Georgia Truck Crashes Resulting From Wide Turns
Commercial trucks must follow rules put forward by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, as well as state regulations. Their operation is more carefully monitored than the operation of cars partly because their size alone creates a huge risk of injury and death. In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has reported that the drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles suffer almost 80% of fatalities in truck accidents. If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed as a result of a truck driver’s wide turn or other conduct, the experienced Atlanta truck accident attorney Michael Braun may be able to help you recover the compensation you need and deserve for your losses.
Serious Injuries and Wrongful Death Resulting from Wide Turns
Many truck drivers underestimate how much room is needed to turn a truck. For example, cars can be shoved against the curb or cut off when a truck moves to the left in order to make a right turn. The car’s driver may suffer whiplash, head injuries, amnesia, respiratory distress, or brain or spinal cord damage. The driver may even be killed by a trucker’s negligence.
Under Georgia law, a truck driver’s employer can be held responsible for the driver’s negligent acts under a theory of vicarious liability, or respondeat superior. Under respondeat superior, an employer can be held responsible for its employees’ negligent acts committed during the course and scope of their employment. It is important to note that respondeat superior does not apply if a truck driver is negligent on his personal time and was not driving in order to provide any benefit to his employer.
This doctrine is helpful because an employer and its insurer are usually in possession of greater resources than an individual driver, and medical bills after a truck accident are usually quite expensive. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act requires trucks and other commercial vehicles to be insured in case of a judgment for personal injuries or wrongful death caused by a negligent driver.
If you are injured in a wide turn accident, you may be able to recover lost wages, property loss, medical costs, pain and suffering, costs of surgery and more. Those who sue for wrongful death may be able to claim loss of companionship and affection in addition to compensation for more tangible losses.
Atlanta Truck Collision Lawyers Can Help You Obtain Compensation
Truck collision lawyers have more in-depth knowledge about the industry and trucks themselves than the average personal injury practitioner. Not all car accident attorneys also have a sound understanding of how to handle a truck accident. For example, trucks today have advanced computer systems. They track data that can give truthful information about the reason for a crash even where a truck driver lies or doesn’t remember. This information and other specialized knowledge about trucks and the regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Administration are necessary when deposing the driver of the vehicle and conducting other relevant discovery.
Often, the truck driver, his employer, and their insurance defense attorneys have all of this information at the tips of their fingers, whereas most personal injury attorneys may not. Therefore, it is important to retain your own experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer to build a strong case against those responsible for your injuries or your loved one’s death. Our office serves clients who have been injured in Atlanta area communities including Jonesboro, Decatur, and throughout Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb, and Clayton Counties. Contact us at (770) 421-6888 or via our online form.