Macon Fatal Truck Accident Lawyer

Macon Fatal Truck Accident Attorney

In the aftermath of a fatal truck accident, families are left grieving, reeling with financial and emotional challenges, and looking for answers. If you lost a loved one in a truck or commercial vehicle collision, you need a tenacious Macon fatal truck accident lawyer who can help you find answers and fight for justice.

Hire a Fatal Truck Accident Lawyer

Attorney Stephen LaBriola represents families in Georgia who have suffered a life-changing loss due to another person’s negligence. He is in Macon, Georgia, and we represent clients in Macon and throughout the Macon, Georgia, metro area, including Bibb, Houston, and Peach Counties.

Stephen has experience in some of the state’s most complex personal injury and wrongful death cases, including high-profile cases that other firms refused to handle or considered unwinnable.

He works very closely with families at all stages of the legal process, beginning with the initial consultation, all the way to trial if necessary. His office is conveniently located within driving distance of the Bibb County Superior Court, where many Macon wrongful death and truck accident cases originate. Each case is personal to Stephen, and each client deserves compassion and results.

Understanding Fatal Truck Accident Cases in Macon

Truck accidents are one of the most fatal kinds of collisions in Georgia. I-75, which runs through Macon, has a lot of commercial traffic on it every day. There are 18-wheelers, logging trucks, and freight carriers. Due to their large size, these trucks often become deadly when they collide with a passenger car.

According to the Georgia Traffic Safety Facts, at least one large truck was involved in 14 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2021, resulting in 244 fatal injuries. The number of traffic fatalities involving large trucks rose from 153 in 2020 to 4 percent in 2021. Many of these accidents are a result of one or more of the following:

• Driver fatigue
• Driver negligence
• Speeding
• Mechanical failures
• Driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
• Poor road conditions

Given the size and weight of tractor-trailers, even a momentary mistake in judgment can have disastrous consequences. To make sure no evidence is missed, a Macon fatal truck accident attorney knows how to investigate every potential reason, including maintenance logs and driver logs.

Fatal Truck Accident Laws

Fatal truck accidents are subject to both federal and state regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets and enforces numerous rules for trucking companies found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. These rules cover topics ranging from driver hours of service and vehicle maintenance requirements to cargo loading standards.

For instance, truck drivers cannot drive a commercial motor vehicle for a certain number of hours without taking mandatory rest breaks. FMCSA regulations may also be violated if trucking companies do not take other reasonable measures to ensure the safety of the traveling public. Violations of these rules can help support a negligence claim.

Georgia law allows designated family members, such as spouses, children, and parents, to file claims for the complete value of their deceased loved one’s life. This includes recovery for both economic and non-economic damages, such as lost income, companionship, mental anguish, and more. The estate of the deceased can also bring a survival action, which would compensate for medical bills, funeral costs, and other expenses related to the fatal accident.

Liability in Fatal Truck Accidents

Figuring out who’s to blame for a deadly truck accident in Georgia is often difficult. Many cases involve multiple defendants. The truck driver is often directly liable if fatigue, distraction, or recklessness were the cause of the wreck. The trucking company may share responsibility if it failed to enforce safety policies, pushed drivers to work too many hours, or neglected to maintain vehicles, a common issue in cases involving business liability for semi-truck collisions.

Manufacturers and cargo loaders can also be liable. A defective tire, faulty brake system, or improperly secured load can cause fatal wrecks. Local government entities may also be found liable if poor road conditions, inadequate signage, or defective guardrails played a role. Attorney LaBriola has experience with multiple defendants and knows how to hold all of them accountable to maximize the compensation available to grieving families.

FAQs

Who Is Liable for a Semi Truck Accident?

Liability for a semi-truck accident will vary depending on what caused the crash to occur. In many cases, the truck driver may be liable for being negligent behind the wheel, including causing the accident because of speeding or falling asleep while driving. Trucking companies, maintenance companies, cargo loaders, and manufacturers of defective truck parts may also be liable for an accident. In some cases, several of these parties may be held responsible for causing the crash.

What Is the Average Settlement for a Truck Accident in Georgia?

Truck accident settlements in Georgia range greatly. The final amount of the settlement depends on the nature of the accident itself, the extent of injuries sustained, property damage, and other factors. Truck accident settlements in Georgia usually include medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses.

Trucking companies carry large insurance policies, and usually, settlements for trucking accidents in Georgia are higher than most other car accident cases, particularly if a fatality or serious injury has taken place.

What Are the Truck Laws in Georgia?

In Macon, Georgia, commercial trucks are regulated by state and federal laws. These cover maximum weight, maintenance requirements, and driver qualifications. Hours of service are limited by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, as well as driver logbooks. Violating these laws can create a presumption of negligence and be evidence of liability in the event of a crash.

How Is Fault Determined in a Truck Accident?

Establishing fault in truck accidents requires investigators to analyze comprehensive evidence, which includes police documentation and black box recordings, along with driver logs and statements from witnesses. Through the examination of skid marks and vehicle damage, along with cell phone records, professionals can reconstruct the events. If negligence, like fatigue, distracted driving, or mechanical failure, is established, the responsible party or parties are deemed legally at fault.

Macon Fatal Truck Accident Lawyer

If your loved one suffered a fatality in a truck accident, hire a fatal truck accident lawyer. Contact Stephen LaBriola and let him use his knowledge and experience to represent you.