Truck Accident Attorney in Columbus

Commercial trucks are massive compared to passenger vehicles. When crashes happen, this size difference often means the occupants of the smaller cars suffer the most severe injuries. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently found more than two-thirds of all truck accident deaths were individuals in cars and other passenger vehicles, not truck drivers.

If you suffered injuries in an 18-wheeler accident in Georgia, you already know just how devastating these tragic events can be. The good news is that you can seek justice and a fair financial recovery for your injuries and losses by filing a truck accident claim with the help of an experienced Columbus truck accident lawyer.

At Bence Law Firm, LLC, our truck accident attorneys provide personalized client service aimed at taking the pressure off you. Healing should be your top priority. Fighting for compensation for you is ours. Contact us today for a free consultation with one of our dedicated personal injury attorneys to discuss your personal injury claim.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Columbus

Being in an accident is never something someone anticipates, and you may not know what to do in the aftermath of a truck accident. However, those first actions truck accident victims take can make a big difference in the outcome of their cases. Take the following steps to protect your legal rights and kickstart your injury claim after a Georgia truck accident.

Seek Prompt Medical Care

A doctor will determine the extent of your injuries, prescribe the medical treatment you need, and lay the foundations of your injury claim by establishing a connection between your injuries and the truck collision. Keep in mind that this is often a multistep process for victims of commercial vehicle accidents.

After the ambulance takes you from the scene, you will receive emergency medical treatment at the closest hospital. However, you may need further care from a specialist, such as a surgeon, or be instructed to follow up with your primary care doctor. It’s important that you follow all medical instructions and keep all documentation from your visits to ensure that you have everything you need for your case.

Gather Evidence From the Semi-Truck Accident Scene

Never refuse emergency medical treatment if paramedics recommend it. But if you are able, collect evidence from the crash site to support your claim. Examples include photos, the names and insurance information of every driver involved, the police accident report, and witness statements. Medical bills and other documentation of your accident-related financial losses will also support your claim for compensation.

A Georgia truck accident lawyer can use this information to help further their own investigation, and sometimes, the smallest detail that you’re able to gather at the scene can be the persuading factor to a jury. If you weren’t able to get any evidence or you don’t remember any details from the accident, don’t worry. Our truck accident lawyers will conduct an investigation to ensure that every piece of relevant evidence is uncovered.

Attend All Follow-Up Medical Appointments

Don’t skip out on rehabilitation appointments that you need, such as physical therapy or occupational therapy. Follow every one of your doctor’s treatment recommendations. This shows the insurance company(s) that you took your health and recovery seriously. It’s also vital to healing from your injuries and getting the medical support services that you need.

Don’t neglect mental health care, either. The emotional and mental issues experienced after an accident resulting in serious injuries are just as real as the physical ones. The Georgia truck accident lawyers at our firm can help you understand how these consequences may also be able to be included in your personal injury claim as pain and suffering.

Avoid Speaking to the Insurance Company Until Consulting With an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer

Insurers for commercial truck companies know truck accident claims can have a high-dollar value. Adjusters and corporate attorneys will be looking for any reason to minimize your settlement. They may use complicated questions, ambiguous wording, and pressure tactics to get you to admit fault or say that you don’t remember what happened. Let a knowledgeable legal professional do the talking for you to protect your case.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Columbus

It’s true that with the changes to both regular passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles, the roads are safer than ever. But all of the safety features in the world aren’t a match against driver negligence. Truck accidents happen for a variety of reasons, but many involve texting while driving, making phone calls, adjusting navigation devices, or any other activity that diverts a trucker’s attention away from the road constitutes distracted driving. Here are some of the most common reasons truck accidents happen.

Drowsy Driving

Driving while tired can be just as hazardous as drunk driving, and truck drivers facing long-haul routes and hours of interstate driving at a time may be especially susceptible. While there are laws that govern how long a truck driver can operate a vehicle before taking a mandated break, this may not be enough rest time to recover from driver fatigue, or they could skip the break entirely trying to meet a deadline.

Driving Under the Influence

Driving while impaired by alcohol, illicit drugs, or any other intoxicating substance puts every motorist in harm’s way, but this is especially true when you’re driving a large semi-truck. In fact, it’s so dangerous for truck drivers to be operating their vehicles while impaired that they have a lower legal limit for blood alcohol content. While the usual legal limit for BAC in Georgia is 0.08 percent, it’s just 0.04 percent for truck drivers. It’s also mandatory in many situations for a truck driver to take an alcohol and drug test immediately after being involved in an accident. This can be valuable evidence in pursuing a personal injury claim if it is positive.

Driving Errors

Breaking traffic laws often contributes to large truck accidents. This may happen when a negligent truck driver fails to check blind spots, disregards traffic signals, tailgates, or drives too fast for road conditions. Large trucks are, by nature, more difficult to operate, which requires truck drivers to exercise even more caution.

Poor Maintenance

Truck companies must conduct regular inspections and make repairs to their vehicles. Failure to care for their fleets according to federal and state laws puts everyone at risk. If an accident is caused by an issue that should have been caught in regular maintenance, you may have a claim against the trucking company or a third party.

Negligent Hiring

Trucking companies must also hire qualified drivers. If they cut corners by employing drivers without a CDL license or failing to conduct a background check, they can be held liable for their negligent business practices.

Faulty Equipment

Faulty tires, brakes, airbags, or other components that fail in transit can cause a truck driver to lose control of the rig and barrel into nearby cars. In this case, another party, such as the manufacturer or mechanic, may be at fault.

Weather and Road Conditions

In some cases, the weather or the road conditions themselves can cause issues, making driving more treacherous. Potholes, puddles caused by poor drainage, or missing road signs can increase the chances of a deadly truck accident.

Many times, more than one contributing factor leads to a truck accident. A seasoned Columbus truck crash attorney can investigate your case to determine what happened and who should be held responsible for your injuries.

Why Are Truck Accident Claims so Complicated?

Truck accidents have some significant distinctions that can make them much more complex than a standard car accident. These include, but aren’t limited to, the following:

More Parties Involved

Many different parties are invested and involved in the operations of a commercial vehicle. Any of them could bear partial or total liability for a trucking accident. This can make it more difficult to determine who is at fault and who to name as a defendant in a personal injury claim. Our attorneys can review your case to determine who you might have a claim against and what your next steps should be.

Higher Insurance Limits

Commercial insurance policies have higher limits, which means more money is at stake. When there’s more money on the line, those who are liable tend to fight hard to avoid paying up on a truck accident insurance claim. Trucking companies often have in-house legal teams that are dedicated to responding when an accident happens. As a victim, you also need experienced legal representation to ensure you’re able to stand up to these attorneys and their tactics and pursue your rightful compensation.

Severe Injuries and Damage

Serious injuries and vehicle damage are not only more costly to treat or repair, but they can also result in much longer recovery periods that lengthen the overall claims process. While you generally have two years to bring a lawsuit against a negligent truck driver or trucking company, it’s important to have a full understanding of your injuries, as well as the costs associated with them and what impact they have on your quality of life. Filing a personal injury lawsuit too early could mean a smaller settlement and not getting enough money to fully cover your damages.

Different Rules and Regulations

Commercial vehicle drivers are subject to specific rules and regulations, making determining fault in truck accident cases much more complicated. This is why it’s so important to have an experienced truck accident attorney by your side every step of the way. They are familiar with these rules and regulations and know how they apply to accident cases. An attorney can ensure every possible strategy is considered in your case to increase the chances of a positive outcome.

Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident Case?

Depending on the circumstances surrounding a Columbus truck accident, any of the following parties may be liable:

The truck driver
Another motorist or road user
The trucking company or truck driver’s employer
A manufacturer, mechanic, or repair facility
A cargo loading company or team

Proving liability and negligence is critical after a tractor-trailer crash. A well-practiced 18-wheeler collision lawyer in Columbus will know what questions to ask to help you recover compensation from the at-fault party. Once it’s determined which party or parties are liable, your attorney can start the process of filing your claim to recover compensation.

What Compensation Is Possible After a Semi-Truck Accident?

With a successful truck accident injury claim, you could pursue compensation for the following types of accident-related losses:

Medical expenses
Out-of-pocket costs
Repair or replacement costs for vehicle or property damage
Lost wages from missed time at work
Lost future earning potential from an accident-related disability
Lost quality of life

Catastrophic injuries can be life-changing, putting your financial future and well-being on the line. It can be tempting to take a settlement offer from the insurance company so that you have immediate funds in hand and can be spared the time and difficulty of a trial. However, this isn’t always in your best interests. Before accepting any settlement offer, you should seek legal help from the legal professionals at Bence Law Firm, LLC.

Statute of Limitations on Truck Accidents in Columbus

If you believe you have grounds for a truck accident lawsuit in Columbus, be aware that Georgia law only gives accident victims two years to take legal action. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. The clock starts ticking on the date when you initially sustained your injuries.

Don’t wait too long to get legal advice from a truck crash attorney. A civil court judge will likely dismiss your case if you wait too long to file your claim. This means you lose your right to demand money for your losses. It’s best to work with an experienced attorney to give you the best possible chance of receiving fair compensation for your injuries and other damages after a truck collision.

Reach out to a Columbus Truck Accident Attorney to File a Claim

One of the most important things to remember as you navigate the aftermath of a truck accident is that you’re not in this alone. There are resources and support services that can help, and having legal counsel and guidance can ensure that you’re aware of all of your rights and know what steps to take to protect them. A trusted injury lawyer can help you with your semi-truck lawsuit by:

Explaining your legal rights and options
Conducting an independent investigation into the accident
Working with expert witnesses, such as accident reconstruction specialists
Communicating with the insurance company and other attorneys on your behalf
Filing all legal documents on time
Negotiating aggressively for maximum truck accident compensation
Filing a truck accident lawsuit and taking your case to court if necessary

You can discuss the details of your case with a skilled Columbus truck accident lawyer today. Turn to Bence Law Firm, LLC. Our law firm will discuss your options for compensation in a free legal consultation.

The attorney-client relationship matters to us. We don’t want to make things harder for you. That’s why we charge no upfront legal fees to start work on your truck accident case. We only get paid if you do. Contact us right away at 334-489-1951 to get started.