According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Analysis Division, truck driver-related factors, such as speeding, failing to keep in the proper lane and inattention, were recorded for 31 percent of large truck accidents in 2009. When serious injuries or fatalities result from such negligence, accident victims and their families are entitled to proper compensation.
Using Experts To Investigate Your Accident
When a truck accident affects your family, it is difficult to know where to turn for answers or guidance on what to do next. At Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson, L.L.P., our truck accident attorneys can help you through the aftermath of the accident. We will enlist some of the country’s best experts in order to identify the cause of the truck accident, demonstrate liability, and help you recover the full compensation you need for your injuries or to move forward financially secure following the wrongful death of a loved one.
Call 888-469-4173 or contact our law firm online to arrange a free consultation with one of our experienced 18-wheeler accident attorneys. From offices in Macon, Albany and Warner Robins, we help clients statewide in Georgia and across the Southeast.
What Caused The Accident That Injured You?
Whether an accident is caused by defective brakes or other defective truck parts, or it is caused by human factors, such as due to the negligence of the truck driver, identifying the cause is the first step in identifying who is ultimately responsible for paying damages to the accident victim and/or the victim’s family. Some of the common causes of trucking accidents include:
- Truckers who are speeding or driving too fast for the conditions in order to drive more miles and make more money
- Truck drivers who are fatigued from driving too many consecutive hours or days
- Equipment failures arising from defective parts or failure to properly inspect or maintain parts prior to a trip
- Truck drivers who are reckless and have a history of DUIs or traffic accidents
- Inadequate training of truck drivers on pre-trip vehicle inspections, safety features, etc.
Why Thorough Investigations Are So Important
Crucial evidence from a truck accident can either be preserved or lost very early on in a case. When families are in the hospital awaiting word on a loved one’s condition, the insurance company is already investigating the accident, compromising evidence and building a case that deflects or minimizes liability.
Our lawyers will immediately notify the trucking company and insurance company that there will be a personal injury and/or wrongful death claim and that they must save information such as the driver’s log book, CDL information, the truck’s maintenance records and the electronic control module (if the truck was so equipped). The electronic control module (ECM) records such information as the truck’s speed and whether there was hard braking before the accident. This written notice is called a spoliation letter, and it is designed to best preserve any evidence that could help prove your case.
Unfortunately, the more time that lapses between the accident and this letter being sent out, the higher likelihood that valuable evidence will be permanently lost. That is why it is so important to consult with an experienced legal team as soon as you are able.
Contact Us
Our law firm has a history of success in recovering favorable verdicts and settlements for accident victims and their families in Georgia and throughout the southeastern United States. When you are confronting a time of great uncertainty, trust in the experience and determination of our attorneys at Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson, L.L.P.
Give us a call today or complete the online form to arrange a free consultation about your specific situation.
