Any vehicle accident is scary, but technology and safety rules have made passenger vehicle accidents far safer than they once were. What used to be fatal is now often something people walk away from. Truck accidents are another story.
While a truck accident can result in significant injury and even death, it doesn’t have to be the end of the better part of your life. With the right personal injury attorneys at your side, you can seek and receive compensation and damages from any liable parties to recover your quality of life and comfort.
If you think you might need a Marietta truck accident lawyer, then consider Ted A. Greve and Associates. Contact our offices today at (800) 693-7833 for a free case review and find out how we can help you.
Truck Accident Statistics in Marietta, Georgia
Marietta drivers should know that our state averages 200 fatal truck accidents per year. What might surprise many drivers is that most of these accidents happen during the daytime and also in clear weather.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?
A truck accident is a serious incident in your life, and it can be a shocking one. Still, how you respond in the immediate aftermath can go a long way in determining how things go for you in the days to months that follow. Make sure you do the following things:
Call 911
At a minimum, you’ll need a police report to document the accident, just in case you need to file a claim against anyone. Even if you only have vehicle damage, you’ll likely not get any insurance reimbursement for repairs without it. Summon EMS if anyone might be hurt.
Help Others
Make sure you’re okay and then tend to any passengers in your vehicle. After that, check on occupants of other involved vehicles and pedestrians.
Exchange Info
Make sure you swap contact information with the operator of all other vehicles involved in the scene. Be sure the responding law enforcement gets this too.
Document the Scene and Speak With Witnesses
Take as many photos as you can. Get witness statements about what they saw, as well as their own contact information.
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you feel okay right away, some injuries don’t present themselves. Have an emergency room or physician’s office look you over as soon as you can start documenting your health status. Failing to do this will make your potential case nearly impossible.
Contact an Attorney
The sooner you can get a truck accident lawyer on your side, the faster they can start standing up for you against a liable party’s own lawyers and insurance adjusters. They can also start assembling your case for you while handling settlement negotiations.
What Are the Laws Regarding Truck Accident Liability?
Georgia is listed as an at-fault state. This means that in the event of a truck accident, a particular individual or party might be deemed to be liable for what happened in the accident. Do note this isn’t always the driver.
How Can a Marietta Truck Accident Lawyer Help Me?
First of all, your truck accident lawyer can do a thorough investigation into the accident in question. Once they have ascertained enough evidence to determine fault and specific liability, they can file a claim on your behalf.
Following that, they can handle negotiations for a settlement with the at-fault party, possibly settling your claim out of court. If necessary, they can pursue actual litigation in court, either because settlement negotiations fail or just don’t get serious until real court action becomes possible.
What Types of Compensation Can I Receive?
Depending on the specifics of your truck accident case, courts in Georgia may award three types of damages:
Economic damages can handle specific costs with hard numbers, ranging from vehicle damage and medical bills to household expenses you can’t cover any longer and lost wages.
Non-economic damages are more subjective, usually covering impacts such as pain, suffering, emotional anguish, and loss of quality of life.
Punitive damages are sometimes possible, and they are intended to make an example out of the defendant.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Claim?
The state of Georgia has a statute of limitations granting you only two years from the accident or death in order to file your truck accident claim with the appropriate courthouse. Doing so after the two-year mark usually means immediate dismissal of your claim by a judge.
Can a Lawyer Prove the Truck Driver Was Negligent?
If a lawyer is brought on quickly, they might be able to prove negligence on behalf of the driver. Doing this is usually done through a combination of witness statements and collecting records and evidence. Speed is of the essence in both cases.
Witness recollections can start fading within just 48 hours. Also, trucking companies are known to do all they can to bury, obstruct, or even destroy physical evidence and internal records as quickly as they can get away with it following an accident.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
The truck driver might be the person you first think of who might be held liable, but it’s not always that professional’s fault. The trucking company is sometimes to blame. It can even be the company that last loaded the truck or the specific manufacturers of particular parts of the vehicle.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents happen for many reasons, including but not limited to driver fatigue, reckless driving, drug use, and distracted driving. Oversized freight or anything secured improperly, insufficient truck maintenance, poor driver training, and bad road conditions all contribute to accidents too.
Contact a Marietta Truck Accident Lawyer Today
A truck accident can change your life at any time. In the event of injury or death, you might think things will never be the same again. The victim or surviving family can seek compensation if a truck accident was the result of negligence.
If you or someone you love is injured in a Marietta truck accident, then be sure you have the right legal representation at your side to fight for your rights and recovery. Contact Ted A. Greve and Associates right away in order to consult an auto accident attorney who can review your case and help you win what you deserve. Call us today at (800) 693-7833.
