Our Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers recognize that tractor-trailers are a vital part of the U.S. economy, routinely transporting goods throughout the country.  Despite their utility, these monstrously sized vehicles are disproportionately responsible for the type of severe injuries that may permanently impact one’s quality of life and ability to earn a living or result in the tragic death of tractor-trailer accident victims.  Despite accounting for a relatively small number of the total vehicles on our roadways, tractor-trailers are involved in a disproportionately high number of  fatal collisions.  If you are the occupant of a passenger vehicle involved in a collision with a big rig truck, the odds are against you as 97 percent of fatalities in trucking accidents involve occupants of the passenger vehicle.

If you are involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer, you may face extreme hardships because of the force of the impact involved in a typical Atlanta trucking accident.  Many big rig trucking accident victims suffer serious injuries that result in long-term, even permanent pain.  Some of the most severe injuries include traumatic brain and spinal injuries.  The types of serious injuries often suffered in big rig accidents often have many life-altering consequences, such as:

• Inability to engage in one’s chosen occupation or work at all
• Permanent loss of ability to walk and control one’s body
• Impaired sensation or cognitive functioning
• Loss of feeling or use of one’s limbs
• Limitations on one’s normal life activities and marital relationship

If you are injured by a negligent truck driver or indifferent trucking company, the Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers at Montlick and Associates are committed to fighting hard to get trucking accident victims get the compensation they deserve.  We offer a free consultation so contact our caring and compassionate team at 1-800-LAW-NEED.

Our Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers recognize the paradox posed by the fact that many trucking accidents occur because drivers simply cannot see tractor-trailers at night.  It may seem counter-intuitive to think that drivers would have a hard time seeing tractor-trailers given their massive size and length.  While drivers typically do not have a problem seeing and identifying a tractor-trailer during the daytime, a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals that increasing the obviousness with which a tractor-trailer can be seen can prevent nighttime tractor-trailer collisions where a commercial truck is hit from behind or the side.

A study by the NHTSA found that complete implementation of the use of reflective tape, which is required by NHTSA and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, increases the visibility of tractor-trailers to drivers of other vehicles at night.  Vehicles that fail to comply with these regulations can make it difficult for drivers to distinguish a tractor-trailer from the side or rear on a poorly lit road after dark.  If a tractor-trailer is not properly marked with reflective tape so that you cannot see the commercial truck in time to avoid a side or rear impact collision, this fact alone may give you the basis to file a personal injury lawsuit.  The experienced Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers at Montlick and Associates have been representing Atlanta trucking accident victims for almost three decades with compassion and dedication. We fight hard to get our clients the compensation they deserve, so contact us today at 1-800-LAW-NEED.

The Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers at Montlick and Associates view the proposal to permit commercial trucks from Mexico to operate throughout the U.S. as a misguided idea that may cause an increase in the number of Atlanta trucking accidents.  While any tractor-trailer poses a serious risk to potential trucking accident victims, the trucking industry is more carefully regulated in the U.S.  The proposed plan to allow commercial trucks from Mexico to transport goods throughout the U.S. is intended as the resolution of a longstanding dispute under the North American Free Trade Agreement.  The problem is that inspections of vehicles at the border have revealed that there is a substantial disparity in the maintenance and repair standards between U.S. and Mexican tractor-trailers.  While commercial carriers from Mexico will be required to comply with U.S. regulations, enforcement is a problem because only a negligible number of big-rigs operating in the U.S. are actually inspected.

Along with the issue of more lax safety standards and vehicles that are not maintained as well, litigation will be more difficult for those injured in an Atlanta trucking accident involving a big-rig from Mexico.  Because the company is domiciled in Mexico, a trucking accident victim may face serious challenges obtaining business records and other documents from the commercial carrier’s main business office in Mexico.  Mexico also permits a driver to maintain multiple commercial driver’s licenses, which is not permitted in the U.S.  This may create problems in tracking down drivers from Mexico involved in a trucking accident and may permit drivers that should be out of service to remain on highways in the Atlanta area.  Because trucking accidents involving big-rigs from Mexico may be more common and litigation to obtain compensation for injuries more complex, the Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers at Montlick and Associates have genuine concerns about allowing Mexican big-rigs to operate in the interior of the U.S.

If you or someone you love is injured in a trucking accident, including one involving a poorly maintained big-rig, contact Montlick and Associates to discuss your rights to compensation.  We have been fighting hard to get our clients the compensation they deserve since 1984.  Contact us today for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED.

Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers know that drunk drivers have no business behind the wheel of any motor vehicle, but when that vehicle is an 18-wheel big rig that dwarfs other vehicles on the road in total size and mass, the danger increases exponentially.  The increased danger posed by vehicles with greater mass means more violent collisions involving greater force.  18-wheel big rig crashes are not only possible but also probable when a trucker is under the influence of alcohol because 18-wheel big rigs are much more difficult to maneuver and require more time to stop safely.  A big rig driver who is DUI/DWI will have slower reaction times, compromised judgment and impaired coordination that can result in a deadly DUI/DWI Atlanta trucking accident.

Drivers of 18-wheel big rigs are subject to more strict limits on alcohol consumption when driving than non-commercial drivers.  The driver of a big rig is considered to be DUI/DWI if he or she has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that exceeds .04 percent, which is half the limit for non-commercial drivers.  While DUI/DWI among big rig drivers is on the decline, there are still victims who have their lives taken or are seriously injured by truck drivers each year who are DUI/DWI.  If you or someone you love has been in a big rig crash with a drunk trucker, contact the experienced Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers at Montlick and Associates for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED.  Since 1984 we have been fighting hard to protect our clients’ rights and to get them the compensation they deserve. Call us today.

Our Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers have handled enough trucking accidents to recognize that most trucking collisions are the result of a truck driver’s violation of safety laws and/or trucking regulations.  Although commercial trucks are generally subject to the same traffic safety laws that affect other motor vehicles, there is also an elaborate matrix of federal and state regulations that govern trucking safety.  Because of the massive size and weight of tractor-trailers, truck crashes typically result in serious injuries that may cause permanent mental and physical disabilities.  Traffic laws and trucking regulations are designed to prevent motor vehicle collisions, so disregarding these important traffic laws and trucking safety regulations can result in a preventable Atlanta trucking accident.

Sometimes commercial drivers ignore the risk of violating traffic safety laws and trucking regulations because they are expected to meet unrealistic schedules or because they are fatigued or inattentive.  Violations that frequently cause an Atlanta trucking accident including:

• Failure to remain in one’s lane
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Speeding
• Reckless driving
• Illegal or unsafe turns
• Violation of hours of service rules
• DUI/DWI

If a truck driver violates laws or regulations designed for the safety of other vehicles, bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, it can cause catastrophic injury or wrongful death.  If a commercial truck hits you because the truck driver failed to obey traffic safety laws and regulations, this violation may be a basis for finding the trucking company and truck driver negligent.  If the truck driver’s negligence caused you to suffer injuries or resulted in the death of someone you love, you may be entitled to compensation for your economic damages like lost wages and medical cost, as well as compensation for non-economic damages like pain and suffering or negative impact on your quality of life, as well as other damages.  The experienced Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers at Montlick and Associates offer a free consultation, so call us today at 1-800-LAW-NEED so that we can evaluate your claim and advise you of your rights and options.

Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers welcome the news that federal regulators are considering making stability control systems mandatory on large trucks (over 10,000 lbs.).  Although commercial trucks are widely regarded as the most dangerous vehicles on the road, they lag behind passenger vehicles in stability control technology.  Stability technology reduces the risk of tractor-trailer rollover accidents by applying the brakes individually when a vehicle is in danger of rolling over because of over-steering in response to a road hazard.  While stability control systems are required for passenger vehicles, they are currently not required for commercial vehicles.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has estimated that as many as 3,500 rollover accidents per year could be prevented by implementing such technology.  Trucking rollover accidents are most commonly caused by the shift of a commercial truck’s cargo, especially tanker truck rollovers.  The shift in the weight distribution of the load causes the commercial truck to rollover.

This stability control technology would involve sensors that could detect a shift in the load on a commercial truck.  The sensors would send a signal to the tractor-trailer’s computer that would apply the brakes to one or more of the truck’s wheels to adjust for the imbalance.  This stability control technology can be particularly effective at preventing trucking accident rollovers involving tanker trucks, because liquid loads shift weight easily.  A rollover crash involving a tanker truck poses even more serious dangers because these trucks often transport toxic, flammable, explosive or radioactive materials.  The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is recommending that commercial vehicles be retrofitted with this technology and that the technology be installed on new commercial trucks.  If you are injured in an Atlanta trucking accident, Montlick and Associates has Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers ready to discuss and evaluate your right to make a claim for your injuries and loss.  Call us today at 1-800-LAW-NEED for your free consultation.  Since 1984 we have been fighting hard to protect our clients’ rights and to get them the compensation they deserve.

Our Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers find it tragic that drugs and alcohol continue to cause so many trucking accidents.  Despite the fact that commercial trucks exceed the weight of a passenger car by as much as 26 times, some commercial truck drivers still take the unjustifiable risk of driving these massive vehicles while impaired.  While alcohol-related trucking accidents have declined in recent years, reportedly drug use by truck drivers remains fairly common.  Many truck drivers struggle with fatigue and lack of sleep and may be tempted to use methamphetamines believing it will keep them alert during a long driving shift, or even allow them to exceed the maximum allowable number of hours during a driving shift.

A wide range of illicit drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines as well as the misuse of prescription drugs may cause Atlanta truck accidents.  These drugs slow reaction time, distort perception, compromise cognitive functioning, impair coordination or balance and otherwise compromise driving ability.  Trucking companies are required by federal regulations to screen commercial drivers both prior to employment and during the employee’s tenure.  If you are injured in an Atlanta trucking accident caused by the use of illicit drugs or abuse of prescription medications, contact our  experienced Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers for a Free Consultation to discuss your rights to money damages.  If the trucking company failed to properly screen the employee for drugs, Montlick and Associates may be able to help you obtain justice and the financial resources to rebuild following a serious trucking collision.  Call us today at 1-800-LAW-NEED for your free consultation.

At Montlick & Associates, our Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers represent far too many clients that would not have been involved in a trucking accident had the driver or trucking company conducted inspections required by federal regulations.  Simple physics makes brake inspection, maintenance and repair essential, because few hazards are more frightening than an 80,000-pound commercial truck rolling down the highway out of control.  When brakes on a commercial truck fail causing an Atlanta trucking accident, the trucking company, truck driver, brake manufacturer or truck maintenance company may be liable.  Thousands of trucking accidents occur each year because of brake malfunction or brake failure.

The magnitude of the danger posed by truck brake failure is revealed by the fact that many highways have runaway truck ramps.  The causes of brake failure include:

• Failure of the driver to conduct a pre-trip inspection
• Improper maintenance by a contractor servicing brakes
• Cost reduction measures by the driver or trucking company
• Brakes that are too old

A study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) revealed that poorly maintained brakes constitute the single-most prevalent contributing cause of commercial trucking collisions.  According to the FMCSA, almost 30 percent of all commercial trucking accidents involve some form of brake failure or malfunction including brakes with excessive wear or brakes that are not properly adjusted.  If you or your family member suffers serious injury or you lose a loved one in a trucking accident, contact the experienced Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers at Montlick and Associates today for a Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED.  We fight hard to to protect our clients’ rights and to get them the compensation they deserve.

At Montlick & Associates, our Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers are well-versed in the danger posed by drivers that ignore restrictions on the maximum length of driving shifts, and mandatory rest periods called hours of service (HOS) rules.  Trucking companies can increase their profits by getting more loads delivered, which means completing trucking runs faster.  Trucking regulations impose very strict rules regarding the maximum number of hours that drivers may be on the road during a driving shift or weekly work period.  These regulations also mandate rest periods of minimum duration between daily and weekly driving periods.  While these regulations are designed to prevent trucking accidents caused by driver fatigue, many drivers disregard these rules or fail to get adequate rest between driving shifts.  Adults typically need 8-9 hours of sleep, but the average truck driver gets only about half that much sleep.

Truck drivers who are on the road while sleepy pose a completely unacceptable accident risk.  Driving any vehicle when sleepy can be dangerous, but tractor-trailers are inherently more dangerous.  Commercial trucks are longer, heavier and less responsive, which puts a premium on being alert and attentive when driving.  If a fatigued commercial driver injures you, many times it is possible to establish that the driver was sleepy or fatigued and/or violated mandatory rules regarding HOS rules.  Violations of HOS rules can be difficult to prove because it has been shown that drivers frequently manipulate the logbooks where they are supposed to record HOS data.  If you or someone close to you suffers serious injury, or you suffer the wrongful death of a loved one in an Atlanta trucking accident, contact the experienced Atlanta trucking accidents lawyers at Montlick and Associates for a free consultation at l 1-800-LAW-NEED.  Since 1984 we have been fighting hard to get accident victims the compensation they deserve.