Commercial trucks are a crucial part of the American economy. They’re responsible for transporting food, consumer goods, and raw materials to even the most remote parts of the country. These trucks can weigh dozens of times more than a passenger vehicle, making them capable of inflicting massive amounts of damage on other vehicles, drivers, and public property. When a truck accident turns your life upside down in Forest Park, you need to talk to a truck accident lawyer to explore your options immediately.
The Stein Firm knows how a truck accident can change your life and leave you in serious financial distress. We’re here to help you demand compensation from the party that caused your injuries. Call us at 770-824-3107 to set up a consultation now.
The Dangers of Truck Collisions
When you look into truck accidents, you’ll often see damages estimated in the hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars—compared to the thousands of dollars often cited for car crashes. What makes truck accidents so much more dangerous and complicated than car collisions?
To start, the size and unusual shape of commercial trucks make them more dangerous than passenger vehicles. When a vehicle is that much larger than those around it, it is capable of doing significant damage to everything in its path. It takes longer to slow down, has larger blind spots, and is more difficult to steer.
You also need to consider the contents of a tractor-trailer. If it’s carrying hazardous chemicals or materials, a collision could expose everyone in the area to carcinogens and other dangers. In some cases, this even leads to explosions or fires.
Finally, truck accident claims are generally more complex than car accident claims. There are more potential liable parties, larger insurance policies, and additional types of evidence available. This means that you need to work with an attorney with extensive experience with truck accident cases.
Common Types of Truck Accidents
A few types of collisions make up the majority of truck accidents in Forest Park and other parts of the United States. Each type of crash poses its own dangers. They include:
- Rear-end: Rear-end accidents, generally minor when both vehicles are passenger vehicles, are likely to be severe when a commercial truck is involved. A smaller vehicle can be completely crushed when rear-ended by a commercial vehicle.
- Jackknife: Jackknife accidents are common when a truck driver loses control of their vehicle. The heavier back of the truck swings away from the front of the truck, spinning out of control until it naturally slows to a stop.
- Rollover: Rollovers are relatively common among tractor-trailers, due to their heavy weight and higher center of gravity. Even when no other vehicles are involved, rollovers can be catastrophic.
- Underride: Underride collisions happen when a smaller vehicle runs into the back of a tractor-trailer. They get stuck, and in most cases, the top of the vehicle is ripped off. Fatalities and severe injuries are common in these collisions.
- Blind spot: Blind spot accidents can be attributed to the fact that trucks have large blind spots in front of, behind, and on both sides of the vehicle. When a vehicle stays in the danger zone too long, an accident is likely. This is why many trucks have signs on their sides notifying other drivers that if they cannot see themselves in the truck’s side view mirrors, the truck driver cannot see them either.
- Tire blowout: Tire blowouts may occur because of the significant stress placed on commercial vehicles. They put on thousands of miles every single month, often under significant weight burdens.
Who’s Liable for a Truck Accident in Forest Park, GA?
Determining liability for a truck accident is a key part of seeking compensation. In some cases, the truck driver is liable for the fallout of a crash. If the driver is a contractor or owner-operator, they are considered business owners and must carry insurance to cover any accidents they cause. If they are employed by a trucking company, the trucking company accepts liability when their driver is at fault. The trucking company may also be liable if they were negligent in their hiring practices, knowingly put untrained or inexperienced drivers on the road, or forced drivers to work when they were fatigued or over their hours.
Other parties may also be liable for a collision. For example, a third party that loads the cargo, maintains the truck, or performs inspections before trips could be liable if their negligence made the truck more dangerous to drive.
How The Stein Firm Can Help You Fight for Fair Compensation
The process of getting fair and full compensation for a truck accident may seem complicated, which is why you need to work with a company that is experienced and passionate about supporting victims. At The Stein Firm, we have spent decades fighting for victims in desperate need of compensation after accidents. A truck accident can easily cause tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, and without a fair settlement or court award, you could be left covering your losses on your own.
Our team works diligently to investigate your truck accident in great detail. We’ll access the truck’s electronic login device, figure out what happened before and during the crash, and determine liability. By looking into the driver’s logbook and driving history, we’ll figure out if the company encouraged them to skip breaks or otherwise drive in an unsafe manner.
Once we’ve determined the liable party, we’ll get to work fighting for compensation. In many cases, this means negotiating a settlement that covers all of your losses. In some cases, it involves taking your case to court and fighting for you there.
Reach Out Today to Start Your Claim
If you’ve been hurt in a truck collision, let our team of Forest Park truck accident lawyers fight for you. We know what it takes to demand the compensation you’re owed. Get started now by setting up your free consultation—just call us at 770-824-3107 or fill out our online contact form.
