Trucking companies and their drivers owe a duty to all road users to operate vehicles safely and ensure they are roadworthy. Trucking companies must ensure that their drivers have the credentials to operate their trucks and abide by state road regulations. These companies may be held liable if their driver causes an accident. If you were hurt in a truck accident in Valdosta, Georgia, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries, financial hardship, and mental suffering.
A Valdosta personal injury lawyer with Bader Scott Injury Lawyers will take your case for no upfront fees. Together, we can fight to get you back to the life you enjoyed before your accident. Call us today for your free consultation.
Seeking Compensation For Your Various Losses After a Truck Accident
Georgia’s civil courts allow you to seek economic and non-economic damages after an act of negligence so you can address all your past, present, and future hardships related to your accident.
Here are some examples of the damages you can seek if you take legal action against the liable party:
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Loss of income
- Decreased earning capacity
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
If your loved one lost their life in the truck accident, you may be entitled to recoup damages for their burial, memorial, and medical bills, as well as your loss of support.
Many victims find it difficult to appraise the true value of their mental, physical, and financial losses. Our personal injury lawyers will advise you against settling for any financial sum before you understand the long-term implications of your damages. If you sign a settlement agreement, your case is over. You can’t go back to the insurance company and ask for more money later.
Working alongside industry professionals and expert witnesses, our law firm can help you determine an appropriate financial value to seek in your case.
For a free legal consultation with a truck accidents lawyer serving Valdosta, call (404) 888-8888
Valdosta Truck Accidents FAQs
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When you hire Bader Scott Injury Lawyers, you turn your case over to a team of legal professionals that has spent years studying the applicable laws and legal proceedings surrounding your case. From there, you can be as involved as you want throughout your legal proceedings.
Retaining our lawyers’ services gives you the opportunity to get some much-needed rest during an otherwise stressful period of your life. We offer a wide array of services to give you some peace of mind, including:
- Investigating the root cause of your accident
- Collecting medical reports, the crash report, photographs, traffic video footage, witness statements, and other data from the truck and trucking company
- Naming the liable party
- Handling all communication with the other party’s insurer and attorneys, including settlement negotiations
- Taking your case in front of a jury if we cannot reach an appropriate settlement
Our help will be available to you for a contingency fee, so you will not be charged any fees out of pocket or hourly. Instead, your attorney will be paid from a portion of your settlement or verdict. That way, you will take very little financial risk and can focus on your recovery without added stress.
Valdosta Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (404) 888-8888
How Negligence Can Cause a Serious Truck Accident
Large trucks – such as 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and garbage trucks – can be extremely difficult to drive. When you combine the physical challenge of operating a large piece of machinery with mechanical issues, poor weather, dangerous roadway conditions, negligence, or working long hours, accidents can happen.
According to data collected by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the most common reason for commercial vehicle accidents is poor decision-making, such as driving above the speed limit. However, there are numerous factors that contribute to these devastating accidents, including:
- Improper turns (such as turning too widely)
- Distracted driving
- Swerving to avoid roadway obstacles
- Disobeying traffic signs
- Failure to yield to the right of way
- Reckless driving
- Driving under the influence
- Turning the wrong way down one-way streets
- Failure to check mirrors
- Obscured vision due to inclement weather
- Overcorrecting
A truck driver might not be the only one at fault in your accident. Other parties may have caused or contributed to your truck accident. It may have been:
- The trucking company
- The cargo company
- A mechanic
- A truck parts manufacturer
- A municipality
- Another road user
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You Have a Limited Timeframe to Take Legal Action After a Truck Accident
Civil cases are governed by what is known as a “statute of limitations.” In the Georgia courts, O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 typically gives truck accident victims two years to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent parties responsible for their injuries. The same timeline also applies to those who have lost a loved one in a trucking accident and are pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit.
In some cases, this two-year statute of limitations may be shortened to one year or less. For example, cases brought against government entities (like city-owned garbage trucks) are subject to different legal proceedings than cases brought against everyday civilians or trucking companies.
Your lawyer can help monitor the specific deadlines that apply to your lawsuit. If you are concerned about the best way to protect your rights moving forward, they can help you gain a deeper understanding. We recommend that you call us as soon as possible so we can protect your rights.
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What to Do After a Valdosta Truck Accident
The moments, days, and weeks after a truck crash can be jarring. To help you, we’ve created a list of things you should do to protect yourself, yourself, and your claim:
Get Yourself to Safety
Your safety should be your top priority. If you can, get out of the roadway. This could help prevent a second accident from occurring. However, if you or another party is injured, do not move.
Call 911
You should call 911 if property damage or injuries occurred. The dispatcher will send law enforcement out to create a police report and paramedics to treat any injuries.
Allow Paramedics to Examine You at the Scene
You should allow EMTs to examine you, even if you aren’t sure you’ve been injured. A truck wreck is traumatic, and your adrenaline could be masking serious injury symptoms.
By allowing paramedics to treat you on-scene, you ensure that you get the care you need, and you link your injuries to the accident.
Document the Scene
Take photos of the scene and your injuries. If you are able, take notes about things you notice and what just occurred. This will help you avoid contradicting yourself later.
Watch What You Say at the Scene
While you are exchanging information with the truck driver or other party, watch what you’re saying. Don’t apologize for the accident; just get their information, ensure everyone is safe and then wait for the police to get there.
Continue Your Medical Care After You’ve Left the Scene
You should schedule an appointment with your doctor after you leave the scene to continue your care. Don’t skip appointments or ignore your doctor’s orders. That will give the insurance company the excuse it needs to deny or devalue your claim.
Report the Accident to Your Insurer
Call your insurer or file a report on their app as soon as possible.
Watch What You Say to the Truck Driver/Trucking Company’s Insurer
Soon after the accident, the other party’s insurance adjuster will call you and ask for a recorded statement. Do not agree to it. This will likely jeopardize your ability to recover fair compensation. The insurance company wants you to say something they can use against you. Instead, direct any questions to our law firm.
Don’t Accept the First Settlement Offer
The first offer is typically much less than you deserve. Run the offer by us first. We’ll be able to tell you if it covers your losses. If not, we’ll fight for what you deserve.
Fighting For Your Future with Our Team of Valdosta Truck Accident Lawyers
Here at Bader Scott Injury Lawyers, our team of Valdosta commercial truck accident lawyers has spent years advocating for clients so that they can get the financial recovery they deserve. Whether you were in a truck accident on U.S. Highway 84 or near Valdosta State University, we hope you know you do not have to go through this difficult process alone.
To learn more about our trucking accident services at Bader Scott Injury Lawyers, contact us today. Our Valdosta truck accident lawyer will provide you with a free consultation that comes at no obligation.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form