Commercial trucks dominate Georgia’s highways, carrying goods across the state and beyond. These massive vehicles present unique dangers to passenger car drivers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians in Marietta and the surrounding areas.
The Persons Firm has built a reputation for fighting truck accident cases with determination and skill. Our legal team knows how trucking companies operate and the tactics they use to minimize liability. We work tirelessly to hold negligent drivers and their employers accountable for the harm they cause. Contact our experienced Marietta truck accident lawyers today.
What Makes Truck Accidents Different
Truck accidents differ significantly from regular car crashes in several critical ways. Stopping distances for loaded trucks can exceed 400 feet at highway speeds, making collision avoidance nearly impossible in critical situations.
Federal regulations govern the trucking industry through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These rules cover driver qualifications, vehicle maintenance, cargo securement, and hours of service. Violations of these regulations often contribute to accidents and provide grounds for legal action.
Georgia law requires truck drivers to maintain commercial driver’s licenses and follow stricter standards than regular motorists. The state imposes additional penalties for commercial vehicle violations, recognizing the increased risk these vehicles pose to public safety.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Marietta
Driver fatigue remains one of the leading factors in truck accidents across Georgia. Despite federal hours-of-service regulations limiting driving time, many truckers push beyond safe limits to meet delivery deadlines. Fatigue impairs reaction time, decision-making ability, and alertness behind the wheel.
Improper loading and cargo securement create serious hazards on Marietta roads. Overloaded trucks become difficult to control, while poorly secured cargo can shift during transport or fall onto the roadway. Load distribution problems affect braking and steering, increasing accident risk.
Equipment failures pose another significant threat to road safety. Brake systems on commercial trucks endure tremendous stress and require regular maintenance. Tire blowouts at highway speeds can cause drivers to lose control instantly. Faulty lighting systems make trucks less visible to other drivers, especially during nighttime hours.
Weather conditions in Georgia can turn dangerous quickly. Rain creates slick road surfaces that extend truck stopping distances even further. Fog reduces visibility and makes it harder for truck drivers to see hazards ahead. Wind affects high-profile vehicles like trucks more than passenger cars.
Types of Injuries from Truck Accidents
Truck accident victims often suffer catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. The massive forces involved in these crashes can cause damage that affects victims for the rest of their lives.
Traumatic brain injuries occur frequently when truck accident victims strike their heads during impact. These injuries include mild concussions and severe brain damage, which require lifelong care and may result in cognitive function, memory, and personality changes.
Spinal cord injuries from truck accidents can result in partial or complete paralysis. Victims may lose sensation and movement below the injury site, requiring wheelchairs, home modifications, and ongoing medical care. These injuries impose tremendous financial and emotional burdens on families.
Burn injuries happen when fuel ignites during truck crashes or when victims become trapped in vehicles. Severe burns require multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and lengthy recovery periods. Scarring and disfigurement can last permanently.
Georgia Laws Governing Truck Accidents
In Georgia, victims can recover damages even if they bear some responsibility for the accident as long as their fault does not exceed 50 percent. However, their compensation reduces proportionally to their degree of fault.
Due to the size and mode of use of commercial vehicles, they tend to carry higher insurance coverage than passenger cars. Trucks must maintain liability coverage of at least $750,000, though many carriers purchase much higher limits. This increased coverage helps ensure adequate compensation for accident victims.
Georgia law imposes a two-year statute of limitations for most truck accident claims. However, certain circumstances can extend or reduce this deadline, making prompt legal consultation essential.
State regulations require trucking companies to maintain detailed records of driver logs, vehicle inspections, and maintenance schedules. These documents often prove crucial in establishing negligence and liability in accident cases.
Building a Strong Truck Accident Case
Successful truck accident cases require thorough investigation and evidence gathering from the accident scene. Physical evidence disappears quickly, and trucking companies often destroy records after short retention periods, making quick action essential to preserve vital proof needed to establish fault and damages.
Critical evidence in truck accident cases includes:
- Police reports documenting officer observations and initial fault determinations at the scene
- Witness statements from people who observed the collision occur and its immediate aftermath
- Surveillance footage from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, or dashboard recording devices
- Electronic logging device data revealing driver hours and vehicle movement before crashes
Expert witnesses play crucial roles in truck accident litigation. Accident reconstruction specialists analyze crash dynamics and determine how collisions occurred. Medical experts explain injury causation and long-term prognosis, while trucking industry experts identify regulatory violations and safety standard breaches.
Electronic logging devices installed in most commercial trucks record driver hours and vehicle movement data. This information can reveal whether drivers violated hours-of-service regulations or engaged in other dangerous behaviors leading up to accidents.
Compensation Available in Truck Accident Cases
Truck accident victims can pursue multiple types of damages depending on their specific circumstances. Medical expenses often represent the largest component of compensation claims, covering both immediate treatment and future care needs.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity affect victims who cannot return to work at full capacity. Some injuries prevent people from performing their previous jobs entirely, requiring career changes or early retirement. Compensation accounts for both current income loss and potential reduction in future earnings.
- Pain and suffering damages recognize the physical discomfort and emotional trauma that truck accident victims endure.
- Property damage claims cover vehicle repairs or replacement costs, along with damaged personal items inside vehicles during crashes. Total loss situations require fair market value compensation for destroyed vehicles.
Areas We Serve in Marietta
The Persons Firm proudly represents truck accident victims throughout the greater Marietta metropolitan area. Our legal team serves clients in numerous zip codes across Cobb County and surrounding communities.
We handle cases for residents of these Marietta zip codes and surrounding areas:
- 30060 covering central Marietta and nearby neighborhoods
- 30062, including East Marietta residential and commercial districts
- 30064 encompassing West Marietta and adjacent suburban communities
- 30066 serving the north Marietta areas and connecting thoroughfares
Our geographic reach extends throughout Cobb County, including Kennesaw, Acworth, Powder Springs, and Smyrna. We also represent clients in neighboring counties when truck accidents occur on major highways connecting these communities. Experience matters when facing powerful trucking companies and their insurance carriers. The Persons Firm brings decades of combined legal experience to every truck accident case we handle. Our attorneys know how to investigate these complex crashes and build compelling cases for maximum compensation.
Our firm maintains relationships with leading accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and economic specialists who strengthen our cases. These resources help us present compelling evidence and expert testimony supporting our clients’ claims.
Contact Us After Your Truck Accident
Truck accidents create overwhelming challenges for victims and their families. Medical bills accumulate while income disappears due to injuries. Insurance companies pressure victims to accept inadequate settlements before they fully comprehend their losses.
The Persons Firm stands ready to fight for the compensation you deserve after a truck accident in Marietta. Our legal team will handle every aspect of your case while you focus on recovery and healing. Contact our experienced Marietta truck accident lawyer today to schedule your free consultation and learn about your legal options.