Dahlonega Truck Accident Attorney
Few things on the road can be as physically devastating as a truck accident. A semi-truck crashing on the highway has the ability to wipe out anything in its path, thanks to the vehicle’s impressive size and power. You often have very little time to react before things are already in motion, and survival may be based on luck alone. If you ever find yourself the victim of a truck accident, you should consider reaching out to a Dahlonega truck accident lawyer with the experience needed to handle your case as soon as possible.
It’s important to remember that Georgia’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including trucking injury claims, is only two years. You won’t have as much time as you think to start building a case, consulting a lawyer, gathering evidence, and filing a claim for compensation. The clock starts on the day of the accident. If you miss that two-year window, your opportunity to be compensated by the liable party may disappear.
How to Protect Your Claim After a Truck Accident
Being in a truck accident, or even witnessing one, can be a truly traumatizing event that could change your life overnight. The injuries you could suffer in a truck accident are often life-altering, chronic, and even permanent. The settlement you receive as a result of the accident could be one of the only ways that you can pay for ongoing treatment. That’s why it is vitally important that you take the proper steps to protect your claim. Here are some of those steps:
- Calm Yourself: Truck accidents are scary. That much is painfully clear. The aftermath of one can be pure devastation. It may not seem possible for you to stay calm and keep a clear head, but it’s important that you try your hardest to do so. Take a moment to breathe, figure out where you are, and what’s just happened to you. Then, start acting to preserve your claim.
- Check for Injuries: You could be severely injured but unaware of it due to the extreme shock of the accident. Take a moment to check your body for any immediate injuries, and do the same for anybody else in the car with you. Look for wet, bloody spots, bruises, broken bones, and sprains. If you don’t think you’re wounded, but you’re still in a lot of pain, be sure to mention that to the EMTs when they arrive on the scene.
- Call 911: Failure to report an accident can result in legal consequences. Georgia state law requires that every auto accident involving a death, a serious injury, or $500 worth of property damage must be reported to the proper authorities. You will want law enforcement and EMTs to take over the scene and start filling out reports on your behalf.
- Move Your Car: Provided that the police allow it and you are physically able to do so, you may want to move your vehicle out of the road. It could cause another accident. If the car is too damaged to move, just leave it where it is. It will be moved eventually.
- Gather Evidence: Once you have been medically cleared by the EMTs, you can start gathering the evidence needed to effectively handle your truck accident claim. Take plenty of photos of your injuries, the damage done to your car and any other vehicles involved, the conditions of the road at the time, and any road signs. Be sure to take the statements of any witnesses who saw the crash.
- Exchange Insurance: You and the truck driver will need to exchange insurance information and contact information. Don’t forget to get the name and contact details of the trucking company that owns the truck. Throughout this exchange, do not accept any blame for the accident. Admitting fault can hurt your case later.
- See a Doctor: Even if the EMTs said that you weren’t injured, you should go see a doctor anyway. After all, there may be internal damage that the EMTs couldn’t catch in all the chaos. Having a medical record of your injuries and a treatment plan to follow can greatly help your case.
- Call Your Insurance Provider: You will have to reach out to your own insurance provider and let them know what happened to you. When dealing with insurance companies, be cautious—during this call, don’t admit fault of any kind.
- Speak With a Lawyer: Before you get started on your claim, you should reach out to highly skilled and trusted truck accident attorneys and learn what options you might have for how to pursue that claim.
Dahlonega Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (706) 276-3636
FAQs
Q: What Is a Trucking Settlement?
A: A trucking settlement in Dahlonega, Georgia, is a legally binding document that explains who was liable for the accident and how much they owe the other driver in compensation for what has happened. It’s the common way to resolve truck accidents. It will contain the details of the accident, who is responsible for it, and how much will be paid out in a settlement to the injured driver.
Q: How Does Settlement Money Work?
A: A settlement in Georgia is usually paid to the plaintiff via a check from the defendant’s insurance company. This can be done once both parties sign a settlement agreement that details who gets paid and how much. In exchange for a settlement, the plaintiff will usually sign a release of liability, which keeps the plaintiff from pursuing further legal action against the defendant.
Q: Is a Settlement Negotiable?
A: Yes, absolutely. The entire point of a settlement is to negotiate the amount before agreeing to terms. Your lawyer can try their hardest to get you the settlement amount that you feel appropriately reflects everything you’ve been through. The insurance company will seek to either not pay you anything or pay you as little as possible.
Q: What Is the Difference Between a Settlement and a Payout?
A: The difference between a settlement and a payout is how you receive the money. A settlement is negotiated before the case goes to court, and reaching an agreement prevents the case from going to court at all. A payout is awarded to the plaintiff by a jury, who decides how much they believe the plaintiff deserves.
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Teague Law can help you fight for the settlement amount you deserve. Contact our law firm to schedule a consultation today with one of our team members and find out more about how we can help your case.
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