Marietta Truck Accident Attorneys

The Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents

There are many reasons for a truck accident to occur, and if you believe your accident was caused by driver negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

• Drunk Driving
• Distracted Driving
• Speeding
• Lack of Truck Maintenance
• Reckless Lane Changes
• Vehicle Defects
• Improperly Packed Trucks
• Driver Fatigue

Driver Error

Compared to every other cause of truck accidents, driver error is about 10 times more likely to be the cause of a crash.

A study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration cited the following four critical areas that resulted in more than half of all trucking acidents:

• The driver fell asleep, was disabled by a heart attack or seizure, or was physically impaired for another reason
• The driver was inattentive, distracted by something inside or outside of the vehicle, or failed to observe the situation adequately.
• The driver was driving too fast for conditions, misjudged the speed of another vehicle, or followed a vehicle too closely.
• The driver panicked, overcompensated, or exercised poor directional control.

Driver Fatigue

Another very common cause of truck accidents is fatigue caused by overwork. Most truck drivers typically drive long distances for many hours with very little rest in between. This is usually caused by the owners of truck companies who demand the delivery of goods to certain destinations within a short period of time.

Truck drivers are then under a great deal of pressure to deliver within the set deadlines to avoid any repercussions. The little bit of sleep they get is usually very low quality, and the accumulated fatigue causes a loss of concentration, coordination, and sometimes falling asleep at the wheel.

Inadequate Truck Driver Training

It's a commonly held belief among those in the industry that more emphasis needs to be placed on driver training. In addition to the growing incidence of truck accidents, several other key factors demonstrate the need for better training.

It's estimated that over the next 30 years, trucks will move 40 percent more freight than they do today. That increased volume, combined with a driver shortage, will put even more stress on trucking companies to hire younger, less experienced drivers.

The FMCSA sporadically reviews the minimum training requirements for truck drivers, including the length of classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel experience, and various other areas.

Alcohol and Drug Use

Unfortunately, many truck drivers are found guilty of using alcohol and non-medicinal drugs while on the job. Some drivers only take the drugs at stops in towns across the country, while others go even further and carry alcohol and drugs with them while driving.

No matter how the drugs and alcohol are being used, their driving can become impaired and they can easily cause accidents. There are even some prescription drugs that the drivers might be using that can impair their coordination and judgment while they're behind the wheel, leading to accidents.

Equipment Failure

The best driver in the world is only as good as the truck they are driving. A mechanical breakdown can easily result in a catastrophic accident.

A study by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that in 55 percent of truck accidents involving injury, the truck had at least one mechanical error. The same study also found that 30 percent of tucks had at least one out-of-service equipment issue.

A few common types of equipment failures the study found were:

• Defective lights including turn signals
• Overall poor maintenance
• Unbalanced cargo
• Poorly maintained brakes
• Bad tires
• Defective or missing safety equipment
• Transmission failure

Because of so many instances of equipment failure causing accidents, the FMSCA requires every truck driver and company to perform an inspection before each trip. Regular maintenance inspections must also be completed on the trucks throughout the year.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is an issue for every driver on the road these days. For truck drivers, hours of driving over long distances lead to boredom on the road, and they regularly look for something to keep them occupied and awake.

The urge to kill their boredom often leads them to their phones to reply to texts, make phone calls, or even scroll through social media.

Browsing through radio stations also distracts truck drivers, leading to accidents. When on the road in rural areas, the reception of certain radio stations can be very poor. This forces the driver to scan the radio until they find something that comes through clear, and something they like.

Even a fraction of a second with their eyes off of the road could make the difference between arriving at their destination safely or causing an accident.

Proving Truck Driver Negligence

When you choose The Roth Firm, LLC, we have an experienced team of truck accident attorneys who are dedicated to completing a thorough investigation into the wreck as well as prove driver negligence, proving their careless actions led to the collision.

During the accident investigation process, your attorney will:

• Review police and accident reports
• Interview all witnesses
• Investigate the accident scene
• Examine the driver's credentials
• Determine if all local traffic laws were obeyed

Having a personal injury attorney to prove truck driver negligence is very important when filing a personal injury lawsuit. There are in-depth state and federal trucking regulations that will be difficult to interpret without legal help.

Our truck accident injury attorneys in Marietta have extensive knowledge of these laws, as well as experience litigating, and the resources to thoroughly investigate the accident.

Trucking companies are required to follow strict procedures in driving hours and truck maintenance and the drivers are held to a higher standard than a regular motor vehicle drivers. Trucking companies will often falsify their records to protect their company and drivers.

Our truck accident attorneys are trained to find discrepancies and falsifications in the trucking records that will prove the driver or company was responsible for the accident.

Proving liability in a truck accident can prove to be more complicated than a regular motor vehicle accident case. In a truck accident, there are often multiple parties involved, such as:

• The trucking company
• The truck driver
• The parts manufacturer
• A third party

Our attorneys are extensively trained to identify the parties who may have contributed to the accident, they will then build an aggressive case against the at-fault party.

You shouldn't try to handle a truck accident lawsuit alone. With the help of an experienced truck accident lawyer, you will be in great hands and can expect your lawyer to obtain the compensation that you deserve.

Damages Owed to the Victims of Truck Accidents

Many victims of truck accidents will only receive compensation for the damages to their vehicle with the help of the insurance company. Our Marietta truck accident attorneys will help you receive compensation for damages, medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering.

Truck accident victims most often suffer from very serious physical injuries, emotional stress, and financial burdens. Our attorneys handle your lawsuit while you focus on recovery. It is our goal to help you receive the maximum amount of compensation for your suffering.

When truck accident victims are unrepresented, they seldom receive the compensation they deserve. If you were in the cause of the accident, you will need to contact a Roth Firm attorney to represent you and obtain the settlement that you deserve so you can focus on recovering to the state you were in before the accident.

Why You Need a Truck Accident Lawyer to Represent You

Truck accidents that result in injury can be very complex cases. It's important to work with a skilled and experienced semi-truck accident lawyer to make sure your interests are represented.

Your attorney will follow this four-step process, to ensure your case is handled properly.

• Investigate: Victims of truck accidents should immediately contact an attorney after being hit by a tractor-trailer. Your attorney will also want to conduct a detailed investigation, to ensure the insurance company is giving you a fair evaluation for your damages. The insurance company will most likely gather evidence to limit their liability and decrease the amount that they offer to you. This is one reason why it is important to allow your personal injury lawyer to perform their investigation so they can adequately defend you.
• File A Claim: When the investigation is completed and the evidence is gathered, your truck accident lawyer will file a claim. Your claim will include compensation for the damages that are owed to you, which includes injuries and material losses. Your claim will also state the truck driver's, or trucking company's negligence and liability for the accident.
• Negotiations: There are multiple ways to settle your claim. If your attorney can come to an agreement with the insurance company your case will be resolved out of court with a financial settlement. However, if a compromise cannot be made, your case will be taken to court in which a judge or jury will determine what you are owed.
• Litigation: This step only occurs if your case is formally taken to court. Both your attorney and the insurance company will present their cases, and after all of the evidence is presented, the judge or jury will be responsible for determining the verdict. The verdict will determine which party is at fault and the amount of compensation that is owed.

Hire a Professional Truck Accident Injury Attorney for Help

Truck accident injury victims almost always require representation from an aggressive personal injury attorney who will be dedicated to their case.

Only a truck accident attorney will know how to properly investigate, gather, interpret, and present all the evidence needed to prove fault in a truck accident injury claim.

Since personal injury cases that involve truck accidents are more complex than other motor vehicle accident cases, it will take a skilled attorney's legal representation to gain a favorable settlement. Having an attorney with knowledge regarding state trucking laws and regulations will be an advantage when filing a lawsuit.

If you have been injured in a semi-truck accident in Marietta and believe it was caused by a negligent driver, contact us online or by phone at (404) 777-4899 for a free consultation.