A traffic accident is never good news, but if your life has been impacted by a collision with a large commercial vehicle the implications can be very serious. Large commercial vehicles can have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating in excess of 10,000 pounds although many 18-wheelers can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. Due to their extreme size and high velocity, commercial vehicles can cause considerable damage.
The aftermath of an accident with this type of large commercial vehicle can be devastation and extreme damage and injuries. Even though these commercial vehicles are required by law to carry very high insurance coverage, it will take an experienced Fairburn truck accident lawyer to bring the crafty insurance providers to terms with your damages.
This is where the law offices of Humphrey & Ballard can provide assistance in defending your right to compensation. If you are serious about getting the full measure of compensation afforded you by the law, call 404-341-0499 today. Our trusted Fairburn truck accident lawyers are ready to provide you with perspective and experience in your quest for compensation.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident in Fairburn, Georgia?
If a regular traffic accident can cause emotional and mental confusion, a commercial truck accident can be even more bewildering. But, it will be crucial to your imminent case and lawsuit that you keep a clear head and act to protect your interests.
Here are some important steps to keep in mind in the aftermath of a truck accident:
Call Emergency Service
Paramedics should be called to the scene of the accident to address any injuries sustained in the accident. The local authorities will also arrive to make a report on the incident. Take note of the names, badge numbers and precinct of the officers so that you can get a copy of the report.
Help Others
If your injuries permit you to do so, see to the safety of the others involved in the accident. Exercise extreme caution when moving about the scene of the accident as many commercial vehicles can be carrying hazardous materials.
Exchange Information
Speak to the driver of the commercial vehicle. You will need their name and contact information as well as the name and contact information of their employer and insurance provider.
Document the Scene
In order to build a strong case, we will need strong evidence. Collect as much as you can while the scene is still fresh. Take pictures of the vehicle in relation to each other as well as damages sustained, skid marks, road debris, obstacles on the road and any traffic signals in the vicinity. If there are eyewitnesses in the vicinity, get their information as well. Their testimony may be critical to unravelling the truth about the incident.
Seek Medical Attention
You may think that your injuries are minor, but you never know. The excitement of the moment can cloud your capacity to perceive the full extent of physical damage caused in the accident. Injured organs, internal hemorrhaging and brain damage are not always readily apparent. Have yourself and your passengers examined by a medical professional who can provide you with a full report on your conditions.
Contact a Fairburn Truck Accident Lawyer
If you are serious about getting full compensation for your damages, you will need the help of an experienced legal professional. You will probably be contacted by the insurance provider for the trucking company offering what seems to be a fair settlement, but beware. This is often a ploy to get you to accept a lowball offer. Don’t agree to any deals or sign anything without a lawyer’s direct approval.
Call the law offices of Humphrey Ballard and allow our Fairburn truck accident lawyers to handle the minutiae of personal injury law while you focus on the task of making a full recovery.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover in a Truck Accident Case?
Damages available in personal injury cases in the State of Georgia are divided into three categories, as follows:
Economic Damages
These are damages that can be calculated from financial records. Economic damages will cover past, present and future financial costs resulting from the accident. This can include the medical expenses, loss of earning capacity and property damage.
Non-Economic Damages
Other damages can’t be converted into a financial figure quite as easily. For example, pain and suffering, emotional distress, inconvenience and loss of consortium. Expert testimony is needed to set a financial value for these damages.
Punitive Damages
In some cases, the actions of the at-fault party are so egregious, that the courts may assign punitive damages for the sole purpose of punishing the liable individual or entity.
In order to determine the type of damages that you could recover, speaking to a Fairburn truck accident lawyer is the best way to ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve.
What Are the Laws Regarding Truck Accident Liability?
The State of Georgia applies the concept of “modified comparative negligence” when determining liability in personal injury cases and this applies to damages sustained in commercial truck accidents as well.
This means that anyone is allowed to seek compensation for the damages they sustained in an accident so long as they are less than 50% responsible for the accident. Nevertheless, rightful compensation is reduced by the percentage of responsibility the party shared in causing the accident and subsequent damages.
How Can a Fairburn Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
Personal injury law is complex and filled with minute details that can drastically change the outcome of what seems to be an “open-and-shut” case. Here is how a seasoned truck accident lawyer from the Law offices of Humphrey Ballard can assist you in recovering rightful compensation:
Conduct a Thorough Investigation
These cases are never as simple as they seem. Our trusted Fairburn truck accident lawyers will apply our skills and resources in investigating the incident and listing the various situations, individuals and entities responsible for your injuries.
File Your Claim
Filing a claim is a detailed process in itself and minor errors can threaten the validity of your claim. We have done this many times and apply attention-to-detail and diligence in ensuring that you are given the highest chances of recovering full compensation.
Negotiate with the Opposition
Commercial trucking companies carry very high insurance coverage due to their equally high capacity for damage and destruction. But insurance adjusters are determined to protect their interests and will stop at nothing to avoid and minimize their payouts.
However, our Fairburn truck accident lawyers have experience dealing with the chicanery of these insurance adjusters and will defend your right to compensation with unparalleled tenacity and legal expertise.
Take the Case to Courts
If no settlement can be reached, the case will be taken to the courts. Our Fairburn truck accident lawyers prepare all cases for battles on the court floor. At Humphrey & Ballard, we will apply our professionalism and keen-understanding of courtroom dynamics to sway the judgment of the court in your favor.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Fairburn, GA Truck Accident?
There are many individuals and entities responsible for maintaining a road worthy commercial vehicle. Therefore, responsibility for commercial vehicles involved in an accident can be hard to assume at a glance. A seasoned Fairburn truck accident lawyer can help you to determine who should be held liable in your truck accident case. Here are some of the individuals and entities that can be listed in a truck accident claim:
Truck Driver
As the one responsible for navigating the roads and streets, the truck driver must follow traffic laws and shipping guidelines to ensure public safety. If the driver doesn’t follow these rules and regulations, they could be liable for any damages from an accident.
Trucking Company
There are guidelines for vehicle weight, driving times and many other aspects of commercial shipping design to keep roads and motorists safe. If a trucking company flouts these rules for financial advantage, they place the lives of the general public at risk.
Company Who Loaded the Truck
With the tremendous weight being hauled in a commercial vehicle moving at high speeds, it is essential that the load is perfectly balanced. The consequences for improver loading can be a loss of control over the physics of the truck in motion and a potential for accidents.
Vehicle or Parts Manufacturers
There are many parts and components that keep a commercial truck operating safely on the road. If just one of these components is faulty or has not been installed properly, the manufacturers of the faulty piece or the mechanic responsible for inept installation work could be responsible for an accident.
What Are the Most Common Causes for Truck Accidents?
Some of the more common causes of truck accidents in Fairburn, Georgia include:
- Reckless Driving
- Poor Road Conditions
- Driver Fatigue
- Lack of Truck Maintenance
- Inexperienced or Poorly trained Drivers
- Distracted Driving
- Drug Use
- Equipment Malfunction
- Improperly Secured Freight
Our Fairburn Truck Accident Lawyers Are Ready to Help You Get the Compensation that You Deserve
Truck accidents are characterized by extensive damages and life-changing injuries from which you and your family may never fully recover. For this reason, our seasoned truck accident lawyers at Humphrey & Ballard in Fairburn, Georgia are here to calculate the full measure of the compensations due and will fight aggressively for your rights.
If you are facing the aftermath of a truck accident here in Fairburn, call Humphrey & Ballard at 404-341-0499 and arrange a consultation with our knowledgeable Fairburn truck accident lawyers. We will examine the details of your case and provide you with the best possible outcome for this unfortunate turn of events.
