Augusta
Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer

Georgia highways are some of the busiest in the country. Add an influx of delivery truck drivers to this already-heavy traffic, and there is an increased risk of accidents. 

If you have been involved in a car accident because of these increased risks, securing the expertise of an Augusta delivery truck accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates is critical for your case and the amount of compensation you receive if you decide to file a lawsuit.

Most Common Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents

The most common causes of delivery truck accidents in Augusta and throughout the state include:

• Time pressure and incentive structures, which cause drivers to take too many risks to make good time and make delivery quotas.
• High demand for home deliveries, which has led to the need for hiring more drivers at a faster pace – some who are less trained and less experienced.
• Speeding, which is also connected to a driver’s time pressure to make deadlines. Other reckless driving behaviors related to speeding are hurrying through traffic lights or running red lights, which can cause injury or fatal accidents. 
• Driving in unfamiliar territory, which can lead to last-second mistakes from confusing turns and directions.
• Aggressive driving, again caused by a delivery driver tailgating because they feel rushed behind on their route. 
• Careless or distracted driving, which can be from getting orders or requests via a company service app, feeling tired, or adjusting their navigation device.
• Parking problems, caused by a delivery driver creating traffic issues by dangerously double-parking.

What Drivers in Augusta Should Do After a Delivery Truck Accident

There are precautions you can take to prevent delivery truck accidents in Augusta, such as avoiding driving too close to large delivery trucks because of their limited view or practicing patience when a delivery driver is parked inconveniently on the street.

If, however, you are involved in a delivery truck accident, you should follow these steps:

• Stay at the scene of the accident.
• After checking any injuries to the drivers and passengers of all involved in the accident, call 911 for police and medical attention.
• Exchange contact information with the other driver involved and any witnesses at the scene.
• Take pictures of any vehicle damages, both close-ups and wide range, as well as factors that could have affected the accident, like weather or road conditions.
• Contact the insurance carrier.
• Get a copy of the police report and make sure you have documentation on all damages and personal injuries.

The final, most important step is to reach out to a delivery truck accident lawyer in Augusta to discuss legal options before Georgia’s statute of limitations (two years from the date of the accident) to file a lawsuit runs out. These delivery service accidents are mostly the same as standard collisions, but it can be even more difficult to determine the at-fault party and even more complicated when the driver’s employer and insurance company are involved. 

How an Augusta Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You File a Lawsuit

Just as in cases of regular car accidents, with the help of a personal injury attorney in Augusta, you should file a claim with the auto insurance company and the driver. But these delivery service truck accident lawsuits have an added layer, with the employer and its insurance involved. The following information is imperative for your delivery truck accident attorney in Augusta to build your case, including:

• The date and location of the accident
• The delivery driver’s name and license plate number
• Any photos showing the delivery driver’s vehicle, damages to your car, and the overall scene of the accident.
• Any evidence or testimony shared from eyewitnesses.

Your lawsuit should sue for compensation related to one or more of these areas:

• Medical bills for any physical injuries from the accident, which include hospitalization, doctor’s visits, physical therapy, medicine, and more.
• Wages and earnings you have lost from your job because of your accident hindering your physical ability.
• Property damage to be your car, motorcycle, bicycle, or any other property you own. This requires an accurate estimate by your personal injury attorney of the damage.
• Negligence by the driver and delivery company. Duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages need to be proven.
• Pain and suffering for any emotional or mental anguish. As you can imagine, this can vary greatly and is at the mercy or discretion of the court.

Types of Damages After a Delivery Truck Accident in Augusta 

Victims have the right to retain all damages resulting from the accident. Georgia recognizes two main types of damages resulting from an accident: economic, non-economic, and punitive.  

Economic damages or “special damages” refers to your present or future medical bills and property damage.  Noneconomic damages, also known as “general damages” refers to pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, or disability. 

During the settlement proceedings, the arbitrator will aid in the negotiations by deciding on the amount of damages awarded. If your case goes to trial, a jury, as the trier of fact, will decide the amount of damages awarded. Because Georgia does not have a cap on the amount of damages, having an attorney heavily involved in your case can ensure you get the amount you deserve. 

Contact an Augusta Delivery Truck Accident Attorney for Your Case

Evidence against an at-fault party in a truck accident disappears fast, so timing is everything. That is why it is critical to have an Augusta delivery truck accident attorney in your corner fighting for your rights against the truck insurance companies that have already launched their own team to investigate the scene of the accident to sway the police officer and accident reconstruction specialist. 

While the truck driver and trucking company will have their own legal team protecting their legal rights, the team at John Foy & Associates will give you the solid representation you need to prove that the truck driver was at fault and calculate the amount of financial compensation you need to get fully reimbursed for your injuries and damages.