An Experienced Decatur Truck Accident Lawyer
Driving on most major highways across Georgia is a different experience than it once was as the freedom of the road, and its relative safety has been negatively impacted by an increasing number of trucks. Semi-trucks and 18-wheelers are gigantic vehicles that are driven by employees who may be overworked or drowsy, pushed to the limit to meet deadlines in support of their employer’s profit margins. Often, these circumstances result in accidents.
Accidents between traditional motor vehicles and large trucks often involve more serious injuries than those involving only passenger vehicles, as trucks are heavier, taller, and more difficult to maneuver. If you have been injured in a trucking accident, you could have a claim to recover compensation for your injuries. A Decatur truck accident attorney from Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC can help you determine if you have a claim and how much it might be worth.
Large Trucks and Buses are a Leading Cause of Motor Vehicle Crash Injuries and Fatalities
Data collected from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) determined that in 2020 alone, there were 4,998 large trucks involved in fatal accidents, while there were 120,000 accidents involving large trucks that resulted in injuries. There were 327,000 large truck accidents that resulted in property damage alone during this year as well. Between 2009-2020, the number of injury crashes that large trucks rose from 60,000 to 108,000, exhibiting the growing dangers associated with large trucks on the road.
Due to their greater weight and size, trucks are unable to respond to changes in road conditions and other demands as quickly as other vehicles. This can lead to rear-end collisions in which the larger trucks collide with smaller passenger vehicles, resulting in the likelihood of significant injury to the occupants of the passenger vehicle.
Truck Rollover Accidents Lead to Serious Injuries and Fatalities for the Occupants of Passenger Vehicles
The drivers of large trucks have an increased level of responsibility to other drivers on the road, given the greater height and weight of trucks. These factors make the trucks more likely to drive over a passenger vehicle in the event of an accident, pinning the passenger vehicle beneath the weight of the truck. It also leads to significantly greater rates of serious injury and death for the occupants of the passenger vehicle and highlights the importance of truck drivers being safe and responsible in their driving.
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Falling Cargo from Trucks Cause Accidents
If you have been injured in a trucking accident caused by falling cargo, you may have a claim for your damages. Falling cargo is often a result of cargo being ineffectively secured, typically by an employee of the trucking company. When the actions of a trucking company caused your injuries, you should be able to file a claim against their insurance company to recover the damages associated with your injuries. At this point, you might be wondering, how do you prove the cause of a trucking accident? The key is evidence.
Evidence Determines When Safety Procedures Were Not Followed
Identifying the cause behind why the semi-truck or 18-wheeler hit you is essential to recovering compensation for your damages. This is possible through the collection of evidence, including work records and police reports, as well as the use of legal instruments, including requests for production and depositions. Having the truck driver questioned by a skilled attorney in a deposition is important to understand whether they were being overworked or if the truck they were driving was safety-checked before departing.
Determining the cause of the accident that led to your injuries and collecting the evidence needed for a successful case while trying to recover from your injuries can be difficult. Trucking companies often maintain careful records of their driver’s activities in support of tracking and profitability and this same information can be used to prove your case. The best way to ensure that all evidence possible is collected in support of your case is by working with a local accident attorney.
Truck Drivers Must Drive Safely and Responsibly
Getting behind the wheel of a semi-truck or 18-wheeler is a big responsibility, which is why commercial truck drivers are required to obtain commercial driving licenses to demonstrate their ability to safely operate their monstrous vehicles. A knowledgeable lawyer can verify a truck driver has all the necessary credentials. However, even with the best training and skills, trucking accidents do happen.
Losing a Loved One to a Trucking Accident Can Entitle You to a Wrongful Death Claim
Under Georgia Code Sec. 51-4-2, the following persons can bring a wrongful death action:
- The surviving spouse of a person killed in an accident
- The parent of a person killed in an accident
- A child or children of the deceased if there is no surviving spouse
The loss of a loved one entitles these family members to compensation that represents the “full value of the life of the decedent, as shown by the evidence.” Determining the full value of an individual’s life requires the calculation of their financial contributions in addition to their household contributions, emotional support, and other factors.
While no amount of money can bring a loved one back from a fatal accident, the purpose of a wrongful death action is to help minimize or eliminate the financial strain caused by the accident and resulting loss. To determine the value of your personal injury claim from a truck accident or what you could be entitled to through a wrongful death claim after the loss of a loved one, reach out to a local Decatur truck accident attorney to explore the options available to you.
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Working with an Attorney Removes the Day-to-Day Stress of the Claim from Your Life
One of the key benefits of working with a Georgia truck accident attorney is the fact that they step into your shoes and handle the entire claims process on your behalf. Your truck accident attorney covers all the key functions linked to your case, including:
- Gathering evidence to prove the liability of the truck driver in your accident
- Collecting medical evidence and an assessment from an occupational expert to determine the short- and long-term impact of your injuries on your health and ability to work, and the associated costs
- Drafting a claim that is submitted to the insurance company of the truck driver’s employer
- Either the successful negotiation of a fair and complete settlement, the appeal of a denial, or the filing of a lawsuit will be undertaken to collect the damages that you are entitled to
You might worry that you cannot afford an experienced attorney capable of making the insurance company cover the full amount you are entitled to, but that is simply not the case. Your initial consultation with Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC is free of charge, during which we’ll review the facts and circumstances of the truck accident that caused long-term, life-altering injuries. From there, we’ll be able to determine if your case is a fit with our firm, and if so, we only get paid if we win.
An Experienced Attorney Can Make the Difference Between Coverage or Paying Out-of-Pocket
The purpose of pursuing compensation for your Georgia truck accident injuries is to ensure that the medical bills that result in the short-term and any long-term related costs, as well as lost wages and earnings potential are fully covered. Disabling injuries may never be fully recovered from, and the purpose of filing a claim is to ensure that your family is not left covering the bills linked to your medical treatments, and having to make up for income lost as a result of your injuries.
Your experienced accident attorney from Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC is familiar with how the insurance companies review these types of claims, and how to construct the strongest claim in your favor. Our firm will undertake the necessary efforts to reconstruct the accident, and determine the cause of the crash that led to your injuries, whether driver negligence, equipment malfunction, or some other reason. Employers must ensure that their vehicles are effectively maintained, and that their drivers are provided with adequate time to rest between shifts, and your attorney will identify when there have been violations, and the trucking company is liable.
Connect with a Decatur Truck Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a truck accident or 18-wheeler crash, a truck accident lawyer from Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC is standing by to review the unique facts and circumstances of your claim. Give us a call at (678) 616-9290, or visit our site to schedule your free consultation now.