Commercial trucks travel through Georgia, moving goods to warehouses and businesses nationwide. Although these enormous vehicles provide a valuable service, the consequences can be devastating when a careless trucker gets behind the wheel. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that the state recorded 245 fatal truck accidents in one year. The same report also indicates that 72 percent of people killed in larger-truck crashes in the U.S. were the occupants of the other vehicle.

At Parker Trial Law, we have always focused on helping victims of semi-truck accidents with significant injuries pursue the compensation they deserve. Big rigs can cause catastrophic physical injuries, sending individuals and their families spiraling into financial instability as they try to make ends meet after the crash. Our Albany, GA, truck accident lawyers don’t want to see you suffer because of the careless actions of a semi-truck driver.

If a commercial truck accident left you with significant or life-altering injuries, contact our truck accident law firm and arrange a free case review. You’ll learn more about your rights and options for pursuing maximum compensation for your losses.

Why You Should Hire an Albany, Georgia, Attorney for Your Truck Accident Claim

Navigating a truck accident claim is not like managing a car accident claim. Truck accidents are far more complex and usually involve more significant injuries and property damage. Accident victims may also find it much more challenging to work with the trucking company and its insurer, entities with teams of lawyers who use aggressive and intimidating tactics to get them to settle for less than they deserve.

A skilled Albany, GA, truck accident attorney knows how to push back against these strong-arm tactics and build a truck accident claim that gives you the best opportunity to recover maximum compensation for your injuries and other financial losses. Hiring an attorney is also in your best interest because much of the evidence needed to build a compelling claim is the trucking company’s property. Black box data, hours of service logs, safety inspection reports, and driver employment records are trucking company property. Often, it takes legal intervention, such as issuing a letter of spoliation, which can preserve and collect this potentially critical evidence.

Working with an attorney from day one increases your chances of recovering the money you need to cover your medical expenses and other financial losses from your truck accident injury.

What to Do After a Truck Accident

Truck accidents are traumatic events that can leave accident victims with catastrophic injuries and emotional distress. Most people know that following any accident, it is standard protocol to contact the authorities, exchange information with the other driver, and document the scene as thoroughly as possible. Sometimes, these steps are not always possible after an 18-wheeler accident because of the scope of a person’s injuries. However, the following are other measures you can take after a collision to help you prepare for seeking maximum truck accident compensation:

  • Follow Your Treatment Plan – Your health and safety are top priorities. Always follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Keep all follow-up appointments and take your medication as prescribed. Your medical records may be vital evidence and help your attorney establish the severity and extent of your truck accident injuries.
  • Stay Off Social Media – Never post about the accident on social media platforms. The opposing side searches social media for statements and information they can use to discredit or jeopardize your claim.
  • Keep Detailed Records – Keep detailed records of your expenses, medical bills, repair costs, and other information related to the crash. These documents can help your attorney calculate the fair value of your claim.
  • Contact an Attorney – Contact an Albany truck accident attorney immediately. An attorney can manage your claim and allow you to focus on recovery.

Why Are Trucking Accidents More Complicated Than Other Motor Vehicle Collisions?

Trucking accidents are significantly more complicated than other motor vehicle collisions because they tend to cause much more extensive damage. Commercial trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. When these vehicles hit standard passenger cars or SUVs, they can cause extensive property damage and catastrophic injuries. The more significant the damage, the more expensive the claim. Expensive claims quickly become high-stakes situations because the more money on the line, the harder the trucking companies and their insurers fight to protect their bottom lines.

Who Could Be Liable for a Trucking Wreck?

Truck accidents are also complicated because the driver may not be the only party liable for your injuries. Multiple parties may be partially or wholly responsible for causing the accident, including:

  • The truck driver
  • The trucking company
  • The cargo loading company
  • The parts manufacturer

Collecting the evidence to hold these parties accountable can be challenging without the help of an experienced and aggressive attorney.

What Compensation Could You Recover in a Truck Accident Claim?

Trucking companies and insurers want you to settle your claim quickly and often for less money than you deserve. They may use aggressive tactics to get vulnerable accident victims to agree to sign away their legal rights and accept a lowball settlement just to relieve the stress that comes from negotiations and insurance adjuster phone calls.

Never agree to anything without consulting with an Albany truck accident lawyer who can review your situation and accurately calculate the value of your losses. Those involved in significant truck collisions may seek money for the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost income
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Disfigurement
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage

In a truck accident lawsuit, the court may also award victims money for punitive damages. Punitive damages do not cover financial losses. They are a punishment for the at-fault party for their malicious or highly reckless actions.

What Happens if You’re Partly to Blame for a Trucking Accident?

Sometimes, people worry about talking to an Albany, GA, truck accident lawyer because they believe they are partially responsible for causing the crash and, therefore, can’t seek compensation for their injuries.

Georgia has a modified comparative negligence law. This means that truck accident victims who file a personal injury lawsuit can recover compensation if the other party is more at fault for causing the accident than they are. The law only prohibits individuals from recovering compensation when that person’s share of fault is 50 percent or more.

Under modified comparative negligence rules, an individual’s compensation can be reduced by the same percentage as their portion of fault for causing the crash. The rule only binds awards in civil lawsuits. However, insurance adjusters often use the regulation to guide how they calculate a claim’s value and negotiate a settlement.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Georgia?

Significant injuries from a truck accident can put you on the sidelines for months, sometimes even years. Recovery may be a long and arduous process, making it difficult to focus on recovering compensation for your injuries.

Then there’s the strict time limit to get your case going. Georgia law gives truck accident victims two years from the crash date to file a lawsuit. If you fail to seek legal representation and miss the two-year window, you lose leverage against the other party when negotiating a settlement. Filing after the legal deadline also means the court can dismiss your case without hearing it, leaving you with no other options for recovering compensation.

Involving an Albany, GA, truck accident attorney as soon as possible is in your best interest because they can manage your truck accident case and meet strict legal deadlines.

What Is Considered a Truck in Georgia?

Georgia law defines big rigs and semi-trucks as vehicles used for commerce with a gross vehicle weight of over 10,000 pounds. Vehicles meeting the state’s size and weight limits are subject to Georgia DOT regulations, meaning drivers must keep and retain accurate hours of service logs and daily inspection reports.

Common Types of Commercial, Big Rig, and Semi-Truck Accidents

Truck accidents come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the most common types of commercial and semi-truck accidents in Georgia include:

  • Jackknife accidents
  • Rear-end and underride accidents
  • No-zone accidents
  • Rollover accidents
  • Wide-turn crashes
  • Unsecured load or cargo accidents
  • Hazardous material spills
  • T-bone crashes
  • Head-on collisions
  • Tire blowouts

What Injuries Can Someone Sustain in a Truck Accident?

Commercial vehicle accidents often cause significant and life-altering injuries. The size, weight, and power of these vehicles can lead to catastrophic consequences for individuals traveling in smaller passenger cars. The most common injuries caused by Georgia truck accidents include:

  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Amputations
  • Paralysis
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Neck and back injuries
  • Facial and dental injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Internal bleeding
  • Organ damage
  • Dislocations
  • Thermal burns
  • Chemical burns
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Lacerations
  • Abrasions
  • Contusions
  • Death

Family, friends, and medical professionals should also monitor truck accident victims for signs of emotional distress and psychological trauma, such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder.