Truck Accident Lawyers Athens, GA

An important part of determining negligence is finding who is at fault, but you must first examine the cause of the accident. Common causes of trucking accidents include:

• Improperly Maintained Vehicles

• Tired or Fatigued Drivers

• Intoxication

• Violate safety laws such as speeding, cutting off drivers, and making incorrect turns

• Unrealistic schedules

• Improperly loaded or overloaded trucks

• Unqualified truck drivers or lack of training

• Dangerous weather conditions

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the most commonly cited cause of truck accidents is due to truck driver error. Drivers of large trucks are ten times more likely to be the cause of trucking accidents than other factors, such as weather, road conditions, and vehicle performance. The FMCSA study also examined factors that cause truck drivers to make errors such as use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, speeding, fatigue, inattention, distractions, work environment, and unfamiliarity of the road.

If you are involved in an accident with a Semi-Truck, if you are physically able to do so, there are some steps that you should take that can help get you through the experience as smoothly as possible.

First, Call the Police. Contacting the authorities is important to both making sure that everyone who needs medical treatment gets it as well as formally documenting the accident in case you have to file a lawsuit.

Usually, truck accidents cause more severe injuries, leading to larger settlement amounts. Getting an accurate police report from the authorities is a crucial piece of evidence that will be used to prove fault in your accident and make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

Second, Gather Evidence. If you are able to, you should gather as much evidence from the scene of the accident as possible. The important pieces of evidence you should try and get include:

• Pictures of both vehicles and Injuries

• Drivers Credentials

• Police Report

• Witness Statements

• License Plate and Serial Numbers

By gathering relevant evidence, you strengthen the potential lawsuit you may have, potentially leading to a larger financial settlement.

Third, Contact a Personal Injury Attorney. Semi-Truck Accident Injury cases can become incredibly complex, due to the severity of injuries and amount of parties that could be held responsible. Speaking with an attorney early on can prevent you from making any mistakes that could negatively impact your case, ensure your legal rights are protected and increase the value of your settlement.

If you are contacted by an Insurance Company after your accident, DO NOT SAY ANYTHING to them until after you have spoken with a Truck Accident Attorney. Insurance company's goals are to minimize the amount that they have to pay out in a settlement due to an accident.

Anything that you say to them over the phone regarding your accident can be used by them to argue that they should not have to pay the amount of compensation that you deserve.

An experienced Georgia Truck Accident Attorney will inform you of exactly what you can and cannot say to the insurance company, or may just deal with them directly. Following their instruction is vital to protecting the value of your case.

If you are involved in a truck accident, the type of attorney you can hire to represent you is called a Personal Injury Attorney. These attorneys specialize in helping the victims of accidents caused by someone else's negligence get financial compensation.

Thankfully, these attorneys work on what is called a Contingency Fee Basis. A Contingency Fee Basis means that you do not pay any legal fees upfront, and your attorneys only collect a fee in the form of a small percentage of your final settlement.

Yes.

Truck Drivers and Trucking Companies have more strict Guidelines that they must follow when operating their vehicles. These guidelines are written out in both Federal and State level mandates. If a Truck Driver or Company is in violation of any of these guidelines, they can be fined or lose their license.

Some of the different concepts that are covered in these guidelines include:

• Hours of Service

• Securing Loads

• Weight Limit

• Maintenance Schedule

• Drug Testing

• Driver Physical Exams

If it is determined that a company or driver was in violation of any of these laws, it can mean a larger settlement when it comes to your accident injury settlement.

Although the sooner you act the better off you will be, just because you made the mistake of waiting to act after an accident does not mean that all is lost.

States have what is called a Statute of Limitations which provides a timeframe for which a legal claim must be filed after an accident.

In Georgia, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident. However, even though you are given a two-year window for which to act, cases are usually stronger and have larger awarded settlements the sooner they are filed.