Commercial trucks are large, full of heavy cargo, and powerful enough to damage multiple vehicles in seconds. Due to their size, they can permanently disable a person after an accident, and you should not be left picking up the pieces alone.
Your car is only one victim of these large vehicles. You are the other. While you can replace your property, recovering your health is different. Focus on your health and let a LaGrange truck accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates handle the legal elements.
Commercial Truck Accident Claims Are Complex
The claims process can be relatively straightforward when two passenger vehicles are in a collision. You are working with two independent insurance companies. However, the legal process is more complex when there is a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle. The main reasons that truck accident claims are complex are:
- Truck accidents are severe, and you need an extensive investigation which requires additional resources.
- There are federal and state regulations governing truck drivers and trucking companies. These rules address everything from hours of service to cargo loading and truck maintenance.
- There are multiple liable parties in these accidents, including the driver, the cargo company, the trucking company, and more.
These and other factors contribute to the complexity of these accident claims, which is why you need a skilled truck accident lawyer in LaGrange to review your case and take the appropriate legal steps.
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Liability for Truck Accidents
One of the complexities of truck accidents is determining liability. Many parties are involved in the trucking industry, and they can all play a role in causing your injuries. It is essential to determine who is responsible because they must pay for your losses. Possible liable parties include:
- Truck drivers
- Carriers
- Cargo loaders
- Truck owners
- Trucking companies
- Truck driver employers
- Parts manufacturer
- Truck manufacturer
- Truck maintenance companies
Every party on this list is responsible for a different element of the trucking process and should compensate you for their role if they are found to be at fault. Liability is complex, and you will need a truck accident attorney in LaGrange, GA to determine who is to blame.
Evidence Is Necessary
Proving liability and recovering compensation requires substantial evidence. While the police report provides a basis for your claim, it is not the most accurate piece of evidence. John Foy & Associates will work to gather additional evidence to use for your case.
Evidence is essential to your accident claim, but not every piece of evidence is available, and you must move quickly. We will send out the preservation of evidence letters so no one can hide evidence
Cargo Records
With looming deadlines and the pressure to provide more products, cargo loaders may overload trucks and violate federal regulations. They can also fail to properly secure the cargo, which causes the truck balance and weight to shift.
Driver Logs
Federal regulations require drivers to keep a logbook tracking their rest breaks, driving times, cargo weight, meals, and more. We can review the documents and compare them to other evidence to ensure they are accurate.
Truck Maintenance Records
Faulty brakes and tires are common in commercial trucks, leading to devastating road incidents. Inadequate or irregular maintenance is a significant problem in the trucking industry and can be a major contributor to a crash.
Event Data Recorder Logs
More commonly known as the “black box,” these data recorders have information regarding the brake and engine power according to the various sensors on the truck. It will record all information about actions the driver did or did not take before and during an accident. This record can be vital evidence for your claim.
Cell Phone Records
Driver distraction is a leading cause of commercial truck accidents. It is challenging to prove the driver was distracted while texting or streaming, but their cell phone records can provide evidence of their actions.
Eyewitness Testimony
Other drivers and passersby are critical to your claim because they provide an unbiased account of the accident. Their testimony can be essential to your case. Some witnesses will stay and provide police statements, while others will take to social media instead. It is vital that we find and speak to every witness.
Photos and Videos
Visual documentation is hard to argue against, and if there are photos or videos available, we can use these as evidence for your case. With many security, traffic, and dashboard cameras in place on most roads and highways, obtaining this material is fairly simple. In addition, your legal team may be able to find videos posted on social media by witnesses or bystanders.
You Can Recover Compensation
Truck accident claims have high compensation awards because of extensive damages and injuries. Insurance policy limits are higher, but your losses can potentially go beyond these limits. The insurance company will try to settle for under their limits or right at the limit and say they do not have any other options available for you.
When you have a LaGrange truck accident attorney on your side, you will find you have other options. We will seek damages for your injuries and other losses you incur from the trucker’s negligence. You can recover compensation for the following:
- Medical treatment for your injuries
- Future medical care and support
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Property damage
- Wrongful death damages
There are three categories of compensation: economic, noneconomic, and punitive. We will determine your eligibility and work to get you what you deserve.
Timeframe to File a Claim
You must move quickly to hire LaGrange truck accident lawyers and begin a claim because you only have two years for financial recovery. Two years is a short time to file a claim, collect evidence, depose witnesses and recover compensation, so do not waste any time. Your medical recovery is also essential to your financial compensation.
Hire the Strong Arm of Georgia
After a truck accident in LaGrange, you must take swift action to get medical attention and speak to John Foy & Associates. Our team has been working with accident victims for over 20 years, and we fight to get our clients the money they deserve.
Schedule a case review with a LaGrange truck accident lawyer with The Strong Arm today.
706-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form