Without a doubt, truck accidents are some of the most deadly. Georgia, especially Atlanta, Augusta, and other neighboring communities, are a hub for the rest of the nation.
That means we get our fair share of trucks rolling through, especially on I-285. This roadway has the distinction as one of the most dangerous interstate highways in the country. It’s not something to be proud of.
Commercial trucks are much larger than other vehicles, and when those semi trucks get into an accident with a motor vehicle, the consequences can be catastrophic. The serious injuries you sustain from a truck accident could impact you for the rest of your life.
After a truck crash, it’s important to find out who is at fault. Is it the truck driver? The trucking company? It could also be another negligent party. Truck accident cases can get complicated fast. That’s why you need T. Madden & Associates, P.C. to represent you and get the maximum compensation possible.
Our team of Decatur truck accident lawyers will fight hard for your compensation while you heal from your injuries. We know just how trucking companies and insurance companies operate; they want to pay out as little as possible. We will aggressively fight them to get you the highest settlement offer.
We’re your personal injury lawyer in Decatur, GA. Contact us today to get the honest advice you need about how to move forward with the legal process.
Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents have similar causes to car accidents, but they tend to be more catastrophic because trucks are bigger and heavier. In a truck accident case, these are some of the most common causes:
Speeding
Since truck drivers have to deliver their shipments on time, they may go over the speed limit. Speeding in such a heavy vehicle means that it will take longer to stop. With commercial trucks, being unable to stop in time leads to serious accidents. Reckless driving truck drivers put all of the Decatur community at serious risk.
Distracted Driving
The long hours on the road are bound to get boring. Many drivers will pass this time by texting, watching videos, or engaging in other behaviors that distract them from the task of driving. Distracted driving is even more dangerous when truck drivers do it because of the large size of their vehicles.
Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers have to work long hours. There are service regulations that they must follow, but with shipment deadlines, they may push ahead. Some trucking companies also ignore these laws, resulting in truck drivers falling asleep at the wheel.
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving or driving under the influence can cause a truck driver to lack the judgment required to operate a commercial truck. The inability to react in time or make smart decisions can make drivers lose control.
Overloaded Cargo
A truck carrying too much weight is unable to handle properly. Additionally, the extra cargo load can cause tires to blow out and lead to an accident with catastrophic injuries.
Mechanical Failure
Trucking companies have a responsibility to maintain their semi trucks. When a trucking company neglects to properly care for parts like the brakes, it can lead to a deadly crash.
A Decatur truck accident lawyer can represent you or a family member after a truck accident. Let T. Madden & Associates, P.C. seek the cause of the accident and work to get you the money you deserve.
According to truck accident statistics, Georgia and the rest of the nation have experienced more accidents. In 2019, there were 204 deaths from Georgia truck accidents and in 2020, there were 234 deaths. You will likely have hefty medical bills and huge financial losses if you manage to survive the accident. Why be the one to pay when it wasn’t your fault? Contact a Decatur truck accident attorney at T. Madden & Associates, P.C. today.
Liability in a Decatur Truck Accident
Georgia is an at-fault state, which means that a driver who is negligent is responsible for paying. You need a Decatur truck accident lawyer who will hold liable truck drivers accountable. First, T. Madden & Associates, P.C. will get to work to discover who caused the trucking accident.
Georgia follows a comparative negligence doctrine that could reduce your compensation by your percentage of fault. Our team of truck accident lawyers will not rest until we prove that you deserve a fair settlement for your semi truck accident.
How a Decatur Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You
You may not think you need a Decatur truck accident attorney. However, as a truck accident victim, you might be surprised to learn how hard an insurance company will fight against your claim. At T. Madden & Associates, P.C., we’ll fight back to get you your money.
You need a truck accident lawyer who puts everything into the community to stand up for you. Here’s what we will do in our pursuit of your fair settlement.
Investigate
As your truck accident lawyer, we will procure a variety of documents. They include records of your medical treatment, the police accident report, and other items related to your tractor-trailer accident. We’ll talk to every witness, pull surveillance footage, and leave no stone unturned as we look for the evidence that proves driver negligence or negligence of the trucking company or other parties.
File a Claim
Filing a truck accident claim requires filing lots of paperwork. This needs to be done correctly and on time. If you try to do it yourself, you may make mistakes that could jeopardize your ability to recover fair compensation. A Decatur truck accident lawyer from T. Madden & Associates, P.C. will get everything done right and on time.
Negotiations
You may not get a fair settlement amount if you try to negotiate on your own. Most people don’t know what they’re entitled to after a truck accident. You may think the amount offered is sufficient, but with a truck accident lawyer, you could get what you deserve.
Additionally, if neither side agrees, then you’ve got to file a truck accident lawsuit. With T. Madden & Associates, P.C. fighting for you, you will have the representation you need to stand up to the other side.
Litigation
Insurance companies for the trucking company can make it difficult to get a fair settlement amount. This money needs to cover your truck accident injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and all the other damages. You wouldn’t be in this predicament and potentially suffering for a lifetime from your injuries if it wasn’t for the truck driver.
Contact T. Madden & Associates, P.C. today for a free legal consultation and get the honest advice you need about pursuing your truck accident case.
What Types of Compensation Can You Get from a Truck Accident?
Semi truck accidents can lead to an array of damages that we’ll help you pursue:
Economic Damages
This is the compensation you get for things that have an actual, tangible dollar amount. Your medical expenses, diminished earning capacity, lost wages, property damage, and rehabilitation costs are just a few examples.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are harder to prove because they don’t have a convenient dollar amount. These include disfigurement and physical disability, both very common in truck accidents. Mental anguish and loss of consortium are also intangible types of damages that your truck accident lawyer will fight for you to get added to your settlement amount.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages aren’t available in every truck crash case. These are only awarded when extreme recklessness by the truck driver or trucking company can be proven. As an example, if the trucker was drunk or intentionally rammed you off the road, we would go after them to have these damages added.
How Do Truck Accident Attorneys Prove Fault in Truck Accidents?
In trucking accidents, the fault of the driver or trucking company must meet the requirements of negligence. A truck driver owes everyone a duty of care to operate the commercial vehicle in a safe manner. If they were not driving properly, then they breached this duty of care.
Additionally, causation must be proven, meaning the driver’s breach of the duty of care resulted in your severe injuries. We must also show that the personal injury you suffered resulted in damages.
The truck accident attorneys at T. Madden & Associates, P.C. can prove negligence to get you the money you deserve. We will dig deep into the operator’s driving record and get the travel and engine data from the black box in the truck. We’ll thoroughly review all repair and maintenance records and find every piece of evidence we can to support your injury claim.
Depending on what we find, we will then pursue the negligent parties. This could be the truck driver who engaged in negligent behavior. It could also be the trucking company, that is responsible for the trucks it uses as well as the drivers it hires to get the job done. Perhaps the company that loaded the truck was the reason the truck driver lost control. Without using proper practices, they could have overloaded the truck, loaded it improperly, or neglected to inspect it before sending it on its way.
Truck accidents can also be caused by failing components. Whether brake failure, tire blowouts, or problems with steering, it could be a lack of maintenance or a defective part from the manufacturer. Either way, we’re going to find out by determining liability and holding whoever is responsible accountable.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Decatur
When truck accidents occur, they can have destructive consequences. Don’t fight on your own. A truck accident lawyer from T. Madden & Associates, P.C., is ready to fight for justice on your behalf. Contact us today to get free advice on what to do next.