Delivery Vehicle Accidents

Truck Wreck Lawyer Serving Marietta and Surrounding Communities

Each year, a number of accidents in Georgia and throughout the United States involve delivery vehicles. Given the size and weight of these trucks, the consequences of a wreck can be devastating for occupants of smaller vehicles on the road. If you or someone close to you has been injured as a result of an accident with a delivery vehicle, it is important to seek guidance and representation. At Miller Legal Services, Marietta truck accident attorney Norman Miller understands how to handle delivery vehicle accidents and can put his experience to use on your behalf.

Pursuing Compensation for a Delivery Vehicle Accident

Commercial drivers must adhere to both state and federal laws that are designed to ensure the safe operation of trucks on the road. These laws recognize that large commercial vehicles pose certain dangers that can lead to various types of truck accidents. As a result, these regulations specify how and how often the trucks should be maintained, how loads should be tied and secured, and how hazardous chemicals must be transported, among other matters. Furthermore, federal and state regulations impose strict requirements regarding the training and licensing of commercial truck drivers, their hours of operation, load inspections, drug tests, and more.

Negligence forms the basis of most lawsuits against careless commercial drivers who have caused an accident. Negligence takes place when someone breaches the duty of care owed to the injured person. This duty of care refers to a legal obligation that requires each of us to act in a reasonably prudent manner. In the context of operating a truck, it is widely accepted that a truck driver is obligated to act as a reasonably prudent truck driver would act behind the wheel under the same or similar circumstances. If the truck driver’s conduct falls below the reasonably prudent person standard, and that conduct is the direct cause of the plaintiff’s injury, the truck driver likely will be liable.

It is important to note that a truck driver’s employer may also be liable for the driver’s negligence under the theory of vicarious liability or respondeat superior. The idea is that an employer that hires and profits from the work of an employee will also be responsible for the negligence of that employee as long as the careless action took place within the scope of employment. This typically means the truck driver must have been on the job at the time of the accident for the employer to be liable. If a truck driver took a personal detour, the employer will not likely be liable.

A victim injured in a Georgia truck accident may recover compensation for his or her harm. Typically, a plaintiff will be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. In extreme cases, a plaintiff may also be entitled to punitive damages.

Protect Your Rights by Consulting a Truck Accident Attorney in Marietta

It is no secret that commercial drivers are often under extreme pressure to make deliveries within a certain time frame. This can cause them to speed or cut corners. If you have been injured in a delivery vehicle accident, we can help. Marietta truck accident lawyer Norman Miller can zealously advocate for your rights and assist you in seeking the compensation you deserve for your harm. He also represents injured individuals in Roswell, Smyrna, and other areas of Georgia. Call us at 770-284-3727 or contact us online to set up a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision attorney.