Truck accidents in Fayetteville often result in serious property damage and even more severe personal injuries. In some cases, they may even result in death. Unfortunately, these cases are often complicated from a legal perspective as well, which makes it harder to get the money damages you need after you are injured or you lose a loved one.
Having a Fayetteville truck accident lawyer on your side could mean the difference between getting back on your feet after a serious crash or getting nothing at all.
John Foy & Associates knows how important your truck accident case is to you and your family. We genuinely care about the outcome of your case and we will work hard on your behalf to get you the money damages you deserve. We have over 20 years of experience helping victims just like you through this difficult time. Insurance companies don’t always play fair, but our team can help you fight back.
Give us a call at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
What Should I Do After a Truck Accident?
The first thing you should always do is get medical help. Some people make the mistake of waiting too long after an accident to get medical treatment. By that time, your condition may have gotten worse, potentially to the point where you will need long-term treatment.
If you were in a truck accident, getting medical help is even more important because your injuries are more likely to be serious, even if you don’t realize it.
Once you have left the scene, you should also take a few more steps after a Fayetteville truck accident.
- Get a police report
If you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to get a copy of the police report that details your accident. This report will contain valuable information about the crash, including the name and contact information of the truck driver as well as who they were working for. It should also include insurance information for both entities as well. Having this information will help you get your legal claim started off on the right foot.
The police report also sets out what happened just before the accident occurred. This information will be vital to your case. Some officers will also assess fault and issue citations as part of their report as well. Again, this is all information that will be very valuable in your legal claim.
- Take photographs of the damage and your injuries
It is much easier to tell your story about the accident if you have photographic evidence of it. Take pictures of your vehicle after the crash. Photos of your injuries will spell out just how severe your damage really was and help the jury understand what you went through after the accident.
- Speak with witnesses
In some crashes, there are a couple of witnesses noted on the police report. Generally, the police will have already spoken with these people, but talking to them again to really understand what they saw and heard can be very helpful. Be sure to get updated contact information in case you need them to testify at your trial in the future.
- Get an attorney
Your truck accident lawyer can help you do all of these initial investigation tasks. In addition, your lawyer will help you gather information from the trucker and the trucking company. Information like geographic tracking, speed, and other data can be beneficial to your case.
Most trucks have tracking devices in them, but the trucking company may destroy this information if you don’t get it right away. Getting an attorney involved as soon as possible is a good idea.
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Why do Truck Accidents Occur?
Truck drivers are just as vulnerable to all of the mistakes that every driver can make, including things like:
- Driving while distracted
- Speeding
- Missing traffic signs or lights
- Following too closely
- Driving while intoxicated
- Driving while fatigued
- Misjudging distances or speed
Some of the mistakes that a passenger car driver makes have very different results when they are made in a truck. For example, fully loaded trucks are much harder to maneuver and control. When a truck is speeding, it may need to stop quickly to avoid a crash.
But, it takes a much longer distance to stop a commercial truck compared to a passenger car, and the truck driver has even less time to stop adequately if they are speeding.
Truck drivers are also on the road because it’s part of their job. They have deadlines that they must meet and expectations to fulfill. They spend hours and even days at a time on the road. Unfortunately, when the pressures of the job are high, drivers are more likely to drive longer hours than they should and become careless. Driving while tired or distracted can result in accidents.
How Long do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Georgia?
Truck accidents that caused property damage and injuries are considered personal injury claims. Those that cause fatalities fall under the category of wrongful death claims. Regardless of what type of claim you may have in these circumstances, you will usually have two years from the date of the accident to start a lawsuit.
You may think that two years seems like a long time right now, but many times, it’s only appropriate to start your case after you have healed as much as possible. Waiting until then can help you have a better idea of what your hospital bills and other losses may be. But, there is still a lot you can do to get ready while you are healing—and that is where your personal injury lawyer comes in.
Keep in mind that this two-year limitation doesn’t mean two years to contact a lawyer. There’s a lot of preparation and investigation that should be conducted before filing a lawsuit. If you wait until the last minute to call an attorney, you may not be able to bring your claim adequately.
Talk to a Fayetteville Truck Accident Lawyer for Free
You don’t have to deal with your legal claim alone after a truck accident. Get experience, knowledge, and compassion on your side by contacting John Foy & Associates. Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to the right to schedule your free consultation today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
