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Approximately twenty different cargo carriers fly into and out of Atlanta, including UPS Airlines, FedEx Express, Amazon Air, and DHL Aviation. Whether you work, live, or travel OTP or ITP or OTP, you're likely to encounter semi-trucks or commercial trucks, also known as 18-wheelers or tractor-trailers, in all parts of Atlanta at all hours of the day and night, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The big rigs are a critical aspect of our local, state, and national economies, and life would be very different without them. But for those of us who have to share the roadways with commercial trucks, the dangers of being hit by a massive single or double tractor-trailer are real. At Marks Law Group, our Atlanta commercial truck accident attorneys have years of experience handling commercial truck accident cases involving crashes from every angle and causing fatal injuries.
If you have been hurt in a UPS truck accident in Atlanta, let our experienced attorneys take on the crucial task of holding the at-fault party and their insurance company accountable and securing fair compensation to help you deal with present and future medical bills, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost income, and other financial damages. To schedule a free initial consultation, contact our Atlanta personal injury law firm today at (678) 251-9309.
Our personal injury attorneys have handled many types of trucking accidents caused by the negligence of the truck driver, trucking company, or another liable party. Some of the major causes of commercial vehicle crashes include:
Truck drivers have limitations regarding how long they can go without taking a break and how many hours per day or week they can behind the wheel. These regulations prevent truckers from working long, grueling hours behind the wheel. However, many drivers ignore these rules and exceed allowable service hours. Fatigued driving causes accidents by impairing drivers’ judgment, slowing their reaction time and reflexes, dulling their attention and senses, and even causing drivers to falling asleep behind the wheel.
Violations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) safety regulations are five times more likely to apply to the commercial vehicle itself than to the driver. Thousands of trucks on the roadway right now would be immediately pulled from service if their brakes and tires were inspected, not to mention their coupling devices, signal lights, and countless other crucial components. Too many collisions happen because commercial carriers don't maintain their fleets with proper repairs, maintenance, and inspection.
Tractor-trailers cause accidents because they're overloaded. Overloading often causes brake failure, a burst tire, or a deadly rollover. Also, unbalanced loads can cause the driver to lose control over larger vehicles. A cargo that is improperly secured can become loose and get disgorged onto the highway, causing a tragic collision that affects dozens of cars.
When a commercial driver hits a patch of black ice or slippery roads, braking wrongly can jackknife the truck, affecting several vehicles along the way. Jackknife collisions happen when drivers lack the training, skill, or judgment to brake properly, often combined with a lack of attention to the highway or too much speed for existing weather conditions and traffic patterns.
Often, truckers drive recklessly or speed excessively. Some drivers also drive while drunk or distracted and they look at their mobile phones instead of the roadway. As professional and trained drivers, we may expect truck drivers to drive safely than the average driver. However, it's essential to remember that commercial drivers are constantly under pressure to meet deadlines and make up for lost time, besides the fact that they spend a lot of time behind the wheel than most drivers. And thus they're more likely to succumb to negligent and dangerous behaviors.
Motor vehicle manufacturers are liable for defects in the manufacture or design of their vehicles. At Marks Law Group, our experienced Atlanta trucking accident attorneys are well-equipped to handle automotive product liability cases and take on manufacturers for installing and selling defective truck equipment that caused a collision.
Victims of UPS truck accidents have a limited period of time in which to file a personal injury lawsuit for monetary compensation arising from their bodily injuries. In Georgia, truck accidents are governed by the statute of limitations for personal injury actions. Thus, accident victims have two years from the date of the crash that injured them to sue for financial compensation and punitive damages. If the statute of limitations’ two-year window of time lapses and you haven't filed a lawsuit, you'll be ineligible to file a claim for monetary compensation, absent exceptional and extremely rare circumstances.
The reason for this relatively short two-year statute of limitations in Georgia UPS truck accident cases is to make sure that memory remains fresh and witnesses to the accident are available to testify at a trial or deposition.
However, it's essential to note that even if victims have two years to file an insurance claim, it's essential to start your case as soon as possible. If you wait, you risk the destruction or loss of evidence important to the success of your personal injury claim.
The experienced Atlanta city truck accident attorneys at Marks Law Group can help you file your lawsuit against the responsible party, all in the appropriate manner and within the stipulated time period. Once your personal injury attorney files a claim, he or she will also negotiate on your behalf and, litigate your Decatur truck accident case all the way to a conclusion.
Although establishing a liable party is often a simple matter, determining liability for a UPS truck accident is a complicated matter. For instance, commercial trucks used by UPS often collect various types of accident-related data—such as the truck’s weight and speed before crashing, when or if the brakes were applied, and more—in a centralized “black box,” all of which could be essential in establishing fault for an accident. However, that evidence is only available to experienced attorneys who know where and how to look for it—knowledge that a less experienced or skilled auto accident lawyer may not have.
Further, many federal and state regulations govern how commercial trucks should be operated, what standards of maintenance a commercial truck should be held to, and when and for how long drivers should take breaks. Without the help of seasoned truck accident lawyers, it might be challenging to track down the right statutes and proving they were violated, making it daunting to prove legal negligence.
According to FMCSA, UPS has over 125,000 delivery vehicles in its fleet and employs over 118,000 drivers to operate them. Although FMCSA tracked less than 2500 accidents involving “Big Brown Trucks,” many of these types of truck accidents caused severe bodily injury.
If you recently suffered bodily injury in a truck crash involving a United Parcel Service driver or truck, seeking legal guidance from a seasoned trucking attorney is essential to recovering the monetary compensation you deserve. Call the qualified truck accident lawyers at Marks Law Group today at (678) 251-9309 to learn more about filing lawsuits over UPS truck accidents in Georgia.
