How Long Have We Been Taking On Trucking Companies?
Since 2006, The Roth Firm has represented injured Atlantans, including families hurt in crashes with large national trucking companies. Some outcomes appear in our case results.
How Do Jackknife Crashes Happen Around Atlanta?
What Makes a Trailer Swing Out?
A jackknife happens when the trailer’s wheels lose grip, and the trailer folds toward the cab. Common triggers include hard braking that locks the wheels, speed too fast for rain or a tight ramp, empty or light trailers, worn brakes, and shifting cargo.
Why Do the Perimeter and Downtown Connector See So Many?
Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-51) bars most large trucks from I-75, I-85, I-20, and GA 400 inside I-285 unless they are making a pickup or delivery, heading to a terminal or repair shop, or driving to or from the driver’s home inside the Perimeter. Through trucks are pushed onto I-285, while local deliveries still use the Downtown Connector’s tight merges.
Busy spots include Spaghetti Junction (the Tom Moreland Interchange), where I-85 meets I-285, and the Cobb Cloverleaf, where I-75 meets I-285 near Cumberland.
Who’s Responsible for Your Crash?
Which Trucking Rules Might Have Been Broken?
The Georgia Department of Public Safety’s Motor Carrier Compliance Division enforces safety rules based on federal standards. Truckers must:
- Slow down for rain, fog, and other hazardous conditions
- Keep brakes inspected and repaired
- Secure freight so it cannot shift
Georgia also keeps trucks in the two right-hand lanes on highways with three or more lanes in one direction (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-52). A broken rule can be strong proof of fault.
Could the Driver, Trucking Company, or Loader Be Liable?
Yes. The driver may be liable for speeding, fatigue, or braking too hard. The trucking company may be liable for rushed schedules, skipped repairs, or poor training, and usually for its drivers’ mistakes on the job. A separate cargo loader may be liable for an unbalanced trailer. Our Atlanta truck accident lawyers look for every applicable insurance policy.
How Do We Lock Down the Evidence?
We send preservation letters to the carrier, then collect:
- Electronic logbook data showing hours on duty
- “Black box” speed and braking data
- Dashcam and nearby business camera footage
- Maintenance, inspection, and loading records
Georgia DOT’s traffic cameras do not record, so private video must be found quickly.
What Can Your Claim Cover?
What About Your Bills and Lost Income?
You can seek medical bills, future care, lost wages, lost earning ability, and vehicle repair or replacement. For crashes on or after April 21, 2025, Georgia limits medical damages to the reasonable value of necessary care, and juries may hear both the billed and the paid amounts.
Can You Be Paid for Pain and Suffering?
Yes. Pain, lost sleep, and fear of driving the Perimeter again all count. Severe crashes can cause a traumatic brain injury that affects memory and mood for years. If a crash took someone you love, certain family members can bring a wrongful death claim.
When Do Punitive Damages Come Into Play?
Punitive damages punish a wrongdoer rather than repay losses. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1, they require clear and convincing evidence of willful misconduct, wantonness, or conscious indifference to consequences. Most awards are capped at $250,000, but the cap does not apply when the driver was impaired or intended harm.
Why Do Atlanta Families Call Us?
Our founding attorney began as in-house trial counsel for a major insurer, and many of our attorneys previously worked in insurance defense, so we know how the other side fights. We limit our caseload so every client gets individual attention, and we charge no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
How Do You Get Started?
- Free consultation: Contact us at 404-640-5761 or through our online contact form.
- Case review: We pull the crash report and trucking records.
- We take over: We handle the insurers while you focus on healing.
Your Questions, Answered
Is there a deadline to file a jackknife truck accident claim in Atlanta?
Yes. Georgia generally allows two years to file an injury lawsuit (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). Crashes involving a government vehicle have shorter notice deadlines: generally six months for a city and twelve months for a county or the state.
What should you do right after a jackknife truck accident in Atlanta?
Call 911, get medical care, photograph the scene if safe, and get the police report number. Sign nothing from the trucking company’s insurer before talking with us.
Can you still recover money if you were partly at fault?
Often, yes. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, your payment is reduced by your share of the blame, but you recover nothing if you are 50% or more at fault.
Why does it matter if the trucker drove too many hours?
Federal hours-of-service rules limit driving time without rest. Tired drivers brake later, which can trigger a jackknife, so logbook violations can help prove fault.
How much does it cost to hire your Atlanta truck accident team?
The consultation is free; you pay nothing up front, and we are paid only if we recover money for you.
Where Can You Find Our Office?
We are on Powers Ferry Road near I-285 Exit 22 (Northside Drive/New Northside Drive/Powers Ferry Road), between I-75 and GA 400.
Office: 6120 Powers Ferry Road NW, Suite 630, Atlanta, GA 30339. Phone: 404-640-5761
Ready to Talk?
Contact us at 404-640-5761, 24/7, to speak with our Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer in Atlanta.
