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What Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Do?

By Grant Law Office on February 20, 2025

If you were injured in a semi-truck collision, your truck accident lawyer can investigate the accident and identify liable parties. Then, they can file a claim with the insurance company seeking maximum compensation to cover the cost of their medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.

If the other side refuses to make a serious settlement offer, a good truck accident attorney is always prepared to take your case to trial and seek justice in front of a judge and jury.

The Role of a Truck Accident Lawyer

A fully loaded semi-truck weighs up to 40 tons, so it takes twice as long as a regular car to come to a complete stop. As a result, trucks cause tremendous damage when they crash into passenger vehicles.

Truck accidents aren’t like regular accidents, but your truck accident lawyer knows how to handle cases that involve:

1. Severe injuries: If the accident resulted in significant injuries, legal guidance can ensure your medical expenses and other damages are covered.
2. Disputed liability: When the fault is contested, an attorney can help gather evidence and build a strong case to establish who is responsible.
3. Insurance issues: If insurance companies are delaying or denying claims, a lawyer can intervene to negotiate on your behalf.

When to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer

Hiring an Atlanta truck accident lawyer early in the process brings several advantages. Your attorney will spring into action, providing essential legal services.

• Preserving evidence: Early legal involvement means that important evidence, like EDR data, can be preserved before it is lost or destroyed.
• Negotiating settlements: Attorneys can begin negotiations with insurance companies promptly, which can lead to better settlement offers.
• Legal strategy: Early representation allows for a comprehensive legal strategy to be developed, increasing the chances of a favorable outcome

Scheduling a Free Consultation to Choose the Right Lawyer

Many truck accident lawyers offer a free consultation. Your lawyer can evaluate the strength of your case and advise you on strategies for pursuing the compensation you deserve.

This meeting is a great opportunity to get acquainted with a potential attorney and ask questions about the legal process. You’ll want to ask them about the following:

• Experience in similar cases: How many truck accident cases have they handled?
• Success rate: What is their track record in these cases?
• Fee structure: Are there any upfront costs?

Collecting and Preserving Evidence

Your lawyer can collect information about the accident so they can build a strong accident claim. Evidence can range from physical items to digital data, each playing a critical role in establishing facts. This may include:

• Police reports
• Medical records
• Accident scene photos
• Surveillance video
• Dashcam video
• Witness interviews
• Expert testimony
• Event data recorder results
• Truck company policies
• Internal truck company documents

Identifying Liable Parties

Truck accidents provide unique challenges because more than one party could bear responsibility for your injuries. Liable parties in a semi-truck accident may include:

• Truck drivers
• Trucking companies
• Truck maintenance companies
• Drivers of other vehicles
• Manufacturers of defective vehicles
• Third-party truck-loading companies

When the investigation is complete, your attorney can identify all liable parties.

Informing Liable Parties

Your attorney can send a demand letter notifying all liable parties. This is a legal document that:

1. Details of the accident, recounting the events and impact on your life.
2. Itemizes losses, including medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress.
3. States legal grounds and cites relevant laws that support your claim.

Settlement Negotiations

Your attorney can negotiate settlement offers. This process involves:

• Identifying all damages, including non-economic losses like pain and suffering
• Evaluating offers and assessing whether an offer meets your needs.
• Making counter-offers and presenting alternative terms if initial offers are inadequate.

Taking Your Case to Trial

If negotiations with insurance companies don’t result in a satisfactory settlement offer, the next step is preparing for trial. This phase requires careful preparation and a keen understanding of courtroom dynamics.

Your attorney can gather evidence, prepare witnesses, and develop arguments that clearly present the case. This includes anticipating counterarguments and being ready to address them effectively.

The trial process includes the following steps:

• Pre-trial motions: Addressing legal issues before the trial begins.
• Jury selection: Choosing impartial jurors to hear the case.
• Discovery phase: Exchanging evidence with the defense.
• Presenting evidence: Presenting information that supports your case.
• Questioning witness: Clarifying how the accident occurred.
• Closing arguments: Summing up each side’s arguments for the jury.
• Verdict and judgment: Deciding on liability and compensation.

What Is an Event Data Recorder?

The event data recorder (EDR) is a key source of evidence in truck accidents. Often referred to as the truck’s back box, the EDR records essential information about what the driver was doing at the time of the accident. EDR data includes inputs such as speed, braking, steering, and other information, and most trucks have some version of this equipment.

It’s important for your attorney to take active measures to preserve EDR information, which could otherwise be destroyed by the trucking company.

Meet with an Experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer

The talented trial attorneys at Grant Law Office have been getting justice for truck accident victims in Atlanta for over three decades. Wayne Grant has been recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation by Best Lawyers and is also proud to be listed among the top 5 percent of attorneys in Georgia by Super Lawyers.

Call Grant Law Office today at (404) 995-3955 to schedule a free case review with one of our experienced truck accident lawyers in Georgia!