Georgia Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accidents cause chaos and damage across the United States, and Georgia is no exception. In 2014, 155 deaths occurred in the state as a result of car accidents involving trucks. That same year, there were 1,164 car accident fatalities in total, meaning truck accidents accounted for approximately 13% of car accident fatalities.

These numbers are terrifying. There are countless families across the state, and the nation, who have lost a loved one to a truck accident, and countless people who are themselves suffering from the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of surviving a truck accident. Here at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we cannot take away the pain you have experienced, but we can help you find a way through it. You need to focus on recovery and getting back to the things you love, so let our Georgia truck accident lawyers focus on navigating the legal system and fighting on your behalf. You or your loved one deserves justice and compensation for what you’ve been through, and we’re here to help you find it.

Don’t hesitate another moment: call Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys today to schedule a free initial consultation. We’re ready to fight for you.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents 

Like all car accidents, truck accidents can be caused by any number of factors. However, there are some causes and factors that are common across a great number of truck accidents. These include:

• Driver fatigue. Truck drivers are often required to drive great distances without stopping. In fact, in the state of Georgia, truck drivers are only required to take a 30-minute break after eight consecutive hours of driving. It’s no surprise that driving for hours alone, many drivers become fatigued. This can cause them to either fall asleep at the wheel or make poor decisions on the road due to their exhaustion, both of which can lead to an accident.
• Driver distraction or inattention. Much has been written about the negative impacts of isolation on truck drivers, many of whom spend the vast majority of their waking hours alone. Extended isolation while behind the wheel can cause a driver to become distracted, or to let their mind wander, which can be extremely dangerous.
• Reckless driving. This includes things like tailgating, speeding, unsafe lane changing, and more.
• Brake failure (and other mechanical failure). Brake failure is unfortunately not a rare occurrence for trucks on the road. Without properly functioning brakes, a truck cannot stop and risks colliding with another vehicle.
• Road conditions. Road conditions can include weather-related conditions, like sleet or black ice, as well as poorly-maintained roads.
• Use of drugs or alcohol. Using drugs or alcohol while or before driving is both extremely dangerous and illegal. While truck drivers are held to certain standards regarding the use of drugs and alcohol, drinking or taking drugs on the job does still occur.
• And more. 

Common Injuries from Truck Accidents

Injuries that occur as a result of a truck accident are often extremely devastating. Part of this is due simply to the size difference between a truck and a regular car. While the average passenger vehicle weighs just over 4,000 pounds, a fully loaded commercial truck could weigh up to 80,000 pounds.

When these two vehicles collide, the inhabitants of the passenger vehicle will most likely bear the brunt of the impact and are more likely to experience injury. It’s also always important to remember that sometimes to the adrenaline of a collision can mask the pain of an injury, so you should receive a medical assessment as soon as possible to make sure you’re not overlooking any physical damage. You should also keep an eye out in the ensuing hours and days; some types of injuries, like whiplash, will only become apparent shortly after the accident.

Like with all motor vehicle accidents, any kind of injury can occur from a truck accident. Some of the most common include:

• Disc injuries
• Back and neck injuries
• Lacerations
• Spinal cord injuries (or paralysis)
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Internal injuries
• Rib and torso injuries
• Traumatic brain injury

Injuries that occur as a result of truck accidents are often more extensive, and deserving of substantial financial compensation. Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are a devastating and extremely complex type of injury often associated with car accidents. TBIs occur when the head experiences an impact or blunt force trauma, causing the brain to shift violently within the skull and often causing great damage to the victim. Symptoms, as outlined by the CDC, include:

•  Headaches
• Dizziness
• Lethargy
• Sensitivity to light
• Loss of memory
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Change in emotion, such as increased agitation, sadness, or anxiety

There’s a range that exists under the umbrella of TBI, running the gamut from mild to severe. This severity is determined by something called the Glasgow Coma Scale, which assigns points to various types of responses from the patient; for instance, are they able to follow verbal commands, do they exhibit spontaneous reactions to sound pressure? The total number then correlates to the severity of the injury, the lower numbers meaning a more severe case.

What Do You Do After a Truck Accident?

In the wake of a truck accident, it’s very important to remember what to do — and what not to do. All of the steps listed below will help to both keep you safe at the scene of the accident and ensure you have a strong case down the line as you pursue an insurance claim or a personal injury suit.

• Seek medical care. Your first and most important responsibility is to make sure you’re safe and secure medical care if needed. Get yourself taken care of before worrying about anything else.
• If possible, move to a safe place where you’re out of harm’s way.
• Call the police. You should always call the police after an accident. In fact, in Georgia, you are legally obligated to do so after a car accident if there is any injury, a death, or property damage in excess of $500. Once they arrive, the police will write a formal report of the collision.
• Exchange information. You should exchange information with any and all other parties involved, particularly the truck driver, before leaving the scene. This information should include: contact information, insurance information, insurance policy number, driver’s license number, and employee number if the driver has one. You can also exchange information with any witnesses at the scene.
• Document the scene. Even if the police are documenting the scene, it’s recommended to do the same yourself as well. Take pictures of all the vehicles involved, their license plates, the surrounding area, and any visible injuries. You can speak to witnesses for their perspective.
• Report the accident to your insurance company. You should report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. Even though Georgia is an at-fault state and you’ll be filing a claim with the other party’s insurance company, your own insurance provider needs to know you’ve been in an accident.
• Call a truck accident lawyer. Contact an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as you can after the accident. You will likely start receiving calls from insurance adjusters as soon as the day after the accident, and they may try to pressure you into admitting fault or agreeing to a statement. You’ll want all of this communication to go through your lawyer, so it’s best to get someone on board as soon as you’re able.

Legal Options After a Truck Accident 

Georgia is an at fault state. This means that in the case of something like a truck accident, the at fault party (the party responsible for causing the accident) must cover all costs that the victim experiences as a result of the accident. So after a truck accident, your first step would be to file an insurance claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company, whether that party be the driver, the trucking company, or someone else entirely. If it is the driver, and they are a commercial truck driver, they will likely be covered under their employer’s insurance policy.

Through this insurance claim, you should be able to obtain damages for things like:

• Medical bills and hospital fees
• Property damage, such as damage to your vehicle
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Lowered earning capacity
• Lowered quality of life
• Mental anguish, such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression

In an ideal situation, you will be able to recover all the compensation you need and are owed via an insurance claim. However, there are most certainly cases in which this is not possible, and it becomes necessary to file a personal injury suit against the at-fault party. This may be the best course of action if the at-fault party’s insurance maximum is lower than the costs you are owed. Something like that can occur particularly in severe injuries, where hospital costs are higher, there are much more extensive lost wages, the pain and suffering is greater, and more.

If you’re unsure about filing a personal injury suit, it’s always best to speak to an experienced truck accident lawyer. Your attorney may be able to help you recover all you need via insurance, and if that proves impossible, they can assist you in the process of filing a personal injury suit and winning a satisfactory settlement.

How Our Georgia Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You After a Truck Accident

It’s always best to seek legal advice and representation after a car accident, but this is especially true if the accident involves a truck. These types of accidents can be absolutely devastating; when a massive truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the likelihood of extreme damage and injury is incredibly high. Working with an experienced, dedicated truck accident attorney like those at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys will help ensure that you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.

Many people may assume that they can rely on insurance companies to receive fair compensation, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. Insurance is extremely important, but the reality is that it’s a for profit business, and insurance providers will always look to pay out as little as possible. Without an experienced lawyer to fight for you, you can easily get shortchanged. We will go through your case in the utmost detail to ensure you receive every penny you are owed.

What’s more, if you do end up pursuing a personal injury suit, you’ll want the assistance of a lawyer every step of the way. Your lawyer will assess the severity of your case, use evidence to confirm fault, establish what your case is worth, and negotiate with the other side in order to help you land the best settlement possible.

And in the rare case that a settlement cannot be reached and a trial becomes necessary, your Munley attorney can fight for you there as well. Some personal injury attorneys have no hands-on trial experience, but that’s not the case at Munley. We can protect you in the courtroom as well as during the settlement process.

In the state of Georgia, there is a two-year statute of limitations on filing any kind of personal injury suit, including one involving a truck accident. However, it’s always best to act as soon as possible, as this gives you the best chance of obtaining necessary evidence and winning your case. Reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible after your Georgia truck accident. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has a stellar track record when it comes to achieving settlements for our clients. Let us do all the hard work so that you can focus on healing.

Why Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Truck Accident Lawyers?

If you have experienced a truck accident, you know that it is a challenging, traumatic, and overwhelming experience. The same can be said of witnessing a loved one navigate the aftermath of their accident.

Here at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, it is our goal to shoulder that struggle with you, ensuring you don’t go through it alone. We aim to provide you with the best legal counsel and most experienced lawyers you will find in Georgia. Our approach is to treat you like family while fighting tirelessly to win you both the justice and compensation you deserve.

Our team of ten excellent, highly experienced Georgia truck accident lawyers and dozens of excellent legal support staff will work around the clock so that you can rest easy. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation and learn how we can protect your interests.