The latest data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows that large truck and bus accidents are on the rise, including wrecks that result in fatalities. Even if a collision between trucks and other vehicles doesn’t result in a death, the injuries are often severe.
With severe injuries come significant costs, both to a victim’s finances and their overall life and emotional/mental state. These harms should be compensated. With help from South Fulton truck accident lawyers, you can get the compensation you need to live your life to the fullest after your injury.
Who to Target in a South Fulton Truck Accident Claim
One of the first issues you’ll need to tackle in your truck crash case is to identify all the people or organizations responsible for the event and your subsequent injuries. As a truck accident victim, you can sue more than one party for compensation. It’s often the best way to maximize your claim.
Circumstances related to your South Fulton truck accident can mean that any of the following people or groups could be held partially responsible:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company that owns and operates the truck
- Truck or car part manufacturers
- The last mechanic to service the truck
In some cases, you might even be able to take advantage of Georgia’s so-called Dram Shop Law (Ga. Code § 51-1-40). If the driver who collided with you was intoxicated at the time, the bar or store that served them alcohol can be held liable in limited circumstances.
The best way to learn who shares some legal responsibility for the injuries and damages you received is to discuss your case with a personal injury law firm.
Maximizing Your Truck Accident Compensation Package
The value of your compensation depends on the harms that you have suffered as well as some additional factors, including the way that courts decide to apportion blame for your accident. In general, you can sue for two types of damages.
Economic Damages
The first category of damages includes all the monetary ways that your accident has negatively affected you. This can include things like:
- Your medical bills from the accident
- Ongoing rehabilitation or therapy costs
- Car repair or replacement costs
- Additional property damage from the crash
- Lost wages as a result of having to miss work due to injury
These are relatively simple to catalog, as they usually come with bills, receipts, or records.
Non-Economic Damages
Not all damages you suffer from a truck accident are as easily catalogued, though. Non-economic damages include all the more subjective ways that your truck accident has impacted your life, such as:
- Emotional suffering
- Physical pain and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment in life
- The toll of becoming disabled or disfigured
Since these can be more difficult to quantify and put a dollar amount on, it’s important to speak with experienced South Fulton truck accident lawyers for assistance.
Fault and Compensation in Truck Accident Claims
The other factor in your truck accident that can greatly affect the amount of money you receive in compensation is the apportionment of fault. According to Georgia law, you can only sue for compensation if you are no more than half responsible for the accident that caused your injuries.
Also, Georgia Code §51-12-33 says that any percentage of fault attributed to you will reduce your compensation package by an equal percentage. If you are found to be 10% responsible for your truck accident, your compensation will likewise be reduced by 10%.
These reductions can mean the difference between setting you up for future success and leaving you struggling to meet the demands your injury has presented you with. That’s why having an attorney by your side is so important.
How South Fulton Truck Accident Attorneys Build Cases
Building a strong case is the only way to ensure that you have a fighting chance at compensation from big-time, resource-laden trucking companies and insurance agencies. Our truck accident lawyers in South Fulton start by gathering all possible evidence in your case. This can include:
- Copies of your medical records
- Copies of the official police crash report
- Traffic or surveillance camera footage of the accident
- Eyewitness testimony
- Testimony from accident reconstruction experts
- Truck “black box” data
- Truckers’ logs
This evidence can help us determine the cause of the accident, who is responsible, and how best to proceed with your case. We will be by your side negotiating with the opposing counsel and insurance agents. Then, if we need to go to court, we are prepared to defend your right to compensation.
Get a FREE Consultation With South Fulton Truck Crash Attorneys
Don’t let insurance companies convince you to take a lowball settlement, and don’t let corporate trucking companies pressure you to settle for less than you deserve. If you were injured in a truck accident, you deserve to be compensated for the harms you have suffered.
Call our office today or visit our contact page to schedule a FREE consultation with skilled truck accident attorneys for South Fulton.
