The moments that follow a truck accident in East Point are some that may be etched into your mind forever. Victims report genuinely thinking they may die, trying to brace for impact, and wondering if their children were buckled in safely. The fact is, there’s no real good news in a truck collision—even the most minor accident generally causes significant property damage and some type of injury. Trucks are simply so much larger than passenger vehicles that they are capable of causing an unbelievable amount of damage.
That’s why it’s so important to talk to an attorney after a truck accident in Georgia. You could be entitled to compensation, but you can’t rely on the trucking company or their insurance provider to tell you the truth about that. We’re here to help. Set up a consultation with The Stein Firm now by calling us at 770-824-3107.
What Makes Truck Accidents So Dangerous?
There are several factors that contribute to the serious dangers posed by truck collisions. First, you can’t ignore a truck’s size. When a tractor-trailer is fully loaded, it can weigh as much as 20 times more than a passenger vehicle. When you have that big of a size difference, a crash at any speed can be devastating for those in the passenger vehicle. Additionally, the structure of a tractor-trailer has numerous issues that you don’t see in passenger vehicles.
These design features are necessary, though, for trucks to carry cargo safely. Tractor-trailers have large blind spots on all four sides, which severely limits drivers’ visibility during heavy traffic. Should they spot someone in their blind spot, they have a much harder time stopping than drivers of passenger vehicles. This is due to the size of tractor-trailers.
On top of that, the type of cargo a tractor-trailer is carrying could lead to further complications. Thousands of trucks transport hazardous materials on the road every single day. Depending on the materials being carried, a truck accident could cause fires, explosions, severe burns, and more. These crashes are among the worst since cleanup efforts take an enormous amount of time and often leave people in the area exposed to dangerous chemicals.
Types of Truck Collisions on Georgia Roads
While some types of truck accidents are the same that you’ll see between passenger vehicles, some are unique to tractor-trailers. Common types of crashes include:
- Jackknife: Jackknife accidents often occur when a driver swerves to avoid something or changes lanes too quickly, causing the trailer of the vehicle to swing out and away from the tractor. The much-heavier trailer pulls the tractor along for the ride, leaving the driver powerless. Depending on the size and speed of the vehicle, it could take quite a while for the truck to come to a complete stop.
- Rollovers: Rollovers do affect some passenger vehicles, but they are far more common among tractor-trailers because of trucks’ higher center of gravity. Rollovers can be fatal, particularly if a truck rolls over a smaller passenger vehicle. This type of crash may be caused by poorly loaded, overloaded, or unbalanced cargo.
- Tire blowout: Tire blowouts, again, can also affect passenger vehicles. However, passenger vehicles are rarely under the same amount of strain and daily wear and tear as commercial trucks. When a commercial truck suffers a blowout, the driver loses control and the truck slowly grinds to a stop.
- Right-turn: Right-turn accidents may occur when a truck driver swings left to leave space for a safe right turn. If a passenger vehicle driver tries to sneak in on the right side, they may be hit when the truck driver completes their turn. If the truck driver turns too far left, they may cross the median and hit cars in the oncoming traffic lane.
- Underride: Underride accidents are devastating for those in passenger vehicles. They happen when a smaller vehicle crashes into the back of a tractor-trailer. They get stuck under the back of the tractor-trailer, and a significant part of the vehicle is often ripped off. Fatalities are common in this type of collision.
Collecting Damages
Damages for truck accidents are often significantly higher than they are in collisions that only involve passenger vehicles. Since commercial trucks are capable of causing so much damage, they carry far larger insurance policies than smaller vehicles. However, you’ll still need to prove your losses and the other party’s negligence if you want to access that money.
If you are able to prove the other party’s role in your collision, you could collect compensation for:
- Medical expenses and bills
- Lost income
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Mental health treatment
- Property damage
- Wrongful death
- Future medical expenses and lost wages
- Pain and suffering
On the plus side, there is a substantial amount of evidence available in truck accident cases. Truck drivers are carefully tracked via electronic logging devices, which may provide valuable information about the operator’s driving habits, hours of service, and speed.
How The Stein Firm Can Help
When you want full and fair compensation for a truck accident in East Point, you need the team at The Stein Firm. Trucking companies know how expensive accidents can be, and that’s why they have sizable legal teams to shield them from liability. Without your own legal representation, you could be offered a pitifully low settlement that doesn’t even begin to cover your damages—or worse, nothing at all.
We know how to utilize the evidence generated in a crash to build the strongest claim possible for you. Our team will fight aggressively to prove your damages, the other party’s negligence, and your need for compensation. From evidence collection to negotiations and court representation, we will handle everything.
Start Your Truck Accident Claim Now—Call Us Today
Don’t let a truck accident take over your life. We’re here to help you fight for every dollar you deserve. Set up a consultation with our team of experienced truck accident lawyers in East Point now by calling us at 770-824-3107 or reaching out online.
