Georgia depends on tractor-trailers and other large commercial trucks to ship much of the goods we need, but these vehicles can be incredibly dangerous to other drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that there were 4,415 fatal crashes and another 107,000 crashes in which at least one person was injured in 2018. That’s a lot of people getting hurt or killed in truck crashes
If you were injured in an 18-wheeler crash in Georgia, your best strategy to recover compensation is hiring a knowledgeable, experienced Georgia truck accident lawyer. Attorney David Brauns of Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, has spent his working life handling truck accident claims, first for national car insurance companies and then as a personal injury lawyer. His experience on both sides of the insurance system gives him an advantage over other truck accident attorneys. And you can put that experience to work for you. Schedule your free initial consultation today by calling (404) 418-8244 or visiting our contact page.
Statistics on 18-Wheeler Crashes in Georgia
Crashes involving 18-wheelers and other large trucks are all-too-common in Georgia, impacting thousands of lives every year. Here are a few key 18-wheeler accident statistics in Georgia:
- There were 216 deaths in Georgia involving commercial vehicles in 2017and 135 fatalities reported in 2018, according to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
- The same report documents that 24 percent of all traffic deaths in Georgia were the result of drunk-driving crashes. This includes many 18-wheeler crashes.
- The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety also reported that Georgia ranked fourth in the country for fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles in 2016.
- The fatality rate for commercial vehicle accidents in Georgia is increasing, from 0.145 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled in 2012 to nearly 0.165 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled in 2016.
- The state has stepped up enforcement against commercial vehicles to help prevent crashes, resulting in a 20 percent increase in traffic violations from 2014 to 2019.
What To Do If You’re Involved in an 18-Wheeler Accident
An 18-wheeler crash can cause serious injuries and result in huge expenses for trucking companies. That means they work harder to avoid paying for crashes they and their employees cause, so it’s crucial to protect yourself and your right to pursue compensation after a crash. Here’s what you can do if you’re involved in a collision with an 18-wheeler to maximize your chance of a successful claim:
- Call 911. – Even if you notice no visible injuries, call 911 immediately. Someone could suffer invisible internal injuries that require treatment. Calling 911 will also bring the police to the scene so that they can investigate the crash and create a report to support your claim later.
- Take as many pictures as you can. – Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle, the truck, and any other evidence that might support your case. That includes pictures of your injuries, anyone else’s injuries, the make and model of the truck that hit you, the truck’s license plate, any road hazards that contributed to the crash, weather conditions at the time of the crash, road signs, any traffic or surveillance cameras that might have recorded what happened, and so on. If you’re too injured to take pictures yourself, try to contact someone else who can take them for you.
- Get names and contact information for the truck driver and any witnesses. – Write down their names, phone numbers, mailing addresses, and email addresses. Remember to ask for the truck driver’s license number, insurance information, and a contact for their employer.
- See a doctor. – If you aren’t taken to the hospital from the scene, go to your own doctor as quickly as possible. You could have hidden injuries of which you aren’t aware, and immediate treatment can improve both your recovery and any truck accident claim.
- Talk to a lawyer. – Georgia law allows truck accident victims a maximum of two years to file a claim after an accident. That’s not much time for a complicated legal procedure if you want to demand full and fair compensation from the at-fault party. Call a truck accident attorney as soon as possible after your crash so that they can begin your claim in time.
What Type of Compensation You Could Be Owed
Every 18-wheeler accident claim is unique because every accident is unique. Georgia law allows the victims of 18-wheeler crashes to recover multiple kinds of compensation for their injuries, and the value of your claim depends on these and other factors. Compensation falls into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages relate to how your injuries impact your personal finances, and they’re generally easy to measure. They can include:
- Your related medical bills, past and future
- Lost wages if you missed work while you were recovering from your injuries
- The value of damaged or destroyed property
- The cost to renovate your home to accommodate your injuries, if necessary
Non-economic damages compensate for more ephemeral losses that can be more challenging to value. They can include money to represent:
- Your physical pain and suffering
- Any mental or emotional trauma resulting from the accident
- Your reduced ability to earn a living because of your injuries
- The loss of emotional support from a loved one if they were hurt or killed in the crash
How Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC Can Help
If you’ve been injured in a Georgia 18-wheeler crash, the team at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, is ready to help out. We can investigate your claim fully to see who might be at fault (the truck driver, their employer, the truck manufacturer, or another party), handle all the legal communication with the other parties involved in your crash and their insurance companies, fill the required paperwork on time and correctly, and negotiate aggressively for the maximum possible value for your claim. Most truck accident claims are settled out of court, but we’re fully prepared to take your case to trial if necessary.
If you’re ready to seek just compensation for your injuries, we’d love to hear from you. Call us today at (404) 418-8244 or visit our contact page to schedule your free initial consultation.
