The Mabra Firm LLC is a personal injury law firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. Their team of lawyers has helped their clients receive the compensation they deserve for an injury related to an accident, covering their medical costs and their suffering. We specialize in auto accidents, truck accidents, and injuries that occurred on someone’s property or at a workplace. The law firm has a 99 percent success rate and has been involved in lawsuits that have resulted in claims of more than a million dollars. If you live in the Atlanta area and would like to know if your case has merit, contact The Mabra Law Firm for a free consultation.

Truck Accidents - What You Need to KnowMany drivers assume the state laws and compensation for injuries, wage loss, etc., are the same whether you are involved in a car accident or a truck accident. Yet there are distinct differences between the two and understanding them is key to protecting yourself if you have been in a truck accident. Legal advice on dealing with insurance, medical issues and claims has been summarized below with things you need to know about these types of accidents:1. Even if it's a minor accident, contact local police, seek medical attention if needed and document the accident.Following any truck accident, the victim should contact the nearest police department and immediately seek medical attention for all injuries. Be sure to report and document any minor pain that may seem less important at the time compared to more serious injuries. Significant injuries are often masked early on, making it difficult to link them to the truck accident if they are not documented.It's crucial to obtain contact information for any passengers and witnesses involved in the accident. This information will be extremely important if it becomes necessary to hire a lawyer, because all too often, the truck driver who caused the accident will change his story along the way. Furthermore, if witness information is not preserved at the scene, or if it's missing from the police investigation, it becomes much more difficult for an attorney to prove negligence.2. Notify your auto insurance company immediately.In some states, there's a strict, one-year time limit to notify your own insurance company of a truck accident, and to file an application to receive compensation for your medical bills and other benefits.Filing an application for benefits form with your insurance company is essential for protecting your rights, even if your injuries do not seem severe. The form is required to receive five important benefits: medical expenses related to the auto accident, wage loss for the first three years following the accident, household replacement services (chores/help with children), payment for mileage to and from medical appointments and attendant care (nursing services). Use the form available through your auto insurance company. Please be as accurate and complete as possible, and include all of your injuries and impairments.If a truck accident victim fails to adhere to this one-year deadline on time, he/she can lose this important coverage. There is also a time limit to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver's truck insurance company. In addition to the above deadlines, many auto insurance policies pose even more strict notification requirements, such as 30 days notice for hit-and-run truck crashes.3. Retain an experienced attorney quickly.Trucking companies are required by federal and state law to keep records of safety inspections and drivers' hours. Because bad equipment and driver fatigue cause many truck accidents, these records could prove liability against the trucking company. But after a certain period of time, trucking companies by law can dispose of pre-trip inspection documents and log books. That's one important way that a truck crash is very different from a car crash. It is imperative that an experienced truck accident lawyer be retained as soon as possible before important records are intentionally (and legally) destroyed.4. Check your auto insurance policy for uncoordinated benefits.It's important to quickly review your auto insurance policy and any additional contractual coverage you might have. There can be some common pitfalls and loopholes posed by some typical auto insurance policies. For example, some people have lost thousands of dollars because they did not understand the interplay between health insurance plans, managed care plans and retirement plans. Most policies are coordinated, meaning that if you have existing health insurance in the event of a truck accident, your health insurance pays first and your auto insurance pays the remaining balance. With uncoordinated coverage, truck accident victims may be entitled to receive a double dip recovery under the policy.5. Never sign a release or give statement to an insurance claims adjuster.Since it's common for trucking companies to send defense attorneys, investigators and insurance adjusters immediately to the accident scene to lessen the company's liability, do not speak with them or sign anything. Otherwise, you could unknowingly relinquish your rights or put your truck accident case in jeopardy. Never give statements to any truck accident claims adjuster and never sign a release or allow the adjuster to look at the auto damage - without speaking to your truck accident attorney first. Simply tell the adjuster that you need to review the paperwork with your attorney and will get back to them with your response.Too many people rush into signing adjusters' documents without having the language reviewed by an attorney. Therefore, they may lose their right to sue the negligent truck driver and the trucking company for accident-related injuries. Claims adjusters often try to get recorded statements early, aiming to minimize the accident victim's pain and injuries for later use in court. Even limited property damage releases can contain unrelated language releasing all personal injuries suffered from a car accident.Damages recoverable from a truck injury accident may include claims through the victim's own auto insurance company. If the truck driver was determined to be at fault, claims against the negligent driver's insurance involves pain and suffering damages and excess economic damages beyond each state's maximums.

Take pictures of the accident scene, if you can do so safely. Remember, most good law firms also have private investigators that can be sent to the accident scene as well. Be sure to photograph:

Truck Accident Attorney Tip # 1Tractor trailer accidents have been on the rise over the past few years. Serious injuries often result when these large trucks crash into other vehicles on our nation's highways. The force involved in a large truck collision is beyond anything we experience in our daily lives.The increase in truck accidents has caused an increase in personal injury claims against negligent truck companies and negligent truck drivers. Many of the truck accident claims turn into lawsuits against the company and driver. Lawsuits against truck companies are detailed, complex, and very expensive. Because of this, it is important to contact a truck accident law firm that is experienced in handling serious injury and death cases related to trucking accidents.The trucking industry is governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), a detailed set of rules enacted to help keep our nation's highways and roadways safe. The facts of each truck accident need to be studied and compared to the FMCSR to see if the truck company and/or the truck driver were in violation at the time of the tractor trailer crash. Finding violations of the FMCSR is only one part of properly handling a truck accident case.Trucking litigation is expensive because numerous experts are usually required to prove certain aspects of the personal injury case. It is common to retain an accident reconstructionist, an economist, a FMCSR expert, medical experts, etc. In addition to the expense, truck cases are extremely time consuming. It is common for a trucking case to last two or three years, sometimes longer.In a recent Missouri truck accident case, it was discovered the defendant truck driver did not speak English. The truck driver claimed he could not understand the questions he was asked during his deposition. To an inexperienced truck accident lawyer, this may not seem like a big deal. Get an interpreter, ask the defendant truck driver some questions, and be done, right? WRONG!FMCSR 391.11(b)(2) says that all drivers must read and speak the English language sufficiently:(1) To converse with the general public;(2) To understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language;(3) To respond to official inquiries; and(4) To make entries on reports and records.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in an enforcement memorandum, has indicated drivers may be placed out-of-service (OOS) if they can't read and speak the English language sufficiently. This is extremely important because out-of-service means the driver is not to operate the tractor trailer until the deficiency is corrected. In this case, it would be reading and speaking the English language sufficiently.

Document as much information as possible at the truck accident scene, because it's common for the driver who caused the crash to change his story later on when the attorneys for the trucking company meet with him. Errors may also appear in the police report, so documentation by the accident victim can be instrumental in correcting mistakes. If you can, take note of the following information:

Mediation For Your Trucking Accident CaseTrucking accidents are extremely dangerous, leading to serious and even deadly injuries for victims around the country. These kinds of accidents are particularly dangerous because of the sheer weight and size difference between and tractor-trailers and other vehicles or pedestrians. Often, large trucks are carrying heavy or hazardous materials, making the potential for a serious accident much greater. Every year, trucking accidents leave thousands of injured victims in the position of having to cope with a new way of life. Nationwide, these accidents happen approximately 500,000 times each year.Commercial trucking is on the rise. Revenues for the trucking industry are actually expected to double by 2015, and while this is generally positive news for the trucking industry, lack of proper safety training and higher numbers of inexperienced drivers could mean more injuries and fatalities for the public. Sadly, the majority of fatalities in trucking accidents are not linked to the truck driver- rather, 98 percent of fatalities happen to people in the passenger vehicles.What is Considered Trucking Accident?The term trucking accident refers to situations where large trailers (weighing greater than 10,000 pounds) collide with other vehicles or with pedestrians. If you have been the victim of a trucking accident, it is likely that you have experienced critical injuries. With these injuries come overwhelming medical bills. In a matter of moments, your life can be changed forever. If you were a primary wage earner for your household and the accident has left you with injuries that keep you from working, your family could be saddled with healthcare expenses in addition to the struggle of making ends meet.What Trucking Accident Victims Should Do?That is where a personal injury attorney can help. Since the aftermath of a trucking accident can be challenging, one of your options is to file suit against the responsible individuals. While this has great potential for resolving your case at some time down the road, personal injury lawsuits can be very complex and lengthy. In the meantime, it is likely that you'll be stalled in your current financial situation, facing even more medical bills as you try to recover.If your trucking accident injury case comes to a standstill, consider the benefits of mediation. Working with a trained mediator means that your side of the story will be told, and often you can reach a settlement solution without the time and expense of a trial.

Another big part of your case is seeing whether or not the driver and/or the trucking company should be blamed also have to do with state and federal laws. You see interstate drivers are going to be affected by federal and state laws while intrastate drivers are going to be more affected by state laws. This can have a significant outcome on your case and your lawyer needs to understand the difference between the two.

Why An Independent Truck Driver Should Work With A Truck Accident LawyerWhen you work as an independent truck driver contracted to a company, then you should remember that when you are involved in a truck accident, the costs are on you. They include the lawyer fees and insurance fees. When you have a good truck accident lawyer behind you, then you can enjoy the same kind of benefits as you would with insurance coverage. There are so many reasons why you should consider having a truck accident lawyer when the need arises and some of the reasons are highlighted below.· A lawyer will help you resolve issues that could arise in terms of whether you are a regular employee or a contracted worker. The fact is that lawsuits can get heftier for drivers who are mistaken for direct employees but a lawyer helps in making sure that such confusions do not occur to avoid the hefty lawsuits that could favor the plaintiff.· A truck accident lawyer comes in handy in dealing with the special stipulations as far as big truck insurance goes. These are stipulations that you would otherwise not know about when working without the professional assistance of a good lawyer especially for serious accident injuries.· A lawyer can help you know your options as far as the lawsuit goes and you can actually do with some consultation for cases that are not that serious and therefore do not require the representation by a lawyer in court. He can guide you on how to handle the situation successfully on your own for less serious truck accident cases.Without doubt a truck accident lawyer is important and you should make sure that you select the most reputable and experienced lawyer if at all you are to be successful in the representation. Before anything else, ask yourself whether the case is serious enough to need a lawyer. Minor clear fault issues can be handled well even without the intervention of a lawyer. However if it is a serious accident issue or you are not very sure of how to handle the process then here are some of the factors you should make sure you consider before you hire a truck accident lawyer.Reputation - What ratings does the lawyer have in the public domain as far as success is concerned? You can use reviews or ask amongst your friends to find a reputable truck accident lawyer who has potential to represent you successfully. If selecting a law firm, go for one that has an impressive reputation and has a team of reliable lawyers and attorneys working together.Experience - Has the lawyer presented any other truck driver before and how successful was he in the representation? The more experience and success the lawyer has the easier it will be for him to approach your case from a winning strategy and hasten the process every way possible.Cost - Remember you are hiring the lawyer services to save you some money in the lawsuit. You therefore should never settle for a lawyer whose service fees are clearly exorbitant.

· A lawyer can help you know your options as far as the lawsuit goes and you can actually do with some consultation for cases that are not that serious and therefore do not require the representation by a lawyer in court. He can guide you on how to handle the situation successfully on your own for less serious truck accident cases.

Truck Accidents - What You Need to KnowMany drivers assume the state laws and compensation for injuries, wage loss, etc., are the same whether you are involved in a car accident or a truck accident. Yet there are distinct differences between the two and understanding them is key to protecting yourself if you have been in a truck accident. Legal advice on dealing with insurance, medical issues and claims has been summarized below with things you need to know about these types of accidents:1. Even if it's a minor accident, contact local police, seek medical attention if needed and document the accident.Following any truck accident, the victim should contact the nearest police department and immediately seek medical attention for all injuries. Be sure to report and document any minor pain that may seem less important at the time compared to more serious injuries. Significant injuries are often masked early on, making it difficult to link them to the truck accident if they are not documented.It's crucial to obtain contact information for any passengers and witnesses involved in the accident. This information will be extremely important if it becomes necessary to hire a lawyer, because all too often, the truck driver who caused the accident will change his story along the way. Furthermore, if witness information is not preserved at the scene, or if it's missing from the police investigation, it becomes much more difficult for an attorney to prove negligence.2. Notify your auto insurance company immediately.In some states, there's a strict, one-year time limit to notify your own insurance company of a truck accident, and to file an application to receive compensation for your medical bills and other benefits.Filing an application for benefits form with your insurance company is essential for protecting your rights, even if your injuries do not seem severe. The form is required to receive five important benefits: medical expenses related to the auto accident, wage loss for the first three years following the accident, household replacement services (chores/help with children), payment for mileage to and from medical appointments and attendant care (nursing services). Use the form available through your auto insurance company. Please be as accurate and complete as possible, and include all of your injuries and impairments.If a truck accident victim fails to adhere to this one-year deadline on time, he/she can lose this important coverage. There is also a time limit to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver's truck insurance company. In addition to the above deadlines, many auto insurance policies pose even more strict notification requirements, such as 30 days notice for hit-and-run truck crashes.3. Retain an experienced attorney quickly.Trucking companies are required by federal and state law to keep records of safety inspections and drivers' hours. Because bad equipment and driver fatigue cause many truck accidents, these records could prove liability against the trucking company. But after a certain period of time, trucking companies by law can dispose of pre-trip inspection documents and log books. That's one important way that a truck crash is very different from a car crash. It is imperative that an experienced truck accident lawyer be retained as soon as possible before important records are intentionally (and legally) destroyed.4. Check your auto insurance policy for uncoordinated benefits.It's important to quickly review your auto insurance policy and any additional contractual coverage you might have. There can be some common pitfalls and loopholes posed by some typical auto insurance policies. For example, some people have lost thousands of dollars because they did not understand the interplay between health insurance plans, managed care plans and retirement plans. Most policies are coordinated, meaning that if you have existing health insurance in the event of a truck accident, your health insurance pays first and your auto insurance pays the remaining balance. With uncoordinated coverage, truck accident victims may be entitled to receive a double dip recovery under the policy.5. Never sign a release or give statement to an insurance claims adjuster.Since it's common for trucking companies to send defense attorneys, investigators and insurance adjusters immediately to the accident scene to lessen the company's liability, do not speak with them or sign anything. Otherwise, you could unknowingly relinquish your rights or put your truck accident case in jeopardy. Never give statements to any truck accident claims adjuster and never sign a release or allow the adjuster to look at the auto damage - without speaking to your truck accident attorney first. Simply tell the adjuster that you need to review the paperwork with your attorney and will get back to them with your response.Too many people rush into signing adjusters' documents without having the language reviewed by an attorney. Therefore, they may lose their right to sue the negligent truck driver and the trucking company for accident-related injuries. Claims adjusters often try to get recorded statements early, aiming to minimize the accident victim's pain and injuries for later use in court. Even limited property damage releases can contain unrelated language releasing all personal injuries suffered from a car accident.Damages recoverable from a truck injury accident may include claims through the victim's own auto insurance company. If the truck driver was determined to be at fault, claims against the negligent driver's insurance involves pain and suffering damages and excess economic damages beyond each state's maximums.