Georgia Truck Accident Statute of Limitations
When you get into a truck accident in Georgia, you do not have an unlimited amount of time to bring your claim or settle it in civil court. Starting from the date of your accident, you get two years to file your lawsuit. It may seem like you have a long time to mull the situation over and wait to call an attorney, but we do not suggest that. Waiting to talk to an attorney can truly make it harder for them to successfully represent your case. Two years go by quickly when it comes to a lawsuit, so putting your attorney under an even tighter deadline will not be of benefit to you. It is best to get to an experienced Georgia truck accident attorney as soon as you can after the accident so they have as much time as possible to build a strong case for you.How Truck Accident Compensation Works
Georgia is a state that follows the rules of shared fault. That means you can collect compensation for your damages and injuries even if you are partially at fault for the accident. For example, if someone was speeding on the highway at the time of their truck accident, but the truck swerved into their lane, they may have shared fault. They may be deemed something like 20 percent at fault for the accident. If they were awarded $100,000 in compensation, they would be able to collect $80,000 of that award to account for the role they played in causing the accident. When determining the amount of compensation someone gets, there are three main factors that are considered. There is the past and future medical bills for treatment, the past and future lost wages, and the past and future pain and suffering one must endure. Once there is a monetary amount decided on, then there will be negotiations with the insurance company about who cause the accident and how much of the fault goes onto whose shoulders. From there you can finally come out with the number that will represent the compensation you are eligible to receive. Our job is to protect your right to full and fair compensation. We will work tirelessly to keep you from getting blamed for the accident.First Step for a Successful Truck Accident Case
The most important step after your truck accident case is seeking immediate medical attention. Nothing is more important than your health. Getting yourself in front of a medical professional should be your number one priority in your truck accident case. You need to have everything check so that you know you are on the road to recovery. You can get in an ambulance at the scene, go to the emergency room, or get to an urgent care facility to get your injuries looked at. No matter what you choose to do, you have to get your injuries checked as soon as possible.Talking to the Insurance Company for the Liable Party
A huge mistake that you can make is talking to the insurance company. They will reach out to you right away, most likely looking for a recorded statement. You are not obligated to provide them with any statement whatsoever. In fact, we encourage you not to talk to them at all. They are trained to get answers out of your that will only make it so that they can reduce or eliminate your claim. When they come calling for a recorded statement, you can allow your Georgia truck accident attorney to take over all communication with them so that they can protect you from missing out on compensation that you are entitled to. Get Our FREE Truck Accident GuideFrequently Asked Truck Accident Questions
Should I accept the first settlement offer in my truck accident case?
If you are reading this, you may have been seriously injured in a truck collision here in Georgia. The insurance company may have already called you and even offered you some money to settle your claim. You may be wondering whether you should accept it. The answer to that is definitely no. Insurance companies are not in business to pay you the amount you really deserve. They are in business to make profits for themselves, their shareholders, just like any other big corporation. If you have received an offer for some amount of money, you can bet that that’s not the full and fair value of your claim. Our truck accident attorney can help you get that fair value.
If you have any questions about your case, please give us a call. We here at Princenthal, May & Wilson are experienced and knowledgeable in handling serious truck wreck collisions in the state of Georgia. We are happy to talk to you about your case.What mistakes should I avoid after a truck accident?
There are several mistakes people make early on in truck accident cases. One is not calling an attorney right away. If you or a loved one are injured, your first consideration is your health or your loved one’s health, and that’s the way it should be. You do, however, want to call an attorney as soon as possible. The truck company will have people working on that case right away and response teams going out to the scene. Their goal is to gather evidence to defend that case from day one. The longer you wait, the more evidence may go missing.
A second mistake often made in these cases is calling the wrong attorney. Many people have never had to use an attorney, especially a personal injury attorney. If people need an attorney, they call a lawyer that they may know or a friend of a friend who does not do trucking accidents. Those attorneys do not know to get an accident reconstructionist out to the scene right away to measure skid marks, take photographs of the scene, interview witness and speak with the State Troopers who responded. Hiring the right type of lawyer means getting the right work done, right away. A third mistake is talking to the insurance company for the truck company. What you need to know is that insurance company is not on your side. Insurance companies do not make money by looking out for the interests of the people who have been, and they do not have your best interest in mind when they call you. What they’re trying to do is minimize the amount that they may ultimately pay you. Instead of giving a statement, call an attorney. An attorney who is experienced and knowledgeable in prosecuting truck wreck cases in Georgia will look out for your interests when speaking to the insurance company.
What should I consider when hiring a truck accident attorney?
If you’re watching this, you may have been seriously injured in a truck collision here in Georgia, and you may be wondering how to select the best attorney to represent you in this case. First of all, you want a lawyer who does personal injury cases, not someone who practices in another field of law. Secondly, you want a lawyer who knows truck wrecks and knows the laws that go into prosecuting a truck wreck case. There are multiple federal regulations involved that are very complicated. You also want a lawyer who knows about the different types of evidence that he or she needs to look for, including electronic data that can be downloaded from tractor trailers and other commercial vehicles. Inexperienced lawyers may not be familiar with the intricate details that go into prosecuting a trucking collision case.
You also want a lawyer who has the resources to prosecute these cases. Truck wreck cases are different than regular automobile accident cases. They can be a lot more expensive to prosecute. For example, a case may require hiring experts to go out and reconstruct the accident. Does the lawyer you’re talking to have the resources to hire all those experts and bring them to bear right off the bat? These are questions you want to ask. Finally, you want a lawyer who tries cases and goes to trial, not a lawyer who handles multiple cases at once and just turns them over and settles them. Consider whether a lawyer is going to be someone who will fold and take a cheap settlement or will take your case to trial and get the true value of your case.How long will a truck accident case take?
People often ask, “How long is it going to take to resolve this case?” Truck collision cases in Georgia, on average, take about 17 months to resolve. Each case, however, is going to be different. The length of a case depends on your injuries, the medical treatment you need, the damages involved, and the facts of the collision that caused your injuries.
In trucking collision cases, there are potentially multiple defendants, including the driver and the company that owns the tractor. This adds more layers to the issues that we are going to need to investigate. All of that may take more time to get you the full compensation that you deserve. Again, every case is different, and it’s going to depend on that facts of your case. If you have any questions, please give us a call and we’ll be happy to discuss the specific facts of your case with you.Should I speak to an insurance adjuster after a truck accident?
Oftentimes, clients ask whether they should speak to the insurance company and give a recorded statement. In general, the answer is no. The insurance companies are not there to help you. The insurance company is in business to make money. Before speaking to the insurance company, hire a lawyer who’s experienced and knowledgeable in handling truck wreck cases in Georgia, and let that lawyer speak for you. He or she knows how to deal with the insurance companies and can look out for your interests. If you’re thinking about whether you should speak to an insurance company, if you’ve been involved in a serious truck wreck here in Georgia, give us a call; we’ll be happy to speak with you and talk to you about your case.
How much is my truck accident claim worth?
If you have been involved in a collision with a tractor trailer or another type of commercial vehicle, you may be wondering what the value of the claim is. Every case is a little different. A case’s value can depend on the damages that you’ve suffered, the injuries involved, and the facts that led up to the wreck. Are punitive damages something that may be available in your case? Not every case gives rise to punitive damages; it’s going to depend on the facts.
Every case is different. Here at Princenthal, May & Wilson, we know what to look for, and we know what issues to investigate. We know what evidence to go after to maximize the value of every case. If you have any questions about this or about anything else related to a truck wreck, please give us a call. We will be happy to discuss your case with you.Call Our Georgia Truck Accident Attorneys Today
If you have been seriously injured in a truck accident and are looking for competent and experienced representation, please call our Georgia truck accident attorneys today to set up a free initial case review. You will be treated as a priority to us and we will do everything in our power to get you the best possible result. It is important for us to see you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today and see how we can help you fight the insurance company for the most possible compensation you can get for your injuries and damages. We want to be your champion.-
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Client Reviews
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