Skip to Content

Commercial Truck Accidents

Commercial Truck Accidents

Amber is heaven sent!! Amber and her team worked very hard on my case!! They checked on me while I had my weekly doctor visits. They were very detailed with my settlement. I didn’t have to second guess anything. I would recommend her to anybody who is in a car accident !! I’ve even referred my love ones who also needed her to represent them in an accident. She made my process as painless as possible. I wish I could give her 10 stars!!

Jeannette A., Client

I was referred to Amber by my daughter-in-law. I was involved in two rear end collisions in a three month period. She did an excellent job keeping me informed and explained everything to me, in a manner that I could understand. She followed through with me until I had my settlements.

Shirley H., Client

Amber Gilormo is a knowledgeable and hard working attorney. I would not hesitate to seek her counsel.

Kristen Pitts, Peer

The staff is awesome; thorough! They kept me informed!

Sanchez T., Client

Great Experience Wonderful Amazingly Service! I would definitely recommend to anyone who’s in need of attorneys 😎 They’re right ppl to go to for sure indeed!!

Client Review

I have had attorneys in the past that does not compare to Attorney Amber Gilormo. She handle all of my concerns and answered all of my questions in a timely manner, I never had to guess what was happening with my case I was always informed and kept to to date.

Client Review

Don’t answer the phone for attorneys who have bought your phone# after an accident — call Attorney Gilormo because you will not be disappointed.

Carla Robinson

FREE CONSULTATION
No fees until we win

Disclaimer

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I SUBMIT MY FORM?

Atlanta Commercial Vehicle Lawyer for Maintenance-Related Accidents

Trucking accidents are serious, complicated, and potentially life-changing, but after an incident an Atlanta commercial vehicle lawyer can help. Trucking accident victims often face a very difficult road to recovery, if full recovery is even possible. Fortunately, the law is on your side. Negligent truckers, trucking companies, manufacturers, and other various parties can be held liable for your injuries and for the damages they cause.

Whenever a semi-truck or tractor-trailer (“commercial truck”) is involved in an accident, suspicion typically falls immediately upon the driver. Semi-trucks are large and heavy, which makes them exceptionally dangerous to any vehicles and pedestrians around them. While many accidents are indeed caused by driver error, sometimes a mechanical problem or failure is blamed. When the negligent failure to inspect or maintain a commercial truck causes an accident, the people or entities responsible for maintaining the truck may be held legally liable for any damages caused by an accident.

If you have been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, contact an Atlanta commercial vehicle lawyer at Gilormo Injury Law for help with your claims, even before you speak with your insurance company.  We have offices in Atlanta, Alpharetta, and Cumming for your convenience.  

Commercial Trucking Accidents Caused by Negligent Maintenance 

A negligently maintained commercial truck can cause serious problems that result in devastating truck accidents. In fact, our Atlanta commercial vehicle lawyer team believes poorly maintained trucks are some of the most dangerous factors facing motorists in Georgia. Some of the most common maintenance problems that contribute to commercial truck accidents include:

  • Overloading
  • Underloading
  • Unbalanced loading
  • Worn or incorrectly inflated tires
  • Faulty or failed brakes
  • Trailer hitch failures
  • Steering column problems
  • Broken headlights, turn lights, or other signal lights
  • Unsecured cargo or parts falling from the vehicle
  • Tire blowouts and shredded tires
  • Lack of reflective tape
  • Failure to install blind spot mirrors
  • Defective couplings

Commercial Trucks Need Regular Maintenance and Repairs

All vehicles need routine maintenance and care, and commercial trucks are no exception. Unlike passenger vehicles, whose owners may choose to ignore routine maintenance such as regular oil changes, wiper fluid refills, and checking tire pressure, state and federal laws require commercial trucks to be inspected and maintained. Our Atlanta commercial vehicle lawyer team is well-versed in these laws and regulations.

Commercial trucks are more mechanically complicated than most other vehicles. Not only do commercial trucks weigh 20 to 30 times more than most passenger vehicles, but they also require unique training and particular expertise to maintain and operate. Commercial trucks typically have multiple forward and reverse gears, and many commercial trucks have up to 18 gears. Commercial truck dashboards are covered with levers, switches, gauges, signals, and other instrumentation required to manage various mechanical parts. Lacking proper training, operating, maintaining, and repairing these vehicles is impractical to impossible.

Given their mechanical complexity, it is no surprise that commercial truck maintenance and repairs are legally regulated. Drivers, owners, and repair/maintenance companies that maintain and repair commercial trucks all have a responsibility to ensure that the truck is operationally safe before hitting the road and may all share liability if the vehicle is negligently maintained. 

Federal Regulations Requiring Maintenance and Repairs

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates interstate commercial trucking. This federal agency has created a comprehensive set of rules designed to ensure that all commercial vehicles are properly inspected and maintained.

For example, the FMCSA requires truckers to conduct a vehicle inspection before driving the truck on any trip. The FMCSA also requires the truck driver to also perform a post-trip inspection. These inspections are designed to identify most mechanical issues before they become a problem out on the road.

The FMCSA also requires truck owners and drivers to keep thorough records of all inspections, repairs, and maintenance work. It is important to contact an Atlanta commercial vehicle lawyer at Gilormo Injury Law immediately after a truck accident so that we can examine these records before they are altered, destroyed, or “lost.”

Trucking companies and commercial truck owners are required to keep these records for at least one year while the vehicle is in use, and for at least six months after a vehicle is sold or transferred. Failure to preserve these records may subject the owner to liability for any injuries or damage caused by the owner’s failure to inspect, maintain, or repair the vehicle.

Who is Responsible for Truck Maintenance? 

Lack of communication over who is responsible for maintenance is one of the biggest reasons there are so many issues regarding improper maintenance. Truck drivers are in the best position to notice any problems because they drive the commercial truck for so many hours, but are usually not in the position to repair the problems on their own. 

However, trucking companies have the ability to take a commercial truck off the road and have the facilities to provide proper maintenance and repairs, but typically do not have the ability to notice potential issues without being alerted by the drivers. Unfortunately, this type of teamwork results in less transport for the trucking company and fewer hours for the driver. Thus, all parties are financially incentivized to simply ignore a maintenance issue until it is too late.

Determining Fault in a Trucking Accident with the Help of an Atlanta Commercial Vehicle Lawyer

Determining liability for a commercial truck accident is more complex than it is for typical vehicle accidents because there are more parties potentially involved, including:

  • The truck driver
  • The truck owner
  • The trucking company
  • The person or entity that leased the truck from the owner
  • The truck maintenance company
  • The truck manufacturer
  • The shipping or loading company
  • The passenger vehicle driver

State and federal laws regulate not only vehicle maintenance and repairs, but also truck accidents. Along with any given state’s department of transportation, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration determine and enforce trucking laws and regulations.

Several federal regulations exist to aid in determining liability. Any company that owns a trucking permit is responsible for all accidents involving a truck that has its name displayed on the vehicle. 

Call an Atlanta Commercial Vehicle Lawyer at Gilormo Injury Law if You’ve Been Involved in a Trucking Accident

If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, contact an Atlanta trucking accident lawyer who will stand by you and get you the compensation you deserve. At Gilormo Injury Law, our only concern is obtaining the best possible result for you. We serve clients in all of Greater Atlanta, including, Alpharetta and Cumming.  Call us at 770-874-7054 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and how we can help.

Related News

1 Jan / 2022

Important Considerations for Wrongful Death Claims in Georgia

Nothing about dealing with the untimely death of a loved one is easy. While pursuing a successful wrongful death claim can help ease the burdens of moving on, this itself is a complicated, confusing and potentially lengthy process. With that said, asserting your family’s legal rights is extremely important; and, […]

READ MORE

12 Dec / 2021

How to Avoid Accidents When Driving with Children

Driving with children can make a car accident more likely. Here’s what you need to know to keep you and your children safe. As parents, we try to do everything we can to keep our children safe. But, the reality is that we all face risks on a day-to-day basis. […]

READ MORE

11 Nov / 2021

Fatal Pedestrian Accidents are on the Rise

Whether you are walking in a crosswalk or running on the side of the road, you never expect to get hit by a passing vehicle. Unfortunately, these types of accidents are far too common. When these accidents happen, careless drivers are almost always to blame, and victims will often be […]

READ MORE

OUR CLIENTS BECOME LIKE A FAMILY SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY

Amber is heaven sent!! Amber and her team worked very hard on my case!! They…

Jeannette A., Client

Free Consultation

No Fees Until We Win