According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), more than 4,000 deaths and more than 300,000 injuries result from collisions involving trucks in 2017. If you were involved in a truck accident, you likely have mounting expenses to pay and a long recovery process ahead of you. If a loved one was involved in a truck accident, it is possible that they were incapacitated or even killed.
While there is nothing anyone else can do to go back in time to prevent the truck accident from happening, there are steps that you can take to make it better. This includes trying to get the compensation that you may be entitled to from the responsible party to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. No one can guarantee an amount of compensation, but a truck accident lawyer can give you an idea of what is possible and what to expect based on past cases.
If you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident, it might be time to contact the office of a Decatur truck accident lawyer to learn more about your options for recourse. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 430-1030 for a free consultation with a member of our team.
Types of Truck Accidents
Not all trucking accidents are the same. Depending on the speed, the vehicles involved, and the nature of the collision, the type of collision will vary. Some types of truck accidents are:
- Jackknife accidents
- Underride accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Rollovers
- Sideswipes
- Cargo accidents
- Rear-end accidents
While this list comprises some types of truck accidents, others are possible. No matter what type of truck accident you are injured in, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries and ongoing expenses by suing the responsible parties in civil court.
For a free legal consultation with a truck accidents lawyer serving Decatur, call (844) 430-1030
Truck Accident Injuries
Unfortunately, truck accidents usually leave the driver of the other vehicle and any passengers with serious injuries. In some cases, the people die immediately at the site of the accident from their injuries or in the hospital after first responders transport them by ambulance for emergency department treatment.
For those who do not die, serious injuries such as brain trauma, spinal damage, abrasions, lacerations, whiplash, amputations, and crush injuries are possible. While a slow-moving accident, such as accidentally backing into a truck in a parking lot, may only cause moderate injuries, a head-on collision or a sideswipe can cause someone to be paralyzed.
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Determining Liability
Before you know who to sue, it is important to determine liability for the accident. This may or may not be the same person who received the traffic ticket. When it comes to truck drivers, determining liability is sometimes more complicated. Some questions to consider are:
- Was the truck driver operating the vehicle as an employee of a company?
- Were they self-employed drivers?
- Did poorly maintained roadways contribute to the crash?
- Did an auto shop technician make an error that caused the truck to crash?
- Who loaded up the cargo that ended up on the roadway?
- Did certain policies at the company encourage drowsy driving?
- Were other vehicles involved?
- What was the weather like?
By answering these questions, you can have a better idea of who might be held liable for the accident. In some cases, more than one party could be responsible for the truck accident. It is possible to hold all of the parties responsible who contributed to the truck accident, including the driver, trucking company, city, and truck maintenance professionals who failed to stay safe.
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Causes of Truck Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), some of the causes of truck accidents include:
- Drug and alcohol use
- Driver fatigue
- Driver illness
- Vision obstruction
- Distracted driving
- Tailgating
- Aggressive driving
- Lack of familiarity with road or vehicle
- Bad weather
This list highlights the most common types of truck accidents that occur in the United States each year; however, other types of trucking accidents are possible. If you have been involved in a truck accident of any variety or cause, you could choose to seek legal action, no matter the cause.
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Taking Legal Action
It is your right to take legal action against anyone or any company that has hurt you. The first step after seeking appropriate medical treatment is to start the legal process. This can include working with a truck accident lawyer who can guide you through the process. This may start with gathering evidence in the discovery process and filing legal motions, as well as representing you in a courtroom, if necessary.
In some cases, your truck accident lawyer will work with the responsible party toward a settlement, whether this is a driver or a trucking company. A settlement can be faster and avoid the courtroom altogether. In the event that a fair settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer is prepared to take your case to trial.
Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations for trucking accidents in Georgia is two years. You have up to two years from the date of your truck accident to start the legal process and file your claim against the person responsible, according to Georgia Code Section 9-3-33.
The legal process can be time-consuming and evidence can be difficult to find it all before witnesses move or footage is erased. Starting the process of filing a truck accident lawsuit earlier can give you the most amount of time to build your case.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, you can choose to discuss what happened with the office of a Decatur truck accident lawyer. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 430-1030 for a free consultation with a member of our team. There is no cost for the consultation or for our support unless we help win your case.
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