Dawson County Truck Accident Attorney
If you are ever involved in a truck accident, it is vital not only to your future claim but to your emotional and mental well-being that you take the necessary steps to protect yourself. Being a victim of a truck accident can be overwhelmingly terrifying, and you may want to consider yourself lucky that you came out of it alive. The amount of power that an out-of-control truck can have is staggering. A Dawson County truck accident lawyer can help you decide what to do.
If you decide to file a claim and seek compensation, you should make sure not to miss the state deadline to file. Georgia’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, such as trucking injury claims involving negligent drivers, is two years from the date of the accident. That deadline may approach faster than you think, and it’s important that you have everything ready to go before it arrives. If you miss that deadline, there’s a good chance that your case may be tossed out, and you can no longer seek compensation.
How to Protect Your Claim After a Truck Accident
If you are in a truck accident or car accident, there is a good chance that you may be injured. The sort of injuries you could receive may be life-altering, such as spinal cord injuries or a traumatic brain injury. You may require medical care for the rest of your life, and your settlement may be the only way that you can afford to receive that medical care. That’s why it is so important to take these precautions. Here are some important steps you can take to preserve your accident claim:
- Keep Calm: It can be difficult to hold yourself together after being in a truck accident, particularly a bad one. The sheer force of the truck may be enough to total your car with you inside it. Despite your instincts possibly telling you to panic, try your hardest not to. Panicking won’t help you. Calm yourself, take a few deep breaths, and figure out what your first steps are going to be.
- Check Yourself for Injuries: You should immediately start checking your body for any injuries that you may have sustained in the crash. If you feel like you don’t have any injuries, start checking any of your passengers for injuries. Search for bloody spots on your clothes, bruises, sprains, whiplash, and broken bones. If you are in pain but don’t appear to be injured, be sure to point that out to the EMTs when they arrive on the scene.
- Call 911: Once you have checked yourself for injuries, you should call 911 as soon as possible. You will want the police to take over the accident scene and for the EMTs to check everyone for injuries. Remember that failing to report an auto accident that resulted in a serious injury, a death, or significant property damage could put you in violation of Georgia state law.
- Consider Moving Your Car: Odds are that the accident happened in the middle of the road, and your car may still be there. If you are physically able to do so, you may want to move your car to avoid any further accidents with oncoming traffic. However, if you are too injured or the damage to the car is too great, don’t bother trying to move it.
- Document the Scene: Once the police have finished their report and the EMTs have cleared you, you can start documenting the necessary evidence for your claim. Be sure to take plenty of photos of everything relevant to your case, including your injuries, the damage to all vehicles, any additional property damage, road signs, and road conditions. Speak to any potential witnesses, and get their contact details.
- Exchange Insurance: You and the truck driver will need to exchange insurance and contact details for the future. Be sure to get the name and contact details of the company that owns the truck. Throughout this exchange, do not admit fault for the accident, not even partially. Accepting blame now can hurt your future claim.
- See a Doctor: Even if the EMTs cleared you at the scene, you should still go see a doctor for another check. After all, if you have any internal damage that you don’t know about, it could seriously affect your health later. Having a detailed medical record and a treatment plan in place can be good for your case.
- Contact Your Insurance: You will have to reach out and contact your insurance provider to let them know what’s happened. Don’t admit any fault for the accident here either.
- See a Lawyer: Before pursuing your accident claim, you should reach out to trusted and experienced truck accident attorneys, as they can help you decide on your most effective course of action.
Dawson County Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me (706) 276-3636
FAQs
Q: What Should I Do If I’m in a Truck Accident?
A: If you are ever in a truck accident in Dawson County, Georgia, you should ensure your safety and that of your passengers, get the authorities involved immediately, and document the evidence of the scene to prepare for your future accident claim. Exchange insurance information with the relevant parties, and go see a lawyer to start building your case.
Q: How Is Fault Determined in a Truck Accident Case?
A: To determine fault and ensure fair settlement, the insurance companies involved will look at the police report, medical records, and eyewitness testimony. Then, they will launch their own investigation into the accident scene. They will look into the truck driver’s driving record, the training they’ve had in the past, the truck’s condition, the hours they are working, and how they got hired by the company.
Q: What Are Some Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
A: Truck accidents can be caused by any number of different situations. Sometimes, it’s a genuine accident that nobody could have planned for. Other times, it is the result of one or more of the following:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Equipment failure
- Bad weather conditions
- Speeding
- Simple human error
It depends entirely on the case at hand and the applicable regulations.
Q: Who Can Be Found Liable in a Truck Accident Case?
A: Multiple parties could be found liable in a truck accident case. Truck accidents can be the fault of many different people. Depending on the case, the liable party could include the:
- Driver
- Trucking company
- Owner of the truck
- Manufacturer of the truck
- Individuals who loaded the truck
- Mechanic who worked on the truck
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Reach Out Today
At Teague Law, we know what kind of assistance you need and are prepared to offer it to you. Reach out to speak with a team member and learn more about how we can help build your case and protect your interests.
Call or text (706) 276-3636 or complete a form