Macon
Truck Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident in Macon, Georgia, you may face a lengthy and complex legal process. Dealing with insurance companies and the trucking industry can be difficult and intimidating, but having an experienced truck accident attorney on your side can make a big difference.

If you or a loved one has been in a truck accident, a Macon personal injury lawyer at John Foy & Associates will work to obtain maximum compensation for your medical care, lost wages, and other damages. Plus, we work on contingency, so there are no fees unless we win.

Commercial Truck Collisions Are Different from Regular Car Accidents

Any collision has the potential for severe injuries, but truck accident injuries are more likely to lead to catastrophic harm. When fully loaded, a commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. An ordinary passenger car is simply no match for something large and heavy.

Other factors that make collisions with commercial vehicles more dangerous include the following:

• Drivers in big rigs are less able to make sudden, unexpected stops.
• They are more likely to lose control when going downhill or facing rough road conditions.
• They struggle navigating turns and tight spaces like narrow streets or parking lots.
• Many semi-trucks carry hazardous or flammable cargo, posing risks for the entire community when a crash or collision occurs.

Most commercial truck drivers are trained professionals who drive carefully and obey the law. However, when truckers work long hours with little rest, fatigue can cause fatal judgment errors.

Truck Accident Statistics

Reports from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) identify the following factors among the main causes of truck accidents:

• Speeding: When truck operators exceed the speed limit, they reduce their reaction time, increasing the likelihood of collisions with other vehicles or objects.
• Distracted driving: Distractions can range from eating or drinking while driving to using a cell phone or other electronic devices.
• Impaired driving: When a driver is impaired, their reaction time, judgment, and perception are significantly reduced, making it challenging to operate a large commercial truck safely.
• Improper driving training: Trucks require specific skills and knowledge to operate safely, and when drivers do not receive proper training, it can lead to accidents.
• Limited driver experience: Inexperienced drivers may not be aware of how to handle a truck’s size and weight, leading to issues with braking, turning, and parking.
• Improper vehicle maintenance: Failing to maintain the truck correctly also creates risks. When a truck accident happens due to these factors, the driver and the trucking company can be held accountable.

The FMCSA identified trucks departing from the roadway or crossing over the lane in approximately one-third of critical accidents. Losing control of the vehicle due to speeding or other factors was identified in 29% of cases.

Most fatalities in truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants due to their vulnerability. In fact, 97% of the victims who died in a collision between a passenger car and a truck in 2020 were occupants in the smaller car.

Contact a Macon wrongful death attorney if your family lost a loved one in a truck collision.

Regulations for the Trucking Industry

Unlike a standard car accident case, a commercial vehicle collision is influenced by specific laws. The trucking industry is under state and federal regulations to set and uphold safety standards.

The FMCSA regulates the trucking industry by enforcing standards to promote safety and reduce accidents. These trucking regulations include:

• Hours of service: The agency also limits the number of hours drivers can spend on the road each day and week to prevent driver fatigue, a leading cause of truck accidents.
• Vehicle maintenance: The requirements for regular inspections and repairs ensure that commercial trucks are in good working order and reduce the risk of accidents caused by mechanical defects or other issues.
• Driver training and licensing: These ensure drivers have the skills and knowledge to operate commercial trucks safely.

Recoverable Damages After a Macon Truck Accident

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Georgia, you may be entitled to recover several damages. Truck wrecks can cause serious injuries and property damage, so it is important to understand the damages available.

Common damages recoverable through an insurance claim or truck accident lawsuit in Macon include the following:

• Medical expenses: This should include coverage of current and future medical care.
• Lost wages: This can mean reimbursement for lost income and future earnings due to ongoing impairments.
• Property damage: This category typically refers to the cost to repair or replace your vehicle but can cover other personal items destroyed in the accident.
• Non-economic damages: This refers to intangible losses such as pain, suffering, scarring or disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment.
• Wrongful death expenses: As a surviving family member, you might access wrongful death damages if you lose a loved one in a fatal crash. These include burial and funeral costs plus intangible losses.

We aim to get you the maximum amount you are entitled to, so you can fully recover from your injuries. Our Macon truck accident attorneys will take your case to court if necessary.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are sometimes awarded to punish the wrongdoer for their actions. These are rare in truck accident cases but may be available in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

If you have been injured in a wreck, speak with an experienced Macon truck collision lawyer immediately. An attorney can help you understand your rights and ensure you receive fair compensation.

We Make It Easy to Hire a Macon Truck Accident Lawyer

Finding an injury lawyer doesn’t have to be a difficult process. Our law firm makes finding an experienced Macon attorney for your case easy.

Our legal team is dedicated to providing personal attention and focused representation on helping injured individuals get the results they deserve. You can trust that we will fight for maximum compensation.

We Negotiate With Insurance Companies

Macon-Bibb County follows Georgia law, allowing truck accident victims to get a full financial recovery for their injuries. However, dealing with insurance companies often proves challenging.

The main goal of insurers is to make a profit, and they will pay you as little as they can to increase their bottom line, even if it means you can’t cover your costs. Our legal team has extensive experience dealing with trucking and insurance companies.

We act as a strong legal advocate, aggressively negotiating with insurance representatives on your behalf. Our lawyers are experienced in truck accident litigation and are ready to take your case to court if the insurance company doesn’t settle.

We Have a Winning Record

Our lawyers have a proven winning record with truck accident cases. We helped numerous clients get justice after an accident involving a large commercial vehicle, and we can help you too.

Our legal team has recovered million-dollar settlements and verdicts, including:

• $4.9 million for a client hit from behind by an 18-wheeler accident
• $1.9 million for a client struck by a tractor-trailer that lost control
• $1.5 million for a client injured from being sideswiped by a truck

With our knowledgeable legal guidance, we can help ensure justice is served in your case. When it seems like fighting a big corporation on your own is impossible, our truck accident attorneys can give you the best chance of success.

We Work on Contingency

Our entire law practice is built around helping accident victims, and a personal injury lawyer should not cost you anything out of pocket.

It is unreasonable to have to deal with legal fees during this difficult time, so we have a contingency fee system that lets you get the help you need without worrying about money:

• It costs nothing to consult with us.
• There are no out-of-pocket costs.
• We win, or you pay nothing.

Once we obtain a favorable settlement or court award, we will deduct our fees, and you will keep your share.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Represent

Sharing the road with truckers creates serious risks for motorists. Most big rigs’ size and bulk make them difficult to maneuver, and there is little margin for error. One wrong move can impact drivers in surrounding lanes, resulting in potentially catastrophic injuries.

When a collision with a semi-truck in Macon happens and impacts you or a loved one, you can count on our law firm to help you get the fair settlement you are entitled to through a truck accident claim.

Our attorneys protect the rights of victims and their families in the following types of truck accident cases:

• Head-on collisions: These devastating crashes often happen at night and on local interstates and highways.
• Jackknife truck accidents: These dangerous collisions can happen when traffic, weather, or road conditions prompt a truck driver to slam the brakes. This situation can cause the truck trailer to ride up alongside the cab at an angle.
• No-zone truck collisions: “No zones” are significant blind spots in front of, behind, and along each side of the truck. When motorists get caught in these blind spots, it can lead to rear-end and sideswipe accidents.
• Rollover truck accidents: These disastrous incidents can occur due to unevenly distributed cargo and shifting loads.
• Side impact truck crashes: Otherwise known as T-bone crashes, side impact collisions are common in intersections.
• Underride truck accidents: When a vehicle crashes into the back of a truck, it can go completely underneath if underride guards are not installed.

This is not a complete list of cases we handled. Over the past 20 years, we have represented many injury victims involved in various accidents. We could offer legal guidance if you were involved in a collision with a large commercial vehicle. Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

The Most Dangerous Streets in Macon

Many dangerous roads in Macon are best avoided when possible. Dense traffic combined with busy intersections and crisscrossing roads can be a recipe for disaster.

Dangerous roads in Macon with a high number of reported traffic accidents include:

• Highway 247
• Eisenhower Parkway
• Bowman Road
• Interstate 75
• Interstate 16
• Mercer University Drive

Safe driving is essential to keeping our roads and highways safe for everyone. Most importantly, practicing proper driving requires being aware of one’s surroundings and always exercising caution when operating a vehicle.

Contact a Macon Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Known as “The Strong Arm”, John Foy & Associates has a reputation for getting big wins. You can count on one of our Macon personal injury attorneys to aggressively negotiate with trucking companies, drivers, and insurance representatives, with the assurance that you pay nothing unless we win for you.

There are time limits for filing a truck accident claim in Georgia, so it is crucial to act quickly. Call or contact us online and request a free initial consultation to discuss how we can help you today.