Georgia Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Atlanta and All of Georgia

No driver wants to be in an accident – and certainly not in an accident involving a tractor-trailer that weighs dozens of tons more than your car. The results can be catastrophic.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a tractor-trailer accident, you know how severe they are. A car can be fixed or replaced — but the physical and emotional wounds that follow a serious tractor-trailer accident can’t be healed so fast. Some people may never recover from their injuries. If you’re dealing with the burden of these injuries, you need to speak with a truck accident attorney.

At Childers, Schlueter & Smith, we handle truck accident lawsuits across Georgia. We are experienced with these cases, and we can use that experience to help you get what you need to recover and move past this terrible ordeal.

Consultations are always free and without obligation. Call us today or fill out the form on this page to learn more about how we may be able to help.

Do I Need a Truck Accident Attorney?

Recovering from serious injuries after an accident with a tractor-trailer is a painful and often drawn-out experience. It’s a time of stress and uncertainty. You likely have an accumulating stack of medical bills. You may be dealing with insurance companies who care only about their bottom line, not about your health.

You shouldn’t have to deal with this. You have enough to worry about. That’s why hiring a truck accident lawyer may be your best option.

At Childers, Schlueter & Smith, we do the following for you if we handle your truck accident lawsuit:

• Gather necessary paperwork
• Speak with insurance companies on your behalf
• Make the process as easy as possible for you
• Build the strongest case for compensation

What Compensation is Available in a Truck Accident Lawsuit? 

There is nothing that can take back what has happened. An attorney cannot fix physical pain. But we are committed to seeking the best possible future for our clients.

By filing a lawsuit, you may be able to be reimbursed for your medical expenses and be able to face the future without the financial stress brought by this ordeal.

Trucking companies are required to carry substantial insurance policies. Depending on the weigh of the truck and its cargo, the insurance policy may have a minimum limit of as much as $5 million.

Compensation we may be able to seek can include:

• Pain and suffering
• Harms and losses due to disruption of your personal and professional life
• Past and future lost wages if you are unable to work
• Medical expenses
• Pain and Suffering

Each case is different, and so is the compensation that may be available. One thing that we can pledge, however, is that, if we represent you, we will seek the maximum compensation possible under the law, and we won’t stop until we’ve pursued every possible legal avenue to get you compensated.

Why Truck Accidents Occur

Here are some of the reasons why commercial truck accidents occur. Any of these situations may lead to a successful lawsuit if another motorist is injured:

• The truck driver did not take extra caution in adverse weather conditions.
• The truck driver operates his tractor-trailer carelessly
• The tractor-trailer has been poorly maintained.
• A defective part, such as brakes, leads to an accident.
• The tractor-trailer is improperly loaded with cargo.
• The tractor-trailer driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• The tractor-trailer driver has been driving more than the maximum allowed hours.
• The tractor-trailer company failed to follow federal trucking safety laws.

A government study in 2006 identified four causes responsible for the majority of tractor-trailer accidents:

• The driver lost control due to unsecured cargo shifting
• Adverse weather conditions
• Speeding
• Driver fatigue

To combat the danger of fatigued driving, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration limits the number of hours a trucker can drive in a 24-hour time span. If a trucker violates these rules and causes an accident, both the driver and the trucking company may be held legally accountable.

What to Do After a Truck Accident

• Always call the police and emergency medical services, if needed.
• If possible, gather the other driver’s information yourself, including contact information, vehicle identification numbers, company name, license plate number and insurance information.
• Do not admit fault.
• Do not sign any papers without understanding what you are signing. We recommend you speak with an Atlanta truck accident lawyer before signing anything.
• Use caution when speaking to insurance companies. They may sound like they are trying to help, but in reality they are looking to spend as little money as possible to boost their bottom line. They aren’t working for you.
• If you have a camera, you should take pictures of the accident scene, the vehicles involved, skid marks and any other evidence of the accident visible at the scene.
• Seek medical treatment or see your doctor if you’ve been injured. Remember that some injuries do not become apparent until hours or even days have passed.
• Do not discuss the case with anyone except your doctor or your attorney.

Statute of Limitations in Truck Accident Cases

A statute of limitations is the time period during which a lawsuit can be brought. If the time period ends without filing your case, you may forfeit your right to seek justice and compensation.

Georgia has a statute of limitations of two years with truck accidents. This is why you should contact an attorney sooner rather than later.

Talk to an Attorney About Your Case

Childers, Schlueter & Smith is committed to promoting traffic safety in Georgia. We support organizations working to protect drivers, and as truck accident attorneys, we consider ourselves advocates for traffic safety.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a truck accident, you should contact our attorneys to see if we can help you get what you need to get your life on track.

Consultations are free and without obligation, so call us today.