Gainesville, GA Truck Accident Attorney

Skilled Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Gainesville, GA and Surrounding Communities

Gainesville truck accident lawyersEvery year, hundreds of truck, bus, and commercial vehicle accidents occur in Georgia, resulting in catastrophic injuries and death.  Truck accidents often result in brain and spinal cord injuries, leaving victims in need of medical care for a lifetime.  Davies Hothem Injury Law’s professional and compassionate Gainesville, GA Truck accident attorney understands what you and your family are going through, and our tractor-trailer accident lawyers are ready to assist you in every way we can.

Top Gainesville Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck, bus, and commercial motor vehicle accidents are complex injury cases and require an experienced team of truck accident attorneys to successfully litigate these claims.  The attorneys at Davies Hothem Injury Law have the skill and experience required to confront corporate trucking defendants who will withhold documents, fight collateral or irrelevant issues, and frustrate the discovery process to its core.  We know the trucking industry, we know the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, and have the unwavering tenacity to get you the compensation you or your loved one deserve.

Common Causes of Tractor-trailer Accidents

As large truck and commercial vehicle accidents are often deadly, they are regulated extensively by The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations set forth in 49 C.F.R. 390, as well as applicable state-level CDL regulations. Trucking companies and their drivers often have a history of violating these standards.  It is often the trucking company’s knowledge of such a consistent record of being unsafe, and its continued operation of trucks on the road despite this knowledge, that is the most condemning when someone is seriously injured by the same or similar unsafe behavior.  Safety standards that commonly lead to deadly crashes when violated include, but are not limited to:

Truck and bus drivers are limited to the number of consecutive hours they can drive and are also required to obtain a minimum number of consecutive hours of sleep to avoid fatigued driving.  They are required to keep logs of their “hours of service.”

  • Drunk or Impaired Driving (49 C.F.R. 392.5)

Truck drivers are forbidden to use alcohol, be under the influence of alcohol, or have any measured alcohol concentration while on duty, or operating, or in physical control of a commercial motor vehicle.  In addition, any driver found in violation will immediately be placed out of service for 24 hours.

Truck drivers are required to adequately inspect and maintain their truck and trailer, and to keep records of the same. Tires, brakes, taillights, and turn signals must all be in proper working order and checked daily.  Trucks are even required to place reflective tape at certain locations on the truck and trailer to increase its visibility to other motorists. Negligent maintenance, inspection, and/or repair can lead to a mechanical failure that causes or contributes to a deadly accident.

Distractions include cell phones, texting, using dispatching devices, eating or reading, to name just a few. Truck drivers are prohibited from using a hand-held mobile telephone or engaging in texting while driving.  Many distracted truck drivers end up rear-ending another motorist.  In fact, 23.1 percent of large truck crashes are rear-end collisions.

  • Speeding and driving too fast for conditions.

According to one study by the FMCSA, 28.6 percent of speeding-related large-truck crashes occur from loss of control and traveling too fast for conditions.  Examples of conditions where drivers may find themselves driving too fast include: wet roadways (rain, snow, or ice), reduced visibility (fog), uneven roads, construction zones, curves, intersections, gravel roads, and heavy traffic.

  • Moving violations, such as improper turns and passing.

Tractor-trailers should avoid U-turns at all costs.  U-turns are, in effect, left-hand turns with reduced visibility into on-coming traffic for a truck that requires a longer time to complete a turn due simply to its massive size.  Many trucking companies prohibit their drivers from making any U-turns.

Our Gainesville, GA Truck accident attorney has the resources necessary to seek full compensation for injuries and wrongful death resulting from tractor-trailer and bus crashes.

After a Gainesville Truck Accident, What Must Be Done?

After reporting the accident to law enforcement and seeking immediate medical attention, call an attorney at Davies Hothem Injury Law so that we can work immediately to preserve evidence and your claim.  Without an immediate investigation and campaign to preserve evidence, critical evidence may be lost.

As soon as you hire Davies Hothem Injury Law, we work to preserve material evidence, including, but not limited to:

  • The vehicle, including the tractor and trailer.
  • The driver’s qualification file (as required by 49 C.F.R. 391.51), which includes valuable evidence regarding prior collisions, prior traffic citations, the driver’s employment history.
  • The driver’s drug and alcohol file, including pre-employment and post-accident, random and reasonable suspicion, and return to duty drug and alcohol testing results.
  • The driver’s daily logs or hours of service.
  • Computer data from devices such as the electronic control module, any on-board computer, trip monitor or record, etc.
  • Evidence regarding the motor carrier’s safety ratings, including audits by state and federal governments, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
  • Maintenance, inspection, and repair records.
  • Cell phone records, including incoming and outgoing texts, calls, and voicemails.
  • Videos and images from any Drive Cam or other camera in or on the truck involved.

How Much is My Gainesville Truck Accident Case Worth?

Although exact dollar amounts vary depending on the facts of your case, we seek compensation for all economic and non-economic damages resulting from your trucking accident, including:

  • Medical expenses (including funeral expenses)
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of spousal companionship and services
  • Punitive damages

Gainesville is home to Davies Hothem, Georgia’s tractor-trailer accident law firm.  Know that by hiring Davies Hothem Injury Law, we will do the heavy lifting and seek justice for you and your loved one.

Truck Accidents in Georgia: The Statute of Limitations

A victim has two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury case in Georgia, according to the law. While there are some exceptions where the statute of limitations may be tolled, it can be difficult to sue for any injuries caused by a truck accident after a 2-year time period.  Contact our Gainesville Truck Accident Attorneys today, so we can immediately investigate your claim.

Reach Out to Our Gainesville, GA Truck Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or has died as a result of a truck or bus crash in Georgia, contact our Gainesville, GA truck accident lawyers to handle all aspects of your case.