Smyrna, GA Truck Accident Lawyers

Found in the northwest suburbs of Atlanta, Smyrna plays a crucial role in Georgia’s transportation infrastructure. Some of the region’s largest highways run through or next to this city, which means that residents are constantly sharing the roads with tractor-trailers. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you’re likely struggling with the aftermath—medical bills, time away from work, a totaled vehicle, and more.

That’s why it’s important to work with a team of truck accident attorneys you trust to fight for what you deserve. Call Bailey Javins & Carter at 678-981-5370 to set up a consultation with our team now.

Truck Collisions in Georgia

Truck accidents are a growing problem in Georgia, and a quick look at the statistics confirms that. In Cobb County alone, there were over 1,000 tractor-trailer collisions in 2022. These crashes resulted in nearly 300 injuries and nine fatalities. The crash map shows that these collisions are often clustered along I-75, running down through Marietta and just east of Smyrna.

When you look at all collisions in Georgia, rear-end collisions are far and away the most common. However, among truck accidents in Cobb County, sideswipe collisions are the most common. This may be due to the large blind spots on both sides of tractor-trailers. Drivers of smaller vehicles are often unaware of just how large these blind spots are, so they don’t realize how much danger they’re in when they cruise along the side of a tractor-trailer.

This data also includes the causes of tractor-trailer collisions. Some of the most common causes include:

• Improper lane changes
• Misjudging space between vehicles
• Following too closely
• Disregarding traffic signals
• Failure to yield
• Driving too fast for weather conditions or traffic

Possible Liable Parties

One of the main challenges of trucking accidents is the wide range of potentially liable parties. Until you figure out who is liable for your injuries, you won’t be able to receive compensation. There are several parties who may be to blame for a truck accident:

• The driver: In many cases, the driver of the truck is at fault for the accident. They may have been distracted, impaired, fatigued, or simply careless. If the driver is employed by a trucking company, the company is typically liable for their actions. However, if the driver is an independent contractor or owner-operator, they carry their own insurance that will be used to handle claims like yours.
• The driver’s employer: If the driver’s negligence led to the crash, their employer may ultimately be liable for the damage they caused. There are other circumstances that may lead to employer liability. For example, if the company did not conduct a proper background check on the driver, they could be liable if they hired a driver with an unsafe driving record. They may also be liable if they force the driver to violate federal regulations or drive while fatigued.
• Truck manufacturer: Trucks that are poorly designed or manufactured may be inherently unsafe. Regardless of how well a driver operates or inspects the vehicle, it’s only a matter of time until it causes a collision. When this happens, the manufacturer can be held liable. 
• Repair shop: Repair shops have an obligation to use approved parts and follow best practices when performing repairs. When they fall short of this standard, they could be held accountable for any accidents that follow.
• Cargo loader: Cargo must be carefully loaded to avoid overloading the truck, causing the cargo to shift, or leading to cargo spills. Unbalanced, overloaded, or improperly stacked cargo can lead to collisions.

Damage Caused by Truck Accidents

Trucks can easily be dozens of times heavier than passenger vehicles. What does this mean for you? Even when a speed happens at a low speed, the sheer size of a tractor-trailer can cause catastrophic damage. In many cases, bodily harm makes up the majority of accident-related losses. Victims may suffer broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, soft tissue damage, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and internal bleeding. Many of these injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding, depend on immediate identification treatment. It’s crucial that victims get checked out immediately to protect themselves.

Truck accidents also lead to substantial property damage. The truck itself may become damaged in the crash, as well as the cargo it carries. Depending on the cargo it holds, that could be hundreds of thousands of dollars lost. Thanks to a tractor-trailer’s size, public property can also become damaged in a crash. Bridges, medians, guardrails, and other road fixtures can be destroyed when a truck crashes.

Choose Bailey Javins & Carter to Help You Fight for Compensation

You’ve been injured in a Smyrna truck accident—what now? Your next step is finding an attorney to support you through the personal injury claim process. Trucking companies know they have a lot to lose when one of their drivers is involved in a crash. That’s why many of them have large in-house legal teams or outside firms on retainer to help them navigate injury claims. 

If they are held liable for a crash, their insurance could be forced to pay out hundreds of thousands of dollars. That’s a huge loss that can significantly affect their insurance rates going forward. If their driver was out of compliance at the time of the crash, they may also be hit with FMCSA penalties. As a result, they work hard to avoid liability and limit their financial losses.

You need an attorney who is ready to hold trucking companies and their insurance providers accountable. Your accident has changed your life, and you should not be left picking up the pieces on your own. During your free consultation, we’ll learn more about your losses, explain your legal options, and develop a plan that helps you seek justice.

Start Your Smyrna Truck Accident Claim with Bailey Javins & Carter

Ready to fight for compensation? The team at Bailey Javins & Carter is here to help you. Call us at 678-981-5370 or fill out our online contact form to have a team member get in touch with you.