One of the most terrifying experiences that any person can experience is a collision with a tractor trailer.
Tractor trailer accidents typically cause more catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths than other types of auto accidents. 18-wheelers are capable of tremendous destruction due to their sheer size. These tragic wrecks are all too common on our roads and interstates today. It is commonly believed that truck, tractor trailer, 18 wheeler and semi truck accidents result in a proportionally larger number of wrongful deaths and severe injuries relative to auto accidents.
Our Law Firm has extensive experience handling claims for all types of motor vehicle accidents with large trucks and tractor trailers. As experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Attorneys, we will promptly and thoroughly investigate your case to assess damages and determine fault. Once hired, we will communicate with the trucking company insurance company on your behalf. We will give them only the information they need to evaluate your claim and protect your privacy. If the insurance company refuses to recognize the true value of your case, we will not hesitate to file suit and present your case before a jury so that you can be awarded the compensation you deserve.
The severe, debilitating catastrophic and permanent injuries that arise from auto accidents with trucks, tractor trailers, 18 wheelers and semis result in significant financial losses to the individuals involved. Thankfully, the law provides an injured person with the right to recover his or her damages from the responsible party.
Such damages include, but may not be limited to, medical expenses, lost wages, funeral expenses and other economic losses. Injured individuals are also entitled to recover for the pain and suffering caused by the injuries and treatment. The spouse of the injured person is often entitled to recover for the loss of services of his or her spouse. Although a monetary recovery can never repair the damage that is done, it can at least ease the financial burdens created by the collision.
Why Should you hire an Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer?
The insurance company for the truck driver whose fault caused the wreck will start an investigation immediately. It is the insurance company's responsibility to try to limit the compensation of the injured person to the lowest possible amount in order to protect their profits. Insurance companies have established very specific and elaborate policies on handling truck accident claims, especially in the early stages. Insurance company will take recorded statements from the persons involved in the truck accident, have the vehicles examined, have photographs taken, obtain the police report and try to establish the extent of the injuries suffered in the tractor trailer collision. The insurance company is usually completes these tasks within the first week after the truck collision and many of them within the first 24 to 48 hours after the collision.
Insurance companies try to reach a quick settlement with an injured person. They often do this before the true extent of you injuries are known. Their purpose is to avoid responsibility for future medical expenses, lost wages and other damages that are likely to develop. This is a situation that an experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer can help you avoid. When a person is injured in a truck accident, it very often takes months or even years to completely assess the person's injuries. At that point, the person may need surgery, physical therapy or other extensive treatment. The injuries may even leave the person permanently disabled. Therefore, the true value of a claim can only be assessed after most of the medical treatment has been completed. The State of Georgia provides in most, but not all, cases a two-year period of time in which to file a lawsuit on a claim. Accordingly, there is no need to rush to a settlement with an insurance company.
Other areas where an experienced Georgia Truck Accident Attorney can help you.
There are other significant issues that develop for persons injured in a truck accident. For instance, if your health insurance company pays for your medical bills they will very often seek reimbursement from your settlement with the other driver's insurance company. There are several legal limitations on these rights to reimbursement. An experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer can use Georgia law to maximize the amount of recovery that you, the injured individual, gets to keep.
If you were on the job when injured, the worker's compensation insurance company will try to obtain reimbursement of their payments for medical expenses and lost wages. There are several legal limitations on these rights to reimbursement as well. An experienced Georgia Truck Accident Attorney can use Georgia law to maximize the amount of recovery that you, the injured individual, gets to keep. These are important issues that you need to understand prior to agreeing to any settlement.
An experienced Georgia Truck Accident Attorney can often find additional insurance coverage to help you be completely compensated.
In the State of Georgia, companies operating trucks, tractor trailers, and 18 wheelers generally carry a significant amount of insurance coverage. However, the State of Georgia only requires such companies to carry liability insurance coverage of $100,000.00 per person and $300,000.00 or $500,000.00 per accident. Since these insurance limits may be insufficient, very often the injured person must explore what other insurance is available and the extent of the assets of the company operating the tractor trailer.
In addition, other unknown persons or entities may also have liability for the auto collision. For instance, if the road or a light was defective, a government agency may share responsibility for the collision. In addition, your own insurance policy may provide you with coverage for your injuries.
An experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer can also determine whether or not your “uninsured” or “underinsured motorist” insurance coverage can be utilized to help completely compensate you.
Since trucking companies and insurance companies have vast experience in evaluating tractor trailer collisions, they often will pay the lowest compensation possible. It is important to have an attorney on your side with considerable experience dealing with these trucking companies and insurance companies. It is always best to have an attorney who will not settle your case for anything less than its full value. If the trucking companies and insurance companies are not being reasonable in their valuation of your case, you need an attorney who will fight for you, who will file a lawsuit, take your case to trial and prove why you deserve to be compensated. Our law firm will do that for you.