Augusta
Freight Truck Accident Lawyer

Though vital to our economy and demand for goods, heavy-laden freight trucks bring danger to the roads. Freight trucks are harder to control, take longer to stop, and cause massive damage to other drivers or road-sharers involved in accidents with them. 

John Foy & Associates is here to help if you or a loved one has experienced a freight truck accident. An experienced freight truck accident lawyer in Augusta will manage your case with care and secure the restorative financial settlement you need. 

The Growing Presence of Freight Trucks

Freight trucks transport everything from construction materials to retail products to food to more specialized items. Just about every industry depends on freight trucks to transport their materials. 

Semi-trailers, flatbed trucks, box trunks, tankers, refrigerated trucks, dry vans, which protect goods from the elements, and step-deck trucks, which is a semi with an open trailer, are types of freight trucks you have probably seen sharing the road with you. 

The American Trucking Industry calculates freight trucks transported 10.93 billion tons of freight, comprising 72.2% of the total domestic tonnage shipped, for a recent year of data collection. These statistics and others represent an increase in freight activity and the number of freight trucks on our roads.

Freight Truck Accidents in the U.S. and Augusta Area

Recent reports by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) indicate there are 12.5 million large trucks and buses on U.S. roads. FMCSA data also shows 450,000 police-reported large truck crashes. Of these crashes:

• 4,237 involved fatalities
• 344,000 involved injuries
• 72% of those killed occupied other vehicles 

As if these numbers are not sobering enough, the FMCSA lists Georgia as one of the top ten states for bus and large truck accidents. The state saw over 200 truck accident fatalities for the last full year of data collection by the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. 

Whether a freight truck accident has brought injury or death to your household, you deserve financial compensation for your losses. An Augusta freight truck accident attorney from the Strong Arm of Georgia will fight to get you the settlement you deserve.

Actions to Take Following a Freight Truck Accident

Most likely, you will need to stay still and wait for emergency services to arrive at the accident scene. Always put safety first.

If you are able to move safely or can speak to others, begin gathering evidence. Take photos and video of the accident scene, the vehicles involved, road conditions, your injuries, or anything else that could support a possible injury claim. Get contact information from witnesses and ask them to share any photo or video footage they collected.

See a doctor. Even if you do not think your injuries are severe, they very well could be. Some effects take time to appear and you could put yourself in danger by postponing care. Plus, if you delay treatment and experience symptoms later, the at-fault party can claim your delay caused your worsening condition, not their negligence.

Partner with a Freight Truck Accident Lawyer in Augusta Promptly

The sooner you contact an Augusta freight truck accident lawyer, the stronger your case will be. It is essential for your lawyer to conduct an exhaustive investigation of the event so you can file against the appropriate at-fault party. With fast access to the case, it will be easier for your lawyer to acquire evidence while it is still available and contact witnesses whose memories have not faded. 

How a Lawyer Will Help You Secure a Settlement

To receive a settlement, you must present a strong case and be prepared for the at-fault party to work against you. Put these responsibilities in the skilled hands of a freight truck accident lawyer in Augusta.

Determining the At-Fault Party

You will only collect if you can prove the at-fault party’s negligence caused the accident and your injuries. Proof requires a careful examination of all aspects of your accident. Your lawyer has the skills and connections to experts in relevant fields required to determine who and what caused the accident and to compile the evidence to prove that fault.

Filing on Time

Georgia law provides you with two years from the date of your accident to file a claim against the at-fault party. If you miss the deadline, your case will be dismissed. 

If your accident is with a government-owned freight truck, such as one transporting materials for a county or the state, the statute of limitations shrinks considerably to one year, and to six months if the claim is against a city vehicle and driver.

Whatever your circumstances, do not waste any time. The more time your lawyer has to investigate your case before filing, the stronger your case will be. 

Handling Negotiations and Proceedings

Georgia follows a comparative fault system, which means if victims are found to hold a percentage of fault for the incident, the settlement they collect will be reduced proportionally. You can expect the at-fault party’s insurance company or other representatives to put effort into casting inflated or unwarranted blame on you for the accident as a way of reducing their payout. Insurance adjusters may also try to talk you into accepting a settlement amounting to far less than you deserve.

Your attorney will handle all communication and negotiation with these parties and will not allow their strategies to stand or put your settlement at risk. 

Most personal injury cases settle out of court. If the at-fault party refuses to play fair and pay you what you deserve, you may decide to take your case to trial. Your freight-truck accident lawyer in Augusta will provide you with superior representation at all proceedings. 

We Are Ready to Take Your Call

Medical expenses, income loss, chronic disability, and financial and emotional upheaval are just some of the losses you are likely to experience from a freight truck accident. To get your household back on stable financial ground, recoup your losses, and receive justice, contact John Foy & Associates today and arrange to speak with a freight truck accident attorney in Augusta.