Truck Accident Claim: What’s Mine Worth?

truck accident

Most people who are involved in a truck accident suffer devastating injuries. There’s only so much the human body can take. When you’re hit by a tractor trailer, the impact is tremendous. You’re lucky if you escape the crash at all. It should be no surprise that you’ve suffered such severe injuries. Many of the truck accident victims our personal injury attorneys in Georgia represent take months or even a year to recover. Sadly, some never recover fully. They end up partially or totally disabled. They can no longer do the same kind of work they did prior to the crash. Nothing is sadder than seeing somebody in their prime be cut down this way. Unfortunately, it happens every day. Our goal is to make sure truck accident victims are fairly compensated for their injuries. However, we can only do that if they come to see us.

Not everybody who is injured in a truck accident realizes that they’re entitled to damages. As long as the trucker caused the crash, there is a chance that you could be entitled to significant compensation. The only way to make sure you’re fairly compensated is to hire an experienced Georgia truck accident lawyer. If you try to handle the matter on your own, there’s a good chance the insurance companies will take advantage of you. And, if you don’t pursue the claim at all, you risk losing your chance to take legal action.

Here, we’ll discuss the factors that can impact the value of your case. We’ll also discuss the various types of damages your personal injury attorney in Georgia can demand on your behalf. If you still have questions about your own truck accident case, give us a call. We can easily schedule your free, initial consultation either over the phone or through our website.

Your Georgia Truck Accident Lawyer May Need to Sue More Than One Party

Most of the truck accident cases our personal injury attorneys in Georgia handle involve commercial truckers. Some of them work for large container trucking companies. Others are employed by smaller, local carriers. One thing they have in common is that their employers are vicariously liable if they get into an accident.

What this means is that your Georgia truck accident lawyer will need to name both the truck driver and their employer in the initial complaint. They will also have to name both parties’ insurance carriers. Quite frankly, your attorney doesn’t care whose insurance company pays you damages, as long as they’re paid. Pursuing both defendants increases the chances of your claim being paid in full. At a minimum, it increases the odds of your case settling out of court. Trucking companies do not want word to get out that one of their drivers injured an innocent motorist. This means that the owners of these companies are often eager to settle the matter and keep things quiet. They know that, if the case goes to trial, there’s a good chance their clients and partners will find out what happened.

Depending on Your Injuries, Your Personal Injury Attorney in Georgia Will Demand Damages

As mentioned earlier, most people involved in truck accident suffer very serious injuries. Some are not able to walk because of the crash. Other suffer a traumatic brain injury and take years to resume their normal lives. This isn’t surprising given the fact that a passenger vehicle can never withstand the impact of a giant tractor trailer.

Depending on how bad your injuries are, your Georgia truck accident lawyer may demand some or all the following:

  • Reimbursement for any medical bills you experienced because of the trucking accident. This includes compensation for any future medical treatment you may need.
  • You can also demand compensation for your vehicle. If it was reparable, you can submit copies of your mechanic’s bill. If your car was totaled, you can demand the fair market value of your car at the time of the crash.
  • If you missed more than a couple of weeks from work, you could demand damages for lost wages. You can also demand compensation for any future income you may lose. For example, if you can no longer do the same kind of work you did prior to the crash, you can demand damages. These will be equal to the difference between what you would’ve earned at your old job compared to the income you will now receive.
  • Most truck accident victims can demand compensation for pain and suffering. These are meant to compensate you for any mental or physical anguish you experienced from the crash.

It’s important to remember that it’s not your Georgia truck accident lawyer’s job to make you rich. It is their job to make you whole. They can only demand damages for injuries you actually suffered. If you somehow managed to walk away from the crash unscathed, you may only be entitled to compensation for the damage caused to your car or SUV.

Thankfully, There’s a Good Chance Your Truck Accident Case Will Settle

As your personal injury attorney in Georgia, our goal is to settle your case long before trial. You shouldn’t have to wait a year or longer for your money. In many of these cases, it’s not all that difficult to prove fault. If we can show that the trucker was responsible for the accident, you should be entitled to significant damages. If we can settle for a fair amount and get you paid sooner rather than later, we will do that. Of course, we would never accept a settlement without first consulting with you. However, since more than 95% of all personal injury cases settle, there’s a good chance yours will too.

Don’t Let the Insurance Companies Take Advantage of You

Typically, when you’re involved in a truck accident, you have to pursue more than one defendant. Things can get complicated rather quickly. This is why we suggest that you call and speak with one of our experienced Georgia truck accident lawyers sooner rather than later. We’ll do our best to negotiate a payment of your accident claim. If the insurance companies want to play hard ball, we’ll do the same thing. Our goal is to get you as much money as possible. The only we can do that, however, is if you come into the office and meet with one of our seasoned personal injury attorneys in Georgia.