Large commercial trucks, or tractor-trailers, can cause catastrophic injuries when they collide with smaller passenger vehicles. Some of the most common injuries associated with truck accidents include traumatic brain injury, paralysis, burns, broken bones, and internal injuries. These injuries can lead to lasting harm to a person’s physical, mental, and financial health.
After a collision with a large truck in Savannah or elsewhere in Georgia, you should seek help from a personal injury lawyer who has experience handling these challenging cases as soon as possible.
What Injury Most Frequently Occurs in Georgia Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents can result in serious injuries. Motor vehicle crashes, including crashes involving large trucks, are a leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Georgia and throughout the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
The following are other common types of truck accident injuries:
- Neck injuries
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Dislocations
- Facial and dental injuries
- Burns
- Internal injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Soft tissue damage.
Unfortunately, these common truck accident injuries can result in scarring, disfigurement, and other disabilities and impairments. As a result of their severe injuries, many Georgia truck accident victims also suffer mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Victims may also suffer the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially after particularly violent or traumatic truck crashes. Contact our Savannah truck crash lawyer today.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Georgia Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents happen for numerous reasons, from poor visibility and weather conditions to mechanical defects. However, driver error is the primary cause of truck accidents in Georgia and across the nation, based on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) statistics.
The most common forms of driver negligence that cause Georgia truck accidents include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Impaired driving
- Speeding
- Failing to check blind spots
- Violating traffic laws
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating.
Driver inexperience, poor training, unsafe cargo loading or overloading of the vehicle, and lack of safety inspections or regular maintenance can also cause dangerous truck accidents.
What Should You Do After a Georgia Truck Accident Injury?
A Georgia truck accident is a frightening event. First, you must protect yourself. Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries. Your health and safety always need to remain top priorities. You can also do other things to protect your legal rights and gather the necessary information to seek compensation for your injuries and losses.
After a Georgia truck accident, you should take the following steps:
- Report the accident to the proper authorities. You can simply call 911.
- Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries.
- When possible, document the scene with photographs and videos.
- Exchange information with the driver.
- Ask witnesses for a statement and their contact information.
- Contact an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible.
- Keep track of all accident-related expenses like medical bills, repair receipts, and time missed from work.
- Follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
- Do not post anything on social media.
Trucking and insurance companies aggressively protect their profits and try to shift liability away from themselves. Proactively protecting yourself and gathering as much evidence as possible will help you build a solid case.
Can I Seek Compensation for My Georgia Truck Accident Injuries?
You can seek compensation for your injuries following a Georgia truck accident. It starts with filing an accident claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Georgia follows an at-fault insurance system, meaning after an accident, a victim files a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company when seeking compensation for their injuries.
You may also need to file a personal injury lawsuit. A truck accident lawsuit is necessary when an insurance company fails to negotiate in good faith or offers a low settlement that does not fully cover your losses.
The value of a truck accident case varies and depends on factors such as the cause of the accident, the severity of the injuries, and measurable losses. However, most victims can pursue compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering.
You should not accept an initial settlement from an insurance company or another third party without discussing your options for pursuing compensation with a knowledgeable truck accident attorney.
Are Pain and Suffering Damages Available in Truck Accident Cases?
Pain and suffering damages may be available in truck accident claims. Pain and suffering fall under the category of non-economic damages. They are non-tangible losses that are subjective. They may be challenging to calculate without help from an experienced attorney.
How Do You Prove Who Was at Fault for the Trucking Accident?
Evidence is the key to proving liability for a trucking accident in Georgia. The following evidence can be invaluable when establishing a truck accident claim:
- Police report
- Black box data
- Hours of service logs
- Dash camera video
- Surveillance footage
- Photographs and videos of the accident scene
- Cargo loading reports
- Vehicle inspection and maintenance records
- Driver background information
- Cellular phone records
- Witness statements
- Expert witness testimony
A truck accident lawyer can help collect and preserve evidence before it is lost or destroyed, bolstering your compensation claim.
Could My Compensation Be Affected If I Was Partly to Blame for the Crash?
If you file a personal injury lawsuit, your compensation may be affected if you are partially to blame for the crash. Georgia law follows a modified version of the comparative negligence doctrine. Under this rule, accident victims may recover compensation for their injuries if they are less than 50 percent at fault for causing the crash. Compensation also decreases by the same percentage of fault the person bears for causing the accident. Modified comparative negligence binds only to court rulings. However, insurance adjusters use the law as a guideline when they evaluate truck accident claims.
Contact a Georgia Truck Accident Lawyer
Our experienced truck accident lawyers at Spiva Law Group want to help you pursue fair compensation. We have secured over $500 million in verdicts and settlements for clients throughout Georgia and are not slowing down. We are fully dedicated to service, strength, and results. Contact us today to learn more and discuss your case in a free consultation.
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