Everyone over the course of their driving experience has had at least a close call with commercial trucks (tractor trailers, semi trucks, 18 wheelers). Truck drivers often are driving long hours across the highways and interstates of our nation. It is not uncommon for truck drivers to be tired and driving at higher speeds in an attempt to get to destination quicker. This can be a recipe for disaster if a big truck collides with the smaller cars, pickup trucks, minivans, and SUVs around it. The collisions with large commercial trucks often result in serious and permanent injures or even deaths.

Many personal injury and wrongful death claims arise every year from auto accidents involving large commercial trucks. Georgia law provides for a personal injury claim when someone is injured due to the negligence of another. The damages that can be recovered in a personal injury claim are the past and future medical expenses, past and future lost wages or income, and the past and future pain and suffering. Georgia law provides for a wrongful death claim when that negligent act causes the death of another. The surviving family members (spouses, children, parents) are the ones who have the right to recover for the value of the life of the person wrongfully killed.

Georgia law requires all motor vehicles to have liability insurance to cover personal injury claims. The policy limits vary greatly so it is very important to hire an experienced attorney to find out for sure how many insurance policies cover the personal injury or wrongful death claim and what the policy limits is for each. Georgia law requires drivers to carry $25,000 / $50,000. Georgia law requires large commercial trucks like 18 wheelers to carry at least $100,000 / $300,000 or a minimum of $500,000 per accident.

The adjusters for the insurance companies will start investigating the claim immediately. They will attempt to get recorded statements from the drivers and witnesses involved. It is very important for you to hire an attorney to investigate the accident as quickly as possible so that evidence that supports your case can be preserved. At the accident scene you should make sure you get the contact information for any and all witnesses. You should also call the police so that they can investigate the claim.

In Georgia there is usually a two year statute of limitations for settling or filing a lawsuit on personal injury claims. It is important to make sure that you have fully been treated and all recommended diagnostic testing is done so that the full extent of your injures are known prior to settlement. If you rush into a quick settlement, then you may be faced with significant future medical treatment that will not be provided for in the settlement.

Call us today toll free at 866-847-6545 for a free consultation. You can also use our Free Settlement Evaluation Form on this website to find out what your case is worth and to get answers to your legal questions. We will let you know if you have a personal injury or wrongful death claim and will let you know what we think your case is worth. Hire the experienced attorneys at The Griffin Law Firm so that we can guide you through the process and make sure you recover all that you deserve.

Why do I need to hire a truck accident personal injury attorney?

1. Identify all of the corporate defendants and their insurance coverages : Big truck accident personal injury claims are complex claims since they can involve multiple corporate entities. Our attorneys are trained to identify these corporations and to verify the multiple insurance policies which may cover the truck accident personal injury claims. Without knowing all of the insurance policies and the correct policy limits, a truck accident personal injury victim could easily settle for far less than the case is worth.
2. Know the real value of your big truck personal injury claim : Big truck accident personal injury claims require the experience of a seasoned truck accident personal injury lawyer. Our truck accident attorneys have had great success in handling truck accident claims and utilize the latest jury verdict research to help establish the likely value of the truck accident personal injury claim.
3. Establish liability and damages : The burden is on the plaintiff to prove both liability and damages in a truck accident personal injury claim. Your damages include the past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and possibly even punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded when the defendant is not only negligent, but also is guilty of conduct that shows a reckless disregard for human life. Conduct creating punitive damage exposure often involves driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and hit and run. Often litigation is required to fully discover the driver’s conduct that may have caused the truck accident such as driving with excessive speed, driving longer or faster than the law allows, and other negligent conduct.
4. Hiring an truck accident lawyer will normally greatly increase your recovery : Adjusters and defense attorneys will often try to settle claims for as little as possible. Truck accident claims often involve permanent injuries or even wrongful deaths arising because huge 18 ton trucks do terrible damage to life and property when they collide with the small cars, trucks, vans, and motorcycles that also utilize the roads and highways. Our attorneys have had great success handling truck accident personal injury and wrongful death claims and will fight to make sure you recover everything you deserve.