Burn Injuries From Atlanta Truck Accidents: Why They Happen And How To Get Compensation
Commercial truck accidents in Atlanta are common and pose a danger to other road users. Beyond the force of impact, ruptured fuel tanks, spilled cargo, and downed power lines can cause severe burns.
These are among the most painful and potentially debilitating injuries, often requiring months of treatment and resulting in permanent scarring. Our experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyers explain how these injuries happen and your rights to compensation.
Burn Injuries Common In Atlanta Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks crisscross Atlanta highways and interstates daily, and some of these big rigs carry large quantities of diesel fuel and other potentially flammable or extremely hazardous cargo. When a high-speed crash, rollover, or jackknife occurs, fires or explosions can happen within seconds, impacting motorists in surrounding lanes.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) warns that burn injuries are common in crashes involving tanker trucks and other vehicles transporting hazardous materials, but can happen in any collision. Among the leading ways they occur are:
- Diesel fuel ignition after a head-on collision or rollover crash.
- Hazardous cargo spills involving flammable or explosive materials.
- Electrical fires due to damaged wiring or downed power lines.
- Steam or chemical burns from ruptured engine components or cargo containers.
- Secondary explosions triggered by fuel tank damage or pressurized cargo.
Under Georgia law, victims who suffer burn injuries due to a truck driver’s or trucking company’s negligence have the right to seek compensation for the full scope of their losses, including the long-term medical care that burn injuries in Atlanta often require.
Get the Compensation Needed to Recover From Atlanta Truck Accident Burn Injuries
Atlanta truck accident burn injuries are classified by degree, with third and fourth-degree burns among the most potentially life-threatening. The American Burn Association estimates that the costs of even relatively minor burns can quickly reach hundreds of thousands of dollars, with severe cases reaching into the millions.
You have the right to seek compensation for your total losses, but insurers are quick to deny or downplay these claims. To get the maximum amount you need to recover, get professional legal representation from an experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer. Ways we can help include:
- Investigating and identifying all liable parties.
- Obtaining the truck’s cargo manifests, hazardous materials documentation, and other evidence.
- Working with medical experts to document current injuries and project long-term care costs.
- Calculating economic and non-economic damages, including pain, suffering, and disfigurement.
We negotiate with insurers and will not hesitate to go to court to get you the maximum compensation in a claim.
Contact Our Experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyers Today
Burn injuries due to truck accidents in Atlanta impact victims for long after a crash. At Shiver Hamilton Campbell, we provide caring, comprehensive legal representation and take the actions needed to get you the maximum compensation.
Contact our experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer and request a consultation today. We represent clients in Decatur, Johns Creek, Jonesboro, Roswell, Savannah, and throughout Gwinnett, DeKalb, and Fulton Counties.
Source:
fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/hazardous-materials https://ameriburn.org/who-we-are/media/burn-incidence-fact-sheet/
