Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer

Why Choose Our Atlanta Truck Accident Attorney

There are many attorneys in Georgia, but since truck accidents are so complex, it is important to find one who has the experience and resources needed to deal with the local, state and federal laws, and the multiple businesses and insurance companies that may be involved. Here are some reasons why we feel you should choose The Stoddard Firm to represent you:

• We are experienced. Matt Stoddard, the founder of The Stoddard Firm, worked for years defending corporations in serious injury and wrongful death product liability cases, so he knows how companies and their insurers operate and how to deal with them.  Since 2011, Mr. Stoddard has been representing individuals harmed by the negligence of others and has successfully tried numerous high-dollar, serious injury and wrongful death cases in the Atlanta metro area.
• We have an aggressive approach at our motorcycle accident law firm in Atlanta, GA, which gets results and wins large settlements, such as the $1,510,000 recovery for the family of a teenager killed in a vehicle wreck (all of the insurance monies available) as well as much larger recoveries when Defendants have substantial assets.
• We are available and offer individualized personal service for our clients.
• We handle all required legal requirements, forms, paperwork, and court appearances.
• We deal and negotiate with insurance companies, so you won’t have to.
• We offer free initial consultations to get you started.
• We work on a contingency basis so you pay us nothing unless we win and you get your money.

Our Atlanta Truck Accident Attorney Works for You

Time is of the essence when dealing with truck accidents as there are strict deadlines for filing lawsuits.  When you retain The Stoddard Firm, we start working for you immediately. We will:

• Meet with you to hear how the truck accident happened and who the at-fault parties may be, and to determine what the case should be worth
• Make sure you get proper medical care and that everything is documented
• Investigate the accident and gather evidence such as photos and videos from traffic cameras, pictures of damage to vehicles and skid and tire marks, data from the truck’s black box and the trucking company’s employment and truck maintenance records, and police, ambulance, doctor, phone, and hospital records
• Interview witnesses and first responders
• File all paperwork and make court appearances in a timely manner
• Hire experts to reconstruct the accident and testify as to fault and experts to testify as to the extent, effects, and costs of your injuries and the care you may need in the future
• Handle all correspondence and negotiate with the insurance companies for a fair settlement
• Build your case and take it to trial if necessary.

Truck Accident Lawyer Must Prove Negligence

In any personal injury case, it is essential to prove another party, the defendant in the case, was negligent and at fault for causing the accident that injured you. Proving fault legally means showing the existence of the following elements:

• Duty: The defendant owed you a duty of care not to cause harm.
• Breach: The defendant breached this duty by actions or failure to act.
• Causation: This breach caused your injuries.
• Damages: You suffered damages as a result.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has rules and regulations and hiring and training standards that trucking companies must follow, placing strict limits on work hours, and holding truck drivers to a higher standard than ordinary drivers. If these rules are not adhered to, the negligent party may be found at fault for the accident and liable for the damages you received.

In some cases, there may be multiple parties responsible who could be found negligent and liable for the accident, such as:

• the driver who hit your truck and may have driven recklessly or while distracted, exhausted, or impaired
• the manufacturer of a defective truck part that failed
• a road repair company that left debris on the road or failed to put up warning signs
• a maintenance person who failed to correctly repair a truck
• the trucking company that may not have investigated or trained drivers properly or that may have pressured them to drive extra hours
• third-party contractors or other drivers that may have been involved in the crash
• cargo companies that improperly loaded the truck and caused it to be off balance.

Our Atlanta truck accident attorneys would investigate to find every potentially liable party and name them as defendants in your lawsuit as they may all have insurance and assets that could go toward a settlement.

Damages Our Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer May Recover

In truck accident and other personal injury claims, the term “damages” refers to the amount of compensation the injured person, called the “plaintiff,” is entitled to receive from the defendants in the case. Georgia law allows compensation for your economic (monetary) losses, as well as your non-economic damages that do not have a specific dollar value but negatively impact your life. Typical compensation may include:

• medical and rehabilitation expenses
• lost wages if unable to work
• property damage
• pain and suffering
• emotional distress, anguish, or depression
• loss of companionship or consortium
• loss of enjoyment of life
• disability or disfigurement.

In some rare cases where there was gross or willful negligence, you may also be awarded punitive damages, meant to punish a defendant and deter such behaviors in the future.

Our Atlanta truck accident lawyers will evaluate your individual situation to determine what a fair settlement would be and fight for maximum compensation.

Atlanta Truck Accident Attorneys Answer Frequently Asked Questions

After a serious truck accident, you are bound to have questions and concerns. These are best addressed at your free consultation, but to get started, here are some answers to common questions our truck accident attorneys often are asked:

What damage award amounts can I receive?

There is a wide range of possible damage award amounts for truck accidents, from the thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the individual circumstances of your case. In general, settlements will be higher in situations where there are severe or permanent injuries, such as brain injuries and spinal cord damage, or if a wrongful death was involved.

How much time do I have to file a case?

According to Georgia code (title 9 Section 9-3-33) there is a statute of limitations, or deadline, for filing a personal injury case that generally is two years from the date of the crash. If you fail to meet this deadline, the courts are likely to refuse to hear your case.

What if I did something to contribute to the accident?

Georgia has a modified comparative negligence law (Georgia Code § 51-12-33), where the negligence of all parties involved is taken into consideration. As long as you are less than 50 percent at fault, you can still collect a settlement, but it will be reduced by the portion you are found to be at fault.

What if a loved one dies from the accident?

If a loved one dies in a truck crash, our attorneys can help surviving family members file a wrongful death claim to receive compensation for outstanding medical bills, funeral bills and other end-of-life costs, as well as compensation for income that might have been lost by the passing of a family member.

When you retain The Stoddard Firm, we will be there for you throughout the entire legal process to answer questions and keep you informed.

Call Our Truck Accident Lawyers in Atlanta for Help

If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious truck accident in Atlanta or surrounding area, the compassionate legal team at The Stoddard Firm stands ready to help. We dedicate our full resources to holding the negligent parties accountable for the harm they have caused and making sure you get the compensation you deserve.

Don’t delay. Call us at 470-467-2200 now to get started while evidence is fresh and witnesses can be found.