Truck Accidents

Motor Vehicle Collision Lawyer Serving Stockbridge and Surrounding Areas

Many companies use commercial trucks to transport goods in the Atlanta area. While tractor-trailers allow for the swift and cost-efficient conveyance of various products, their massive size and weight pose a risk of harm to other travelers. Unfortunately, many commercial truck drivers engage in behavior that leads to crashes, and when they are involved in collisions, they often cause devastating losses. If you or a loved one was involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle, you might be owed compensation, and it is prudent to speak with a lawyer. Tracy Udunka is a skillful Stockbridge truck accident lawyer with ample experience helping people injured by the negligence of others. She understands the life-altering consequences of truck accidents, and if you hire her, she will gather the facts and evidence needed to present compelling arguments in favor of your recovery of damages.

Regulations Regarding the Use of Commercial Trucks

Commercial truck drivers who travel in and through Georgia must adhere to certain rules and regulations to ensure that they are safely operating their trucks. Specifically, they typically must abide by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations and the Georgia Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. These regulations dictate, among other things, the maximum time for which a driver is permitted to operate a truck per day and per week to avoid accidents caused by fatigue. Similarly, they set forth schedules for when and how trucks and their parts should be inspected and maintained to help prevent collisions caused by defects. The regulations also establish maximum weights for the loads that trucks are permitted to carry, which helps reduce accidents caused by trucks tipping or rolling over or tire blowouts. Truck drivers must also follow all other rules imposed on Georgia motorists, such as those involving speed limits, yielding, and lane change procedures. When they fail to do so, it can lead to collisions.

Elements of a Truck Accident Lawsuit

People hurt in a truck accident can pursue damages in a civil lawsuit with the assistance of a truck accident attorney in the Stockbridge area. Generally, a plaintiff in a case arising out of a collision must prove both liability and damages. How fault is proven will depend on the circumstances surrounding the accident, but it will typically involve a negligence claim against the defendant.

In Georgia, a plaintiff asserting negligence must show that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty and that the defendant acted in a manner that was a breach of the duty owed. If the defendant is a truck driver, the duty may be to comply with trucking regulations or motor vehicle laws. In contrast, if the defendant is the employer of the truck driver, it may be the obligation to ensure that the driver could safely operate the truck. Even if the employer was not negligent, though, it may be vicariously liable for the actions of the driver in the course and scope of employment.

After establishing a duty and a breach, the plaintiff must show that the breach proximately caused the plaintiff to suffer quantifiable harm. In other words, in addition to showing a defendant’s fault, a plaintiff and a Stockbridge truck accident attorney must demonstrate damages, which usually consist of both economic and non-economic harm. Financial harm is generally shown by producing evidence of the cost of past medical treatment and the anticipated costs of future treatment and proof of lost wages or loss of earnings. Non-economic damages, such as the suffering, pain, or trauma caused by the accident, are intangible and are usually shown via the plaintiff’s and other parties’ testimony.

Meet with a Trusted Georgia Attorney

Tractor trailer accidents often cause irreparable harm, and the parties responsible for such significant losses should be held accountable. If you were hurt in a collision with a commercial truck, you might have a viable claim for damages, and it is advisable to meet with a lawyer. Attorney Tracy Udunka is well-versed in what it takes to prove liability in cases arising out of truck accidents, and if she represents you, she will advocate tirelessly on your behalf. The Law Office of Tracy Udunka assists people in truck accident cases in Stockbridge, Lithonia, College Park, Union City, Decatur, and throughout the Atlanta region. You can reach Ms. Udunka through the online form or at (770) 629-1383 to set up a free case evaluation with a truck accident lawyer in the Stockbridge area.