Effective Date: October 26, 2023

1. Introduction and Commitment to Privacy

Welcome to the Atlanta Truck Accident Law Group website, accessible at https://dev.atlantatruckaccidentlawyers.com/ (the “Website”). At Atlanta Truck Accident Law Group (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Firm”), our mission is to fight for the rights of Georgia families harmed by truck accidents. We are committed to providing compassionate guidance, aggressive representation, and unwavering dedication to every individual we serve.

This commitment extends to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information. As a law firm, we are bound by professional standards of confidentiality, including the attorney-client privilege, which are even more stringent than the provisions of this Privacy Policy. This policy is designed to be transparent about our data practices and to explain how we collect, use, share, and safeguard the information you provide to us through our Website, during consultations, and throughout our legal representation.

By accessing our Website or otherwise providing your information to us, you acknowledge and agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. Please read this policy carefully to understand our practices regarding your information and how we will treat it.

2. The Scope of This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to information we collect:

• On this Website: When you fill out contact forms, case evaluation forms, or otherwise interact with our online resources.
• In electronic communications: Including emails, text messages, and other electronic messages between you and the Firm.
• During consultations: When you speak with our legal team by phone, video conference, or in person to discuss a potential case.
• Throughout legal representation: When you become a client of the Firm and we gather information necessary to pursue your claim.

This policy does not apply to information collected by any third party, including through any application or content that may link to or be accessible from our Website. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

3. Information We Collect

We collect several types of information from and about you, which are necessary to evaluate your potential claim and provide you with exceptional legal services. This information can be categorized as follows:

3.1. Information You Provide to Us Directly

This is information that you voluntarily submit to us. The nature of our work requires the collection of sensitive details to properly assess and handle your case.

• Contact and Identification Information: Your full name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number.
• Case Evaluation Details: Information you provide through our online forms or during conversations about your truck accident. This may include the date and location of the accident, a description of the events, details about the vehicles involved, and any preliminary thoughts on fault.
• Sensitive Personal Information: To properly represent you, we may need to collect highly sensitive information, including:
  • Medical and Health Information: Details about your injuries, medical diagnoses, treatment history, medical bills, and records from hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers.
  • Financial and Employment Information: Information about your employer, job title, salary, work history, lost wages, and future earning capacity.
  • Insurance Information: Details of your own insurance policies (health, auto) and information related to the at-fault party’s insurance carrier.
  • Government-Issued Identifiers: Social Security number, driver’s license number, or other identifiers as required for legal filings or settlement distributions.
  • Accident-Related Documentation: Police reports, witness statements, photographs, and videos of the accident scene and your injuries.

3.2. Information We Collect Automatically

As you navigate through and interact with our Website, we may use automatic data collection technologies to collect certain information about your equipment, browsing actions, and patterns.

• Log Data: When you visit our Website, our servers automatically record information that your browser sends. This log data may include your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type and version, operating system, the pages of our Website you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, and other statistics.
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies (small files placed on your device) and similar technologies to help our Website function effectively, to analyze usage, and to enhance your user experience. These technologies help us understand user behavior, tell us which parts of our website people have visited, and facilitate and measure the effectiveness of our informational content. You can control the use of cookies at the individual browser level.

3.3. Information We Collect from Third Parties

In the course of investigating and litigating a truck accident claim, we must gather information from various third-party sources to build a strong case on your behalf.

• Official and Public Records: We obtain official accident reports from law enforcement agencies (e.g., Georgia State Patrol, local police departments) and may access other public records relevant to your case.
• Medical Providers: With your authorization, we will request and receive your complete medical records and billing statements from all healthcare facilities and providers who have treated you for your injuries.
• Insurance Companies: We will communicate with and obtain information from your insurance company and, more critically, the insurance companies representing the trucking company and other at-fault parties.
• Expert Witnesses: We may engage experts (such as accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, or economists) who may provide us with reports and information related to their analysis of your case.
• Opposing Parties: Through the legal discovery process, we will obtain information from the defendants, including the trucking company, the truck driver, and their legal counsel.

4. How We Use Your Information

Our use of your personal information is strictly tied to our mission of providing you with outstanding legal representation and achieving justice on your behalf. We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

4.1. To Provide Legal Services

This is the primary purpose for which we collect your information. Specific uses include:

• Case Evaluation: To assess the merits of your potential truck accident claim, determine liability, and estimate potential damages.
• Client Communication: To communicate with you about your case status, answer your questions, and provide you with important updates and legal advice.
• Investigation and Evidence Gathering: To thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the crash, collect all relevant evidence, and identify all potentially liable parties.
• Legal Strategy and Representation: To develop a comprehensive legal strategy, draft and file legal documents (such as complaints, motions, and discovery requests), and represent you in all legal proceedings, including negotiations, mediations, and trial.
• Negotiation and Settlement: To present a compelling demand to insurance companies and negotiate for the maximum possible settlement to compensate you for your losses.

4.2. For Business Operations and Improvement

• Website Administration: To manage, secure, and improve our Website, ensuring that content is presented in the most effective manner for you and for your computer.
• Analytics: To understand how visitors use our Website, which helps us improve our online resources and outreach efforts.
• Compliance with Legal and Ethical Obligations: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, and the rules of professional conduct established by the State Bar of Georgia.

4.3. To Fulfill Our Mission

• Holding Parties Accountable: We use the evidence and information gathered to hold negligent trucking companies, drivers, and their insurers accountable for the harm they have caused.
• Improving Roadway Safety: By successfully litigating these cases, we contribute to our vision of improving roadway safety by incentivizing trucking companies to adhere to safety regulations.

5. How We Share and Disclose Your Information

We understand the sensitive nature of the information you entrust to us. We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We only share your information in circumstances that are necessary to advance your legal case or as required by law.

5.1. With Your Explicit Consent

We will not share your confidential or privileged information without your informed consent, except in circumstances permitted or required by law or our professional ethics.

5.2. In the Course of Legal Representation

To effectively represent you, we must share relevant information with certain third parties. This is a necessary part of the “fight” we handle on your behalf. Examples include:

• Courts and Adjudicative Bodies: We will file documents containing your information with the appropriate state or federal courts as required by litigation procedures.
• Opposing Counsel and Defendants: During the discovery phase of a lawsuit, we are legally obligated to share relevant, non-privileged information with the lawyers representing the trucking company and other defendants.
• Expert Witnesses and Consultants: We may share information with experts we retain to analyze aspects of your case, such as accident reconstructionists, medical experts, or vocational rehabilitation specialists. These experts are bound by their own professional and confidentiality obligations.
• Mediators and Arbitrators: If your case proceeds to alternative dispute resolution, we will share information with the neutral third-party mediator or arbitrator to facilitate a resolution.
• Insurance Companies: We will share information with insurance adjusters and representatives as part of the claims and settlement negotiation process.

5.3. With Third-Party Service Providers

We may engage trusted third-party companies and individuals to perform services on our behalf. These providers are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of your information.

• IT and Cloud Storage Providers: For secure data storage, case management software, and email services.
• Legal Support Services: Such as court reporters for depositions, process servers for serving legal documents, and legal research platforms.
• Financial and Administrative Services: Such as accountants for managing client trust accounts and settlement distributions.

5.4. For Legal and Law Enforcement Purposes

We may disclose your information if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with a valid legal obligation, such as a subpoena, court order, or other lawful government request.
• Protect and defend the rights, property, or safety of Atlanta Truck Accident Law Group, our clients, or the public.
• Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with our services.

6. Data Security

We have implemented and maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical security measures designed to protect the information we collect from loss, misuse, and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These measures include:

• Access Controls: Limiting access to sensitive information to authorized personnel who have a legitimate need to know.
• Encryption: Using encryption for data in transit and at rest where appropriate.
• Secure Facilities: Storing physical files in secure, locked locations.
• Employee Training: Training our staff on the importance of confidentiality, data security, and our privacy policies.

While we are dedicated to securing your information, please be aware that no security system is impenetrable. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of our databases, nor can we guarantee that information you supply will not be intercepted while being transmitted to us over the Internet.

7. Data Retention

We will retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

• For Clients: We are required by the State Bar of Georgia to maintain client files for a specified period of time after the conclusion of a matter. We will retain your case file in accordance with these professional obligations.
• For Potential Clients: If you consult with us but do not become a client, we will retain the information you provided for a reasonable period to address any potential conflicts of interest and for our internal records, after which it will be securely deleted or anonymized.

8. Your Rights and Choices

We respect your rights regarding your personal information.

• Access and Correction: You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to request that we correct any inaccuracies. For clients, access to case file materials is governed by the terms of our engagement agreement and applicable law.
• Communications: You can opt-out of receiving any non-essential communications from us at any time. Please note that if you are a client, we will need to send you essential communications related to your case.
• Cookies: You can set your browser to refuse all or some browser cookies, or to alert you when cookies are being sent. If you disable or refuse cookies, please note that some parts of our Website may then be inaccessible or not function properly.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 11.

9. Children’s Privacy

Our Website and legal services are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information from our systems.

In the unfortunate event that a minor is a victim in a truck accident, we will only collect their information from a parent or legal guardian in the context of establishing an attorney-client relationship to represent the minor’s interests.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will post any changes we make on this page with an updated “Effective Date” at the top. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting the information we collect. Your continued use of our Website or services after we make changes is deemed to be acceptance of those changes.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, or if you wish to exercise your rights, please do not hesitate to contact us. As a firm that believes every client’s story is personal, we are here to provide clarity and support.

Atlanta Truck Accident Law Group Attn: Matt Wetherington, Privacy Officer
Via our Website Contact Form: Contact us
Via Email: support@dev.atlantatruckaccidentlawyers.com
Via Address: 1800 Peachtree Rd NE Suite 370
Via Phone: (404) 471-3348.