Atlanta Georgia Truck Accident Lawyer

While commercial truck accident statistics might sometimes get thrown into general vehicle accident numbers, the difference between a standard auto accident and those involving larger vehicles like trucks and tractor-trailers is stark. With these vehicles much larger, stronger, heavier, and more powerful than other vehicles on the road, they have the potential to cause serious damage to multiple parties. What if you’re involved in an accident of this nature? Contact The Injury Firm’s Georgia personal injury lawyers for a free consultation today.

What to Do After a Georgia Commercial Truck Accident

Though the immediate aftermath of an accident can be quite overwhelming and stressful, it’s important to put your health first. If the accident was a serious one, focus on contacting emergency responders and getting help before anything else. After a serious accident, everything else can wait. You first need medical attention to get treatment for and document any injuries.

If it’s safe to do so, check on the status of other drivers and passengers involved in the accident. Even if your injuries seem minor, don’t push yourself too much because adrenaline could hide the extent of your pain. If possible, take pictures of the scene, note important details, and gather the information of potential witnesses.

It’s best to take photographs and gather evidence as soon as possible because emergency responders will want to clear the scene and get the road back to its original state as quickly as possible. The more evidence you have of the scene, the more likely you are to recuperate compensation.

Dealing with Insurance Companies and Police

When communicating with the police, be honest and offer all the information you can remember. However, don’t say anything that can be taken out of context. Even apologizing can make it seem as though you did something wrong - stick to the facts and answer all questions clearly. If the initial police report works in your favor, this will help later.

As an at-fault state, Georgia says that the guilty party is responsible for the accident and the associated damages. This is different from states like Florida which are ‘no-fault states’ and ask all drivers to claim through their own insurance policies.

Unfortunately, insurance companies often deploy adjusters to gather statements. Often, they will try to get the victim to admit even a small portion of the blame. By doing this, they can reduce potential compensation payments. Although we like to think of insurance companies as helping victims of accidents, they generally have a closer eye on their bank balance.

With this in mind, we recommend contacting a Georgia tractor-trailer accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. After a free consultation, The Injury Firm will protect your legal rights and ensure that you don’t make any simple mistakes when seeking compensation.

Common Causes and Injuries of Truck Accidents

Despite the best efforts of lawmakers and other organizations, driver error is still one of the leading causes of all vehicle accidents in the United States. Distracted driving is another problem on the roads with drivers taking phone calls, texting, and using devices for other purposes. Other driving faults include speeding, reckless driving, poor lane discipline, unsafe maneuvers, ignoring safety signs, and tiredness (especially today when the pressure on truck drivers is so high).

As well as driver faults, it could be that the vehicle has been maintained poorly, the road itself was in poor condition, or the manufacturer allowed an unsafe vehicle to leave the factory (a vehicle with a manufacturing or design fault).

Regardless of the cause, common Georgia truck accident injuries include:

• Burns
• Spinal cord damage
• Brain damage
• Paralysis
• Lacerations
• Limb injuries
• Broken bones

In serious cases, a Georgia commercial truck accident can also cause death.

Claiming Compensation

When claiming compensation after a truck accident, you don’t need legal representation. Yet, you’re far more likely to be successful with claims when you have support from Georgia personal injury lawyers. Considering the might of truck and insurance companies, you will be at a disadvantage without legal assistance. Not only this, but it also means that you will get bogged down in the minutiae of a legal case while trying to deal with your injuries.

Hiring an attorney will offer lots of benefits because they will:

• Gather all documentation including medical reports and police reports
• Speak to eyewitnesses
• Get an expert testimony
• Investigate the accident
• Communicate with insurance companies (including negotiating a settlement)
• Allow you to recover from injuries without the added stress of a claim

To start proceedings, The Injury Firm will send a notice of representation to the guilty party and their associated insurance company; doing this should stop people from contacting you directly. Once this happens, adjusters will review the case and either offer a settlement or deny the claim.

If the former, we will review the settlement offer with you. Since the insurance company wants to make a profit, they may make a low offer and hope that you accept. If this is the case, The Injury Firm will negotiate and try to get a better deal. If it fails to improve or denies your claim entirely, your legal representation may recommend a lawsuit to get the compensation that you deserve.

When working with a reliable Georgia tractor-trailer accident lawyer like The Injury Firm, you get a free consultation, and you don’t need to pay anything upfront. Instead, we will take our fees from the settlement.

In terms of the compensation itself, we will help you to recover damages from your Georgia truck accident injuries. This includes economic damages like medical bills and lost wages as well as non-economic damages (such as emotional distress) and potentially even punitive damages.

The Injury Firm

Even if you’re partly to blame for the accident, you may still receive compensation thanks to the comparative fault laws in Georgia. Contact our passionate team today for assistance after a truck accident!