Trucking Accident Attorney: Truck Accident Attorneys in GA

By: 2024 Super Lawyers Cover Story Attorney Katherine L. McArthur, Commercial Truck Accident Attorney since 1980 & founder of McArthur Law Firm (MLF)

Only in the last quarter century have commercial trucking accidents reigned in and brought under control. Prior to federal regulations being put in place to limit interstate commerce, the number of truck accident victims was staggering, due to lack of regulation.

Georgia trucking accident lawyer Kathy McArthur

In 1990, the idea of a sub-specialty a semi-truck wreck lawyer being a sub-specialty of civil litigation firms was unheard of. Part of the reason for that was that commercial rigs did not have any obligation to have high-dollar liability insurance coverage limits.

So, a serious truck fatality case could occur, and there may be little or no money available to pay catastrophic claims. The federal government realized that the lack of Federal regulation of big rig trucks (which are a huge part of interstate commerce), needed federal regulation of that industry.

While all truck accident cases are a type of personal injury case, commercial vehicle crashes tend to lead to some of the most catastrophic and tragic outcomes. Due to the carnage being caused 30 years ago by commercial trucks, the federal government began mandated, special training and oversight of interstate commercial truck drivers, as Wikipedia describes it:

“The agency was established as a separate administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000, pursuant to the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999.'”

The fatality rate has improved significantly since detailed statistics began to be kept in 1966, dropping (in 1966) from around 5.5 deaths per 100 million VMT (vehicle miles traveled) to around 1.1 in 2011. These startling statistics show the vast improvement in saving lives from this federal Agency’s efforts.

In the Peach State, the Georgia state traffic laws are usually written by the Georgia Legislature. Sometimes, though, an idea for a traffic law originates from the executive office, when a Governor sees a way to raise income. In 2014, Governor Nathan Deal signed into law what is now called the Georgia slowpoke law, applicable to interstate driving and for other multi-lave highways.

So, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has improved big rig trucking, for these important but dangerous vehicles, in the interest of fairness and financial accountability. A person who obtains her or his CDL (commercial driver’s license) must pass special written and on-the-road tests to be allowed behind the wheel of any federally regulated CMV (commercial motor vehicle).

Trucking accident lawyers in Georgia

Finding the Appropriate Truck Accident Attorney for Your Situation

When hiring a semi-truck accident attorney, it is important to find one who specializes in personal injury claims in Georgia, particularly car or truck accidents. It is usually very beneficial to choose a truck wreck attorney who is also an Atlanta personal injury lawyer near me who is familiar with the local courts, judges, and court workers versus an out-of-state firm with no local court familiarity and prior relationships.

MLF has multiple experienced commercial truck injury lawyers near me. Other than Mrs. McArthur, three other experienced litigation professionals located at our Firm are Macon Georgia attorneys, and some are discussed below.

To find a good trucking accident attorney near me, review highly experienced truck accident law firms. Check their past case results as truck crash lawyers and read their client reviews. In reading these posted lawyer ratings, look for any questionable or patently fake postings about that trucking lawyer.

If our Firm’s legal professionals meet your expectations, schedule a free lawyer consultation to learn more about them before deciding. Remember, MLF advances all costs in the accident case, and you don’t pay unless we win, so why not call now? For that free consultation, talk to a skilled Atlanta car accident lawyer at 404-565-1621 or fill out our FREE consultation form.

Should you wish to proceed with such a claim in our jurisdiction, our Atlanta injury attorneys recommend seeking advice from a truck accident attorney at our Atlanta, Macon, or Warner Robins offices in Georgia. For cases involving wrongful death or permanent disability injuries to others, our legal team is prepared to travel to any state to litigate your case for the highest possible judgment, if a full and fair settlement is not offered.

Trucking Accident Trial Lawyers in Georgia

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Macon Office

Atlanta Office

Warner Robins Office

Types of Insurance Policies Involved in a Truck Accident Claim

Are you curious about which other insurance providers might be able to handle your claim? You’re not alone. Many people only think about the dollar limits of various types of coverage provided by their personal car insurance after an accident, overlooking the fact that the truck driver, the trucking firm, and possibly several others should also have their own liability insurance policies.

Therefore, determining who is responsible for the accident is crucial. Depending on the circumstances, the following insurance policies might be relevant:

  • Your personal no-fault auto insurance policy
  • The insurance policy of the truck driver
  • The insurance policy of a third party or responsible driver
  • The insurance policy of the truck driver’s employer
  • The insurance of the truck manufacturer
  • The insurance of the company that loaded the truck
  • The insurance policy of a city or state government

You can submit a claim under the insurance policy that ought to bear liability, but you cannot receive compensation exceeding your actual loss.

Steps to Submit an Injury Claim to an Insurance Firm

When filing an injury claim with an insurance company, you need to do a few things. First, find your insurance policies. Next, gather evidence of your injuries and the medical care you received. Finally, make sure to include information about any potential future healthcare expenses.

Subsequently, you need to demonstrate negligence by establishing that the insured party was accountable for your trucking mishap. Regardless of whether that party is a negligent truck driver, the negligent trucking company, or another entity, it’s crucial to prove that they neglected their obligation to ensure your safety.

Trucking Accident Attorneys in Georgia

Let our personal injury lawyers near me in the metro counties compile the evidence to support your case, then demand the policy limits from the at-fault parties. When needed, we also will file court paperwork, have the Sheriff serve the Complaint, and litigate your case against attorneys supplied by the trucking company’s insurance provider.

Tips for Negotiating an Accident Settlement with an Insurance Company

To secure a favorable settlement from the insurance firm, it is important (when dealing with the trucker’s insurance company) to outline and present a strong case detailing your claim. This includes covering all injuries, plus your financial losses, and other damages.

By not being complete, the opposing insurance defense lawyers will have the advantage. Our accident lawyers in Atlanta can provide unsurpassed support, and service and (most importantly) obtain RESULTS as well as any other Atlanta truck accident lawyer.

Georgia truck accident attorney Jordan Josey

Jordan Josey has been with our Macon, GA office for many years. The Partner at MLF knew when he was in law school that he wanted to be a litigator, and found that opportunity when he graduated from Mercer University’s Law School.

If you have a trucking accident in Fulton County, DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, or Cobb County, these are Georgia’s 4 most populous counties. The 15 other contiguous counties outside of the Atlanta metro area have a similar population and even more roadways to navigate than these 4 counties.

It is recommended to hire a local lawyer to handle all negotiations with the insurance company. If necessary, these same attorneys can take legal action to recover what you have lost from the trucking crash case, which can be personal or physical (or financial), or all three.

Types of Injuries After a Truck Accident

The magnitude and heaviness of large trucks can result in extremely severe or even deadly injuries when a collision occurs. The following are some of the most frequent injuries sustained in truck accidents:

  • Internal organ damage or damage to a knee, a shoulder, or your neck
  • Cranial injuries including TBI (traumatic brain injury) damage
  • Unsightly cuts or scarring
  • Breaks, pulls, and twists of a person’s body
  • Bone fractures or dislocations from joints
  • Possible spinal cord damage or compression from the abrupt restraint action of a seat belt during a crash.
  • Injuries to the spinal cord, neck, or skull fractures
  • Burn injuries or abrasions from road rash
  • Damage to your sternum, thoracic area, or fractured or sprained ribs
  • Lower back pain or sciatica after a rear-end impact by a negligent driver

Generally, the seriousness of your injuries will determine if you require the assistance of an attorney. If your accident took place in Georgia, a lawyer specializing in truck accidents can assist you in assessing the gravity of your losses against the expenses of pursuing a claim. McArthur Law Firm has some of the top-rated Atlanta trucking accident attorneys and Macon trucking accident attorneys in Georgia.

Understanding Different Types of Commercial Driver Negligence

The primary reason for trucking mishaps is driver carelessness. Legally, carelessness is described as a failure to fulfill one’s legal responsibility to ensure the safety of others. In Dalton, Augusta, Columbus, Atlanta or Valdosta, anyone who takes the driver’s seat automatically takes on a legal obligation to ensure the safety of other drivers and pedestrians.

Here are some common types of CDL operator carelessness that our GA lawyers (and the Georgia State Patrol) have observed to have contributed to many crashes:

  • Driving while distracted
  • Sending texts while driving
  • Failing to follow the Atlanta truck restrictions and not take the bypass around Atlanta on the I-285 bypass exit.
  • Driving while tired
  • Consuming food or drink, smoking, or listening to music while driving.
  • Driving under the influence
  • Driving recklessly
  • Exceeding speed limits

If a truck driver’s carelessness leads to an accident, they may be held responsible, or their insurance provider’s policy or the company that employed the truck driver may be liable.

Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyer Katherine McArthur Helps Injured Victims

Select our Atlanta truck accident attorney for guidance on what to do after an accident. For such a vitally important case, you do not need a high-volume TV attorney or billboard lawyer whom you would never meet in person, and (likely) who would not recognize your name.

Atlanta personal injury attorney Lindsey Macon manages the Atlanta office location but litigates complex cases across the State of Georgia. The Duke University Law School graduate previously worked for national legal firm giant King & Spalding to learn the other side of defending clients being sued, before moving to the plaintiff’s side of the courtroom. She is a Partner at MLF.

Georgia truck accident attorney Lindsey Macon

Injured parties (or a close family member) do themselves no favor by waiting. Take advantage of our law office’s 100% FREE lawyer consultation. Few other 18 wheeler accident law firms in the Peach State have more multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements than MLF.

Our litigation team has built a Firm of the best lawyers for truck accidents to be able to successfully litigate wrongful death and serious injury crashes that leave our clients with lifelong disabilities. Why wait any longer to file a claim? Evidence may disappear, over time.

In case of a truck mishap, it’s crucial to heed the advice of medical professionals and get bandaged. It’s not advisable to converse with insurance company representatives before consulting a lawyer, as their primary aim is to minimize the payout. Insurance adjusters are primarily focused on conserving funds for the insurance firms.

Georgia truck accident attorney Jessica Edmonds

In Middle Georgia, MLF Partner Jessica Edmonds also has extensive experience as a Georgia truck accident lawyer, helping litigate multi-million dollar cases. Over more than a decade, the former Warner Robins GA native and Mercer Law graduate has built a stellar name for excellence in central Georgia for winning substantial verdicts at trial or through pre-trial negotiations.

Contact The McArthur Law Firm Today: FREE Consultation

If you’d like a free consultation today, feel free to call an Atlanta trucking accident attorney at 404-565-1621 or fill out a FREE consultation form. Our legal team members will review the details that you provided in our interview and provide you with a targeted and informative case evaluation.

See the sample below of one of our lawyer ratings sent to us by a former Client.

Last year I was in an auto accident and initially felt overwhelmed. Once I called Jessica, I was immediately at ease. She was with me through the entire process and always took the extra time to explain situations in a way I could comprehend. She was kind and professional, but most importantly- she got results. I cannot say enough good things about Jessica and her team! They took the stress out of a stressful situation, and I will always be grateful for their work.

– Tabitha Chapman

More Georgia Trucking Accident Resources

If you’d like to learn more about truck accident attorneys in Georgia read our informative articles on truck accident cases below. We explore every aspect of truck wreck cases in Georgia that the truck wreck lawyers at the McArthur Law Firm handle.