Being involved in a trucking accident can be an emotional, scary, and even deadly affair. Due to the sheer size and weight of large commercial trucks, the injuries sustained in truck accidents are often more catastrophic than those suffered in passenger car accidents. Examples of catastrophic injuries include traumatic brain injury and/or spinal cord injury that results in long-term disability and/or wrongful death.
Truck Accident FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
If you have been involved and subsequently injured in a trucking accident, you likely feel overwhelmed and do not even know where to begin. Take heart in knowing that you have legal rights and options as well as skilled professionals who can fight on your behalf.
The trucking accident attorneys at our local Macon and Atlanta offices all have the experience, knowledge, and resources to win cases for wrongfully injured clients. Our lawyers have 101 years of combined experience in truck accident law and have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients since opening McArthur Law Firm. We offer free initial consultations and contingency fee arrangements so you can get quality legal representation no matter your financial situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents
We have been practicing truck accident law as well as personal injury law for decades. As a result, our legal team has had sufficient time to learn all the intricate details of both Georgia State trucking laws and federal trucking regulations and laws. In turn, we have answered many questions pertaining to truck accidents and have compiled a list of the ones we have been asked most frequently over the years.
- What Is Considered a “Commercial Vehicle”?
- Who Can Be Held Liable in a Trucking Accident?
- How Is Liability Determined in a Trucking Accident Case?
- What Types of Damages Can I Claim After a Truck Crash?
- What Are Common Types of Truck Accidents?
- What Are the Common Causes of Trucking Accidents?
- How Are Trucking Accidents Different from Car Accidents?
- Should I Accept an Offer from the Other Parties’ Insurance Company?
- Can Family Members Sue in the Event of Wrongful Death?
- What Will It Cost to Hire a Trucking Accident Attorney?
What Is Considered A “Commercial Vehicle”?
A commercial vehicle is any motor vehicle that carries materials and other goods for business purposes. Examples of the most common commercial vehicles on the road include semi-trucks, delivery trucks (such as FedEx, mail, or UPS trucks), dump trucks, and other large tractor-trailers. They are typically some of the largest vehicles on the road, and therefore some of the most dangerous. Frighteningly, they are often involved in trucking accidents.
Who Can Be Held Liable In A Trucking Accident?
Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident, several parties can be held liable. Typically, the truck driver, the trucking company he or she works for, the vehicle and/or parts manufacturer, as well as any mechanics who performed improper maintenance on the truck in question can potentially be held liable for damages.
How Is Liability Determined In A Trucking Accident Case?
Liability is often hard to prove in a trucking accident case, especially if multiple parties are involved. Additionally, the larger the company – or companies – involved, the harder it will be to win your personal injury case. Larger companies usually have a sizeable retainer of lawyers whose sole job is to protect the company. For this reason, if you are attempting to hold the trucking company or other relevant company liable for the trucking accident, it is highly recommended that you retain a qualified trucking accident lawyer.
What Types of Damages Can I Claim After A Trucking Accident?
Typically, the most common damages that are awarded to claimants in trucking accident cases include:
- Medical bills (including past and long-term rehabilitation and/or treatment)
- Pain and suffering (both physical and mental, past, present, and future)
- Lost wages (including both past, current, and future wages lost as a result of not being able to work)
Other damages may be recoverable. Our seasoned trucking accident attorneys know truck accident law backwards and forwards – we will be able to help you determine which damages you are eligible to receive.
What Are The Common Types of Truck Accidents?
There are several reasons why a truck accident occurs. It is largely due to driver negligence on behalf of the truck driver, but it can be caused by elements outside the driver’s control.
Some of the most commonly reported types of truck accidents include:
- Jackknifes
- Rollovers
- “Swinging turns” – trucks need a lot of room to turn and truck drivers often have to turn left before they can turn right. When the driver or other cars do not leave them enough room for this to be done properly, this is called a “swinging turn” accident.
- Rear-endings
- Tire blowouts
- “Underrides” – when a car collides with a semi and gets wedged underneath it
What Are The Common Causes of Trucking Accidents?
Like most motor vehicle accidents, trucking accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, including:
- Improperly stored equipment – ladders and hoses falling off fire trucks, for example
- Improperly loaded cargo – logs falling off the back of a logging truck, for example
- Speeding
- Inclement weather
- Poorly constructed or maintained roads – accidents caused by potholes or construction on the road, for example
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
How Are Trucking Accidents Different From Other Vehicle Accidents?
Trucking accidents are different from car crashes. As opposed to passenger car accidents, there can be many parties involved in a trucking accident personal injury claim. This can make pursuing compensation more difficult and more stressful. Without qualified legal representation, it is common to not receive any compensation for damages. Further, there are many factors in question when a trucking accident occurs that requires investigative work and an intricate knowledge of truck accident law. For this reason, it is in your best interest to seek the legal counsel of a professional trucking accident attorney.
Should I Accept An Offer From The Other Parties’ Insurance Company?
No. The best rule when dealing with insurance companies is to not accept anything without consulting your attorney first. It is the sole job of an insurance adjuster to ensure that the company they represent pays as little as possible to wrongfully injured claimants. For this reason, the settlement that the adjuster comes back with is usually nowhere near the amount that you deserve. The best thing to do is let your attorney deal with negotiations with insurance companies in order to better ensure that you receive rightful compensation.
Can Family Members Sue In The Event Of A Wrongful Death?
Yes, they can, and they are encouraged to do so. While money cannot replace your loved one, it can definitely help manage the financial loss that their passing has left. However, in some states, there are limitations as to who exactly has the right to sue in the event of wrongful death. For example, many states only allow the parent or child of the wrongfully deceased person to sue. Our experienced truck accident attorneys can help you determine the laws of your state to see if you are eligible to sue in the event your loved one is killed in a trucking accident.
What Will It Cost To Hire A Trucking Accident Attorney?
This answer will vary depending on the business practices of your attorney and the law firm he or she works for. At McArthur Law Firm, we pride ourselves in putting people first. For this reason, we work with clients and potential clients with varying financial situations. We offer free initial consultations and contingency fee arrangements, so you can get quality legal representation no matter your financial ability.
Injured In A Truck Accident? Our Truck Accident Law Firm in Georgia Can Help
Being injured is stressful no matter the cause of the injury. That stress is doubled when that injury is from a trucking accident caused by the negligence of the truck driver and/or trucking company. Now you have to contend with facing the trucker, the company he or she works for, their lawyers as well as their insurance company. It’s an overwhelming position to be in. However, there are options and people that will fight on your side.
If you have been involved and subsequently injured in a trucking accident, then you might be able to hold several people liable. Any one of the truck accident lawyers from our Georgia firm have experience facing tense negotiations with these parties and can help you build a strong possible personal injury claim in order to ensure that you receive rightful compensation. If any of the above pertains to you and your situation, please contact our office to schedule your free consultation.
More Q&A About Truck Accidents
If you’d like to learn more about truck accident FAQs, read through our informative articles below. We answer some of the most frequently asked questions about truck accidents. You can also learn more about truck accident lawyers in Georgia.
