There are several scenarios in which a trucking company may be liable for your damages when you’re seriously injured in a Georgia truck accident involving one of their vehicles or drivers. Determining when a truck company is liable depends on evidence such as truck ownership, driver duty logs, and truck maintenance records. A Columbus personal injury lawyer can evaluate the evidence you collect to determine if you have a legitimate claim to pursue and who may be at fault.
Determining liability in a truck accident isn’t always a clear process, especially if the trucking company is liable, they’ll most likely attempt to blame another party, such as the truck driver or manufacturer. The truck company may argue that the truck driver wasn’t technically their employee, or attempt to destroy driving logs that showed they allowed their drivers to violate federal driving time limits.
To help clear up the confusion over liability regarding truck drivers, trucking companies, and related parties, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates laws governing the operation of commercial trucks. Current federal law states that any trucking company that owns a trucking permit is liable for accidents involving any truck with their company information displayed on their vehicle.
This may make it sound like the truck company is always liable for any accident, but that isn’t always the case. There are truck accidents in which the driver is found to be liable, especially in cases of DUI. There are also times when multiple parties can be liable; the driver and the company could be held accountable for your accident.
Unfortunately, even in the presence of federal laws, the trucking company may still fight your truck accident claim to avoid paying your rightful settlement. The knowledge provided by a lawyer with a case history resolving Georgia truck accident claims can help you avoid the tactics truck companies use to avoid liability.
For a Truck Accident in Georgia, Contact a Columbus Personal Injury Lawyer
Proving liability in a truck accident claim is difficult, but what about cases in which the trucking company is also liable? These types of accidents can cause complicated legal issues that an Atlanta personal injury attorney can help with. At Shane Smith Law, we help big rig wreck victims seek justice after they’ve suffered injury and losses due to negligent truck drivers and trucking companies.
Before making the decision to hire a lawyer, request a copy of our free eBooks, I Was Hit By a Drunk Driver: What Do I Do Next? and 10 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Georgia Wreck Case. Our guides contain valuable information on how to handle filing a claim for serious injuries or wrongful death caused by a negligent driver. When you are ready to get started on your claim, contact us to set up a free consultation – (980) 246-2656