Truck Accident Injury Compensation in Georgia: What You Should Know
Truck Accident Injury Compensation in Georgia: What You Should Know
As destructive as a typical car accident in Georgia may prove, am accident involving a car and a commercial vehicle can create even more devastation due to the sheer size and bulk of these vehicles. If you’ve suffered a debilitating injury from such an accident, you need to understand your legal options for pursuing financial compensation. Let’s take a look at the unique features of Georgia truck accident claims and lawsuits.
Who Holds Liability in a Georgia Truck Accident?
Georgia counts as a modified comparative fault state. This means you can sue for damages in a personal injury case as long as you hold less than 50 percent of the responsibility for the accident. But who do you sue?
Unlike straightforward car accidents in which one driver sues another driver, liability in a Georgia truck accident injury can include the driver, the driver’s employer, the vehicle owner, and/or these parties’ insurance provider. For instance, the driver may have practiced negligence while representing the trucking company, or the entity responsible for the truck’s maintenance may have allowed the vehicle’s brakes to fall into disrepair.
When Should You Consider Legal Action?
The insurance company that represents the other party or parties in your personal injury case may push you to accept a cut-and-dried financial settlement. Don’t agree to such a settlement until you’ve first consulted an experienced personal injury attorney.
You need to consider all the long-term financial implications of your injury, from loss of income and immediate medical bills to (in some cases) a lifetime of ongoing medical and non-medical care. To obtain the compensation you really need, you may have no choice but to reject an insurance settlement offer and file a lawsuit instead.
In some cases, an improperly-packed shipment may fall from a truck and cause an auto injury. In these situations, the injured party would sue the shipping company instead of the truck owner or driver.
How Do You Pursue a Truck Accident Injury Lawsuit?
In most cases, plaintiffs in Georgia traffic injury cases have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. The case itself may prove more complex than a standard car accident injury lawsuit due to the number of potential defendants involved, and the need to show exactly how much liability each defendant might hold. Your attorney can use driver logs, carrier hiring records, and other data to demonstrate negligence.
As you can see, complex cases like truck accident injury lawsuits require expert legal representation. Contact Amanda Hall Injury Law today for a consultation with our skilled, experienced attorneys.
