Fatal Dekalb Tractor Trailer Crash Under Investigation

A Dekalb tractor trailer crash claimed the life of one person and injured another. The crash happened on Gurler Road towards Route 23 just after 9 p.m. on Monday, March 1, 2021, according to the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators say the driver of the tractor trailer failed to stop at a stop sign. The tractor trailer collided with a car at an intersection causing both vehicles to exit the roadway.

The big truck crash impacted both people who were inside the car. Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office said the passenger – identified as Clifford Hammett – died at the scene. Responders transported the driver of the car, Cathy Hammett, to emergency care for non-life-threatening injuries. Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office identified the driver of the big truck as Vlatko Temelkoski. Authorities charged Temelkoski with Disobeying Traffic Control Device. The Dekalb tractor trailer crash remains under investigation.

Atlanta personal injury attorney Walter Gabriel represents clients injured in big truck crashes around the country. The Law Firm of Walter Gabriel understands the devastating impact tractor trailer accidents have on victims and their families. Big truck accidents are common. Make no mistake, insurance companies provide substantial coverage for big truck accidents. That usually means two things: (1) these big insurance companies often attempt to deny liability and (2) these same big insurance companies are well positioned financially to pay millions of dollars to the victims of these crashes. In order for victims to stand up to these big insurance companies, they need excellent legal representation.

You need The Law Firm of Walter Gabriel 

Dekalb tractor trailer crash attorney Walter Gabriel fights big truck insurance companies to get his clients the compensation they deserve.

Families Right to Sue

Families pursuing a lawsuit or other claims against at-fault parties may recover losses. This includes reimbursement for burial expenses, medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. Atlanta personal injury attorney Walter Gabriel and his staff continue to pray for the Hammett family.  The untimely loss of a loved one is always devastating. For families seeking justice and compensation for wrongful deaths, this means hiring the right Dekalb tractor trailer crash attorney.

DeKalb Tractor Trailer Crash – Vicarious Liability

According to Georgia state law, “every person shall be liable for torts committed by… his servant by his command or in the prosecution and within the scope of his business, whether the same are committed by negligence or voluntarily.” (O.C.G.A. § 51-2-2.) This Georgia statute imputes liability upon employers in a broad set of circumstances, which includes liability imposed on trucking companies when an employee causes a trucking accident.

In Georgia, as in any other state, a person who sustains an injury from a driver of a commercial vehicle is much more likely to sustain severe injury. Also, the law holds employers strictly liable for damages caused by their employees during the course and scope of their employment (for example, while performing the functions of their employment, such as driving a truck).

Free Consultations – Contact Us Today

The Law Firm of Walter Gabriel, LLC is an Atlanta personal injury firm with experience handling cases in the “big trucks” category. This includes 18-wheelers, vans, buses, and other large vehicles. Successfully litigating such disputes requires a deep understanding of the hierarchies of responsibility that contributed to or otherwise influenced the accident.

Contact us today for a free consultation with Atlanta personal injury attorney Walter Gabriel. Click here to schedule an appointment. You can also visit www.waltergabriel.com to learn more about our firm and how we help our clients in their time of need.