A collision with a commercial truck can leave you shaken, injured, and unsure of what to do next. The size difference between a passenger vehicle and an 18-wheeler is enormous, and that means the damage is rarely minor. Many people suffer injuries that follow them for the rest of their lives in these collisions.
What you do in the hours and weeks after a truck crash matters. The right decisions can protect your health and strengthen your legal claim, while the wrong ones can cost you financially. An experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer can guide you through this process, but there are important steps you should understand from the beginning. Let the experienced team at Mabra Law help you understand what comes next.
Why Truck Accidents Are Different
Truck accident cases are more complex than standard car wreck claims. Commercial trucks are governed by both Georgia traffic laws and federal safety regulations, and this tangled web of rules can have an impact on your personal injury case. If you can show that a truck driver violated their rest requirements by staying behind the wheel too long, it could help you establish negligence. It might provide you with a claim against not only the negligent driver but their employer as well.
The injuries are often more severe in a truck crash. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and the force is extreme when that much weight collides with a smaller vehicle. The injuries that occur as a result of this impact can last a lifetime.
Liability is also more complicated. In many cases, the truck driver is not the only responsible party. The trucking company may be liable if the driver was working at the time of the crash. A maintenance contractor could share responsibility if faulty repairs played a role. Sometimes the cargo loader or even a vehicle manufacturer may be involved.
Evidence is different too. Commercial trucks often contain electronic control modules that record speed, braking, and engine data. Drivers are required to keep logs of their driving hours. Maintenance records can reveal patterns of neglect. A skilled Atlanta truck accident lawyer understands how to secure this evidence before it is lost or destroyed. An Atlanta truck accident lawyer from our firm can advise you on how to approach these cases.
What Steps Should I Take After a Truck Crash?
The moments after a truck accident can feel chaotic, but the steps you take in the aftermath of a crash can impact your life significantly. The same is true when it comes to the days and weeks that follow. Some of the most important things to do following a collision include:
Move Out of the Roadway
If you are physically able, get to a safe location immediately after the accident. Secondary crashes are common after major accidents, as drivers approaching the scene may not realize traffic has come to a halt.
If your vehicle can be moved safely, pull it to the shoulder before turning on your hazard lights. If you cannot move the vehicle, focus on moving yourself out of traffic lanes. If your injuries are serious, remain in your car until help arrives.
Contact Law Enforcement
Always call 911 after a truck accident in Georgia. State law requires that you report accidents that involve injury, death or significant property damage. The police will generally arrive in short order before interviewing the parties. When they make a report, you are entitled to a copy.
Provide accurate information about what happened, but there is no need to overshare. You should never admit to any wrongdoing, and don’t make estimations or guesses if you are unsure of an answer.
The crash report may include diagrams, witness names, and any citations issued to the truck driver, and it can be invaluable for your legal team as they build your case for negligence.
Seek Medical Care
Even if you feel “okay,” seek medical evaluation as soon as possible. Truck accidents frequently cause injuries that are not immediately obvious, like internal bleeding or concussions. Because it can take time for symptoms to become obvious, it is in your best interests to see a doctor immediately.
Medical records can be powerful evidence in a truck accident case, as they can link your injuries directly to the crash. If there is a long delay before treatment, insurance companies may argue that your injuries were unrelated or minor.
Document the Scene
If you are able, gather evidence before the scene changes. Take photos of all vehicles involved, including wide shots that show their positions. Capture skid marks, debris, traffic signs, and road conditions.
Photograph the truck’s identifying information, including license plates and company markings. Get the driver’s name, employer, and insurance details.
If witnesses are present, ask for their contact information. Witnesses often leave quickly once traffic clears, so it is crucial that you secure their contact information right away. Their testimony could make a difference in your case, as juries often trust the word of a neutral party who witnessed the crash.
Avoid Discussing Your Case
Be careful about what you say at the scene. Avoid admitting fault or apologizing, even if you are only expressing how sorry you are that someone else was hurt. Even simple comments can be taken out of context or treated as an admission of guilt.
You can count on insurance adjusters to reach out to you immediately after a truck crash, but their only goal is to lock you into a story that they may be able to discredit in the future. Never forget that you have no obligation to give the other driver’s carrier a statement about the accident.
Follow Your Doctor’s Care Plan
Once treatment begins, consistency is critical. You will need to do more than just see a doctor once, especially if you have lingering issues. By keeping up with your treatment plan, you can improve your chances of making a full recovery.
What’s more, continuing your treatment can strengthen your personal injury case as well. It can show the other side that your injuries are substantial, and that your medical care is necessary. On the flipside, failing to follow this plan could signal to an insurance company that you were never hurt to begin with.
Retain Your Medical Records
Keep copies of all medical documents, including bills, discharge instructions, imaging reports, and therapy notes related to your accident. By keeping them all in one place, you can make things simpler when it is time to share those records with your attorney.
Also keep documentation of your lost wages. These records help calculate your lost income and potentially show a jury what your diminished future earnings might look like.
Talk to an Attorney
There are few steps you can take that will be more impactful than hiring an attorney. Your legal counsel can handle every aspect of your case, allowing you to focus on your health. From evaluating evidence to negotiating with the other side, an Atlanta truck accident lawyer can ensure your rights are protected. Any delay will only hurt your case, so seek out help from Mabra Firm as soon as possible after a truck crash.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
Georgia law sets a strict deadline for filing personal injury lawsuits. In general, you have two years from the date of the crash to file suit. If you miss this deadline, your case will likely be dismissed with prejudice. That means not only is the case over, but your chance for compensation is lost forever. Our Atlanta truck accident attorneys can make certain you never miss a legal deadline.
Possible Outcomes in a Truck Crash Injury Case
When everything goes right following a truck accident, there are generally two ways you might be able to recover fair compensation for your injuries. Many cases are resolved through a negotiated settlement, with a handful only concluding with a trial.
More of than not, these cases never go to trial. This is true for the vast majority of personal injury lawsuits. While settlements might be common, that does not make it a good idea to accept the first offer you get. Insurance companies are known for making unreasonable, low-ball offers, especially early on in the process when the injured party is not represented by an attorney. Never forget that their goal is to limit what they have to pay, regardless of the circumstances.
There are a few reasons why a case might not settle, even when there is little doubt who was at fault. Some defendants will simply never admit to wrongdoing regardless of the facts. In other situations, they might not have the resources to pay your claim so there is little risk of taking the case to trial. What matters the most is having the support of an Atlanta truck accident attorney following a serious crash. At Mabra Law, our team can review the facts and advise you of your options.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Truck Accident?
Some types of compensation you might recover in a truck accident injury case include the following:
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses typically form the foundation of a truck accident claim. These damages cover the cost of treatment that was reasonably necessary because of the crash. This includes emergency care received on the day of the collision and extends to future treatment if ongoing care is required.
In serious cases, future medical needs may involve additional surgeries, rehabilitation, or long-term therapy. When injuries are permanent, projected care costs can extend decades into the future. An Atlanta truck accident lawyer works with medical providers to document both current and anticipated treatment needs.
Lost Wages
If your injuries prevent you from working, you may recover income lost during your recovery period. This category focuses on the wages you would have earned had the crash not occurred.
Diminished Earning Capacity
Some truck accident injuries permanently reduce a person’s ability to earn income. When that happens, Georgia law allows recovery for the loss of future earning capacity. Your attorney can use your employment records to determine what you might have earned had the injury never happened.
Pain and Suffering
Not all losses are financial. You have the opportunity to recover compensation for your pain and suffering after a crash. There is no set formula for determining these damages. A jury may consider the severity of the injury and how it affects daily life. Our attorneys are focused on proving how this pain has impacted your quality of life.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Serious injuries often change how a person lives day to day. Activities that once brought fulfillment may no longer be possible. Georgia law recognizes that this loss has value.
Property Damage
You may also recover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle. In many truck crashes, passenger vehicles are heavily damaged or totaled. The cost of repairing your vehicle versus replacing it will determine what your property damage award looks like.
How Mabra Law Can Help
Recovering from a truck accident is stressful. Medical appointments, missed work, and insurance calls can feel overwhelming. Having experienced legal support can make the process more manageable.
Mabra Law focuses on helping injury victims by handling every aspect of their case. From the very beginning, we investigate truck crashes thoroughly and look beyond the driver to identify all of the liable parties.
An Atlanta truck accident lawyer at Mabra Law handles communication with insurance companies so you do not have to face pressure or confusing requests alone. We look forward to helping you get the outcome you deserve.
Reach Out to an Atlanta Truck Accident Attorney Right Away
The consequences of a truck crash can be life-altering, and you shouldn’t have to face them on your own. To discuss your options, reach out to an Atlanta truck accident lawyer at the Mabra Firm today for a free consultation.