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Tractor Trailer Accidents

Being involved in any automobile accident, no matter how low the impact, is traumatic. If you’ve ever been in a high speed accident with an 80,000 pound tractor trailer truck, you’ve experienced the terror of a high impact crash and the resulting pain from very serious injuries. In fact, the odds of surviving a truck accident are far lower than those of an average automobile accident. Over 500,000 truck accidents occur in the United States each year, and about 5,000 people die each year in these accidents. {link www.iihs.org/ ) When a tractor trailer truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the statistics are far more frightening. In 98% of tractor trailer accidents, the driver of the other vehicle or his passengers are killed, and sadly enough, 30% of all truck accidents are due to truck drivers who are overtired. {link www.nhtsa.dot.gov ) If you are lucky enough to survive such a dangerous accident that has occurred due to the negligence of someone else, the effects of your ordeal are long lasting. Brain damage and spinal cord injuries as well as chronic pain due to permanent disability often make working impossible. Loss of income and a decline in quality of life due to injury or the wrongful death of a loved one can be life shattering, and The Law Offices of Jason R. Schultz are well aware of how ruthless insurance companies are in such situations. Insurance adjusters don’t factor in a lifetime of pain and loss when evaluating your claims and are more interested in protecting their own financial interests. Mr. Schultz’s years of litigation experience with such cases gives him the edge when it comes to recovering damages for your injuries.

Jason R. Schultz has expert knowledge of the laws specific to tractor trailer accidents, specifically the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and how they may apply to the wreck. {LINK to Federal Carrier Safety Regulations, etc www.fmcsa.dot.gov; www.nozone.org ) For instance, seriously injured persons need to move quickly to preserve critical evidence before the trucking companies and their insurers "lose" or "erase" valuable black box or other valuable information needed for accident reconstruction. Mr. Schultz has had a great deal of success uncovering hours of service violations, inadequate training, drug use, and negligent hiring and retention of bad truck drivers.

If you are injured in a truck accident, you are immediately at a disadvantage. Most trucking companies and their insurers and independent adjusters are highly skilled in truck accident investigation and claims practice. Frequently, they will send "go" teams, including lawyers, to the scene of serious truck wrecks within hours of the event. Do not give them any type statements or sign any releases for medical records or employment records. Often the medical release allows the adjuster to talk to the doctors without you or anyone being present.

Truck companies have accident investigators that are on call and dispatched to the scene of the crash as soon as the trucking company learns there has been an accident. While the families of the accident victims are tending to medical and hospital care and funeral arrangements, the trucking company is gathering (or destroying) evidence to set up their defense. Victims of commercial trucks or motor carriers also need to a team of investigators on their side, fighting for their rights, as soon as possible after the wreck.

In addition to the dangers inherent in the size and weight of the trucks used in commercial transportation and shipping, a number of factors inherent in the business can contribute to traffic accidents. While most truck drivers and companies are skilled and conscientious, there are conditions that can make trucking extremely hazardous, including inadequate training as to driving technique, safety concerns, and defensive driving, systems of compensation that encourage faster vehicle speeds and more hours of consecutive vehicle operation than is safe for the motoring public, unrealistic schedules and expectations of trucking companies that encourage drivers to hurry, despite safety risks involved; and lack of any "real" safety or maintenance programs for the equipment and drivers. If you are injured in a commercial trucking accident, you need to consult an attorney with experience in handling truck accident cases.

Jason will use the state and federal laws to work in your favor. The trucking company, driver, shipper, those that performed truck repairs that had malfunctioned, or the government entity that didn’t maintain proper road conditions may all be potentially liable in a truck accident, and he will zealously prosecute your case against any of these parties that are guilty of negligence or recklessness that resulted in injury or the wrongful death of someone you love. Federal law requires at least $750,000 in trucking insurance for any commodity that crosses state lines, with higher amounts of insurance for any loads that contain hazardous materials. Large insurance corporations don’t want you to know these numbers because they don’t want to pay the settlement you deserve. Jason R. Schultz knows the numbers, and he will aggressively pursue the compensation that you deserve.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or killed in a tractor trailer accident due to the negligence of someone else, contact The Law Offices of Jason R. Schultz P.C. at (404) 474-0804 extension 106 or email Jason Schultz at Jason@jasonschultzPC.com for a consultation. Jason will fight large trucking corporations and insurance companies and win. For 16 years, The Law Offices of Jason Schultz P.C. has been recovering compensation for clients in the counties of Rockdale, Douglas, Gwinnett, Spalding, Cobb, Henry, Dekalb, Fulton, Clayton, Troup, Carroll, Fayette, and Coweta as well as in Atlanta, Tyrone, Stockbridge, Senoia, Roswell, Peachtree City, Newman, McDonough, Marietta, Lawrenceville, LaGrange, Jonesboro, Griffin, Fayetteville, Douglasville, Decatur, and Conyers. The Law Offices of Jason Schultz P.C. – Small Enough to Care, Experienced Enough to Win.

Library for Tractor Trailer Accidents:

Longer Hours-of-Service Rules for Truckers Struck Down by Federal Appeals Court
Description: Second Ruling Against Bush Administration’s Dangerous Regulations Will Help Keep Tired Truckers Off the Nation’s Highways
Truck Seminar Materials [PDF]
Description: Trucking Litigation Seminar including overview of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, pre-suit investigation, insurance coverage, potential defendants such as shipper, broker, trucking company, insurance company and driver, unsecured loads, shifting loads, venue options
New Hours of Service Regulation [PDF]
Description: Hours of service for truck drivers; rest and sleep requirements for safe operations
Overview of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations [PDF]
Description: Truck Safety Regulations including controlled substance (drug) and alcohol testing, commerical drivers license standards and penalties, qualification of drivers, hours of service and driver fatigue, parts and accessories necessary for safe operations, and inspection repair and maintenance of tractor-trailer trucks
Discovery in Trucking Cases [PDF]
The Sleepy Killer: The Tired Truck Driver [PDF]

Frequent Questions for Tractor Trailer Accidents:

Case Results for Tractor Trailer Accidents:

Web Resources for Tractor Trailer Accidents:

Truck Safety Coalition
Description: The Truck Safety Coalition is a partnership between The Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH) Foundation, and Parents Against Tired Truckers (P.A.T.T). The Truck Safety Coalition is dedicated to reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by truck-related crashes, providing compassionate support to truck crash survivors and families of truck crash victims, and educating the public, policy-makers and media about truck safety issues.
The FMCSA Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System
Description: This site offers company safety data and related services to industry and the public over the Internet. Users can search FMCSA databases, register for a USDOT number, pay fines online, order company safety profiles, challenge FMCSA data using the DataQs system, access the Hazardous Material Route registry, obtain National Crash and Out of Service rates for Hazmat Permit Registration, get printable registration forms and find information about other FMCSA Information Systems.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Description: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in cooperation with its partners and customers, strives to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses
Georgia's Commercial Driver's Manual
Description: Rules and Regulations for Truck Drivers in Georgia.
Underride Network
Description: The Underride Network is concerned with issues affecting crash compatibility between small and larger vehicles including all sizes of trucks and SUV's. We support improved underride guards for large trucks and trailers; on the front, side, and rear! World regulation of guards has not kept pace with technological advancements to save lives and prevent injuries. We believe truck safety and vehicle compatibility are human rights issues and governments must address these issues from this perspective to ensure the safety and well being of their citizens.

Free Consultation

Jason R. Schultz
34 Peachtree Street N.W.
Suite 2570
Atlanta, GA 30303

Phone: (404) 474-0804
Fax: (404) 577-0564

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The Truth about your Injury Case
Debunking Myths and Avoiding Mistakes.
To request this book, please contact us today.

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