded in very specific ways with approved cargo securement devices and techniques. When loaders try to save time by cutting corners, they dramatically increase the likelihood of a crash.

How, then, do you figure out who is actually liable? You reach out to a personal injury attorney in Sugar Hill. We can look at the facts and get to the bottom of your case.

How We Can Help You Fight for Compensation

At Bailey Javins & Carter, we have seen many, many clients whose lives have been turned upside down by negligent or inexperienced truck drivers. Victims are left with medical bills, unpaid time away from work, totaled vehicles, and no shortage of mental trauma. We’re here to help you get what you deserve after a truck accident.

You may be entitled to substantial compensation, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, property damage, and mental anguish. That doesn’t mean the trucking company will pay up without a fight, though—they will still do whatever they can to limit their own financial losses. Our team will build a case against the liable party and prove what you are owed. Our goal is to secure a settlement that makes you whole after your accident.

Start Your Claim with Bailey Javins & Carter

The sooner you connect with Bailey Javins & Carter after a truck accident, the sooner we can begin advocating for you and building your case. Set up a consultation to get started—just call us at 678-981-5370 or fill out our online contact form to have a team member get in touch with you.